History

Shimshon (Samson) שמשון הגבור

Shimshon of Dan was a nazir and judge of Israel with enormous strength who fought the Philistines.

Shimshon was the son of Manoach, of Dan. An angel announced before his birth that he would be a nazir from the womb and 'he will begin to save Israel from the Philistines' (Shoftim 13).

He had enormous strength: he tore a lion apart with his hands (14:6) and struck a thousand Philistines with a donkey's jawbone (15:15). He judged Israel 20 years (15:20). After the Philistines captured and blinded him, he prayed and pulled down the pillars of their temple — 'Let me die with the Philistines' (16:28–30).