Connection to Parallel Narratives

Further debate concerning the development of the Samson narratives centers on its presumed connection to other similar narratives. For example, many commentators see a connection between Samson and legends of other strong men such as Heracles (Reinhold, “Simsôn aus Zora,” 77–81; Margalith, “Legends,” 63–70). These assumed parallels between the Samson narratives and the Greek-hero narratives have led to questions about whether the Samson text was directly influenced by Greek-hero narratives. For instance, Spronk sees the Samson saga as bearing Greek influence and subsequently assigns the text a late date of composition (Spronk, “Book of Judges as Late Construct,” 26; Margalith, “Legends,” 63–70). Mobley argues that Samson more properly fits within the ancient Near Eastern hero motif (Mobley, Samson and the Liminal Hero). Lemardelé asserts the images of Samson in the narrative reflect the diachronic development of the hero from offspring of the sun-god Shemesh to three progressive Yahwistic revisions into Israelite hero and judge (Lemardelé, “Du jeune héros,” 205–24).