The Bible In Paintings, #75: SAMSON’S TROPHIES

Bing Images ^ | c. 2200 BC -- c. 95 AD | by the Father, Son & Holy Spirit

[Hebrews 11:6]

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In response to numerous questions:

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YES, WE DO HAVE A

P I N G… .L I S T

for "The Bible In Paintings" series

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To be alerted to each new posting,
either reply here or FRmail me.

No contracts, startup charges or monthly fees;
no hazing or initiation rituals; cancel anytime.

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SAMSON SHOWS OFF,
STEALS CITY’S GATES

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J U D G E S . . 1 6
New International Version, emphases added
Abrdgd – the complete text is in your Bible, OR:
TO READ JUDGES 16 IN FULL, Click Here
TO HEAR MAX McLEAN READING IT, Click Here
TO HEAR A DRAMATIZATION OF IT, Click Here
TO WATCH AN OVERVIEW OF JUDGES, Click Here

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1 0 6 9 . . B. C.

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1 One day Samson went to Gaza, where he saw a prostitute. He went in to spend the night with her. 2 The people of Gaza lay in wait for him all night, saying, “At dawn we’ll kill him.”

3 But Samson lay there only until the middle of the night. Then he got up and took hold of the doors of the city gate, together with the two posts, and tore them loose, bar and all. He lifted them to his shoulders and carried them to the top of the hill that faces Hebron.

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PLEASE NOTE: The straight-line distance
from Gaza to Hebron is 37 MILES.

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by FREDERIC, LORD LEIGHTON
“Samson Carrying the Gate”

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Etching by J. TAYLOR after FRANÇOIS VERDIER
“Samson carries the gates of Gaza up to the mount of Hebron”

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by GUSTAV DORÉ
“Samson Carrying Away the Gates of Gaza”

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Artist: OTTO ELLIGER, Engraver: A. REINHARD
“Samson Carries Gates”

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by JAMES G. SEYMOUR LUCAS
“Samson Carrying off the Gates of Gaza”

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by JAMES TISSOT
“Samson and the Gates of Gaza”

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sg

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SNEAK PEEK: Next time,

SAMSON AND DELILAH

If you're sensing the Holy Spirit is suggesting
that you read ahead, we'll be in Judges 16.

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R E S O U R C E S

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If you'd like to see for yourself the Bing page
which yielded most of the works above, here is the link:

Samson & the City Gates

Where no attribution appears below a work,
the artist's name is unknown

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Links to three masters who painted Biblical scenes prolifically:

REMBRANDT HARMENSZOON van RIJN

GUSTAV DORÉ
241 wood engravings for
La Grande Bible de Tours

JAMES TISSOT
180 watercolors depicting Bible scenes

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This series keeps moving from one Bible passage to another,
so here is a fascinating and enjoyable link to assist in following along:
BIBLE TIMELINE

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Finally, here are links to the
PREVIOUS 74 POSTS IN THIS SERIES
with descriptive titles, to assist you in finding those which interest you

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SPECIAL THANKS
to FReeper left that other site,
who allowed God to make her His conduit
for incomparable enthusiasm, encouragement,
education, advice and technical assistance!

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NOTES ON MY SELECTION CRITERIA

Quality
The Bible is my focus, not the art: this is The Bible in Paintings, not “Great Paintings” nor even “Good Paintings.” So, works need not be masterpieces to qualify for inclusion here—they don’t need to be housed at the Louvre nor auctioned by Sotheby’s. They only need to illustrate successfully some aspect of the Biblical text or, frankly, just tickle my fancy, which I'm asking the Holy Spirit to guide. Often, artists misrepresent the Scripture, but unless the error is material or heretical I usually include the artwork, trusting that the Spirit is perfectly capable of defending Himself. So, with such forgiving filters, it means that you're seeing practically everything I'm finding.

Pacing
The pace may seem glacial to those eager to see their favorite events. My commission is to search for art on each Bible passage in sequence; if I find enough, then it becomes the next installment, even if undramatic. But where there is no art, that Bible passage goes untold here. The Bible is a thick book, as you know; but we'll get there eventually, Lord willing. Always remember:
love, joy, peace, patience kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control is a fruit of the Spirit!

Art is merely the Toy Department of Bible study,
so I’m just having fun here—I hope you are, too!
Thank you for your understanding.

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[Hebrews 11:6]

At the Holy Spirit's prompting, I am surveying "Bible art" to give God glory, as many of these artists have done, and for my own amusement and learning; and I thought others might enjoy it and be blessed by it, too. My plan is to proceed methodically from left-to right, Genesis to Revelation, as the Lord wills. Back soon with another.

The Bible encourages us to meditate on it (Ps. 1:1-3, 119:11-16, etc.); these artists have done so, and their works can assist us and enrich our own thoughts about biblical characters, incidents and concepts, and increase our faith in He who is behind it all. As you encounter and consider these images and the related Scriptures and the Spirit enlightens your understanding, please share it with us!

But it is not only oil-on-canvas that can so help us; I refer to the astonishing video series The Chosen, which strolls through the four Gospels at the most leisurely pace. The eight episodes of Season 1 are finished, and the second of a planned seven seasons is coming soon. I say "leisurely" because after an entire year’s viewing Jesus still has only seven of the apostles (although He's preparing to call up Thomas from the minor leagues--but Thomas is skeptical, of course). Anticipating a canvas of fifty-plus hours instead of a movie's paltry two hours, The Chosen turns the characters (especially including Jesus!) into three-dimensional humans and brings the Gospels alive--you have never seen anything even remotely like it! Here is the Official Trailer.

Here is a link for free viewing of The Chosen: “Works with your phone, tablet, and you can cast to your Roku or Chromecast.” Last fall I paid $34.98 for DVDs and ongoing internet access—best 35 bucks I’ve ever spent (I don’t recall how much our marriage license cost, but then it was 42 years ago).

[Hebrews 11:6]

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F o r . . y o u r

CONSIDERATION

ENJOYMENT

& BLESSING

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[Red Badger]

So, Samson was a Doorman?........................

[Hebrews 11:6]

Off with you, to the Punitentary!

[left that other site]

As always, the stained glass is beautiful.

[Hebrews 11:6]

I group them to focus attention on them.

[Forgiven_Sinner]

A little commented feature is that the 37-mile journey to Hebron was done in a day. That alone is impressive, let alone carrying the multi-hundred or thousand-pound gates.

Then there's the altitude difference. I looked it up:

Central Gaza is situated on a low-lying and round hill with an elevation of 14 meters (46 ft) above sea level. Much of the modern city is built along the plain below the hill, especially to the north and east, forming Gaza's suburbs.

Hebron(Arabic: الْخَلِيل‎ al-Khalīlor al-Khalil al-Rahman; Hebrew: חֶבְרוֹן‎ Ḥevron) is a Palestinian city in the southern West Bank, 30 km (19 mi) south of Jerusalem. Nestled in the Judaean Mountains, it lies 930 meters (3,050 ft) above sea level.

So Samson climbed a 3000-foot mountain at the end of his 37-mile hike.

God's hand is so obvious. It is likely God stirred Samson, even in the midst of his fornication with the Philistine prostitute, to leave and tear away the gates. The extreme height and distance of the removal further humbled the Philistines.

[Hebrews 11:6]

The extreme height and distance of the removal further humbled the Philistines.

Well, at least when retrieving them it was all downhill! Good post. Samson became a pre-believer in Philippians 4:13: " I can do all this through him who gives me strength."

[Maudeen]

This story in the Bible doesn’t get top billing in Sunday School quarterlies. I love listening to the stories on “ By Dramatized” and then looking at the paintings.. Thanks so much for linking it. Every time I listen there is always something that jumps out at me and I have to say to myself, “How did I miss that??” I am going to use some of your Samson pictures to develop a PowerPoint on Samson for kids church.

[Hebrews 11:6]

Sounds interesting! Wish we could see your finished product here.