The Bible In Paintings, #76: SAMSON AND DELILAH, Part 1

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

[Hebrews 11:6]

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S A M S O N
AND
D E L I L A H

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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 7 5 . . B. C.

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4 Some time later, Samson fell in love with Delilah. 5 The Philistines said, “See if you can lure him into showing you the secret of his great strength so we may subdue him. Each one of us will give you eleven hundred shekels of silver.”

6 So Delilah said to Samson, “Tell me the secret of your great strength and how you can be tied up and subdued.”

7 Samson answered her, “If anyone ties me with seven fresh bowstrings that have not been dried, I’ll become as weak as any other man.”

8 Then the rulers of the Philistines brought her seven fresh bowstrings that had not been dried, and she tied him with them. 9 With men hidden in the room, she called to him, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!” But he snapped the bowstrings as easily as a piece of string snaps when it comes close to a flame. So the secret of his strength was not discovered.

10 Then Delilah said to Samson, “You have made a fool of me; you lied to me. Come now, tell me how you can be tied.”

11 He said, “If anyone ties me securely with new ropes that have never been used, I’ll become as weak as any other man.”

12 So Delilah took new ropes and tied him with them. Then, with men hidden in the room, she called to him, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!” But he snapped the ropes off his arms as if they were threads.

13 Delilah then said to Samson, “All this time you have been making a fool of me and lying to me. Tell me how you can be tied.”

He replied, “If you weave the seven braids of my head into the fabric on the loom and tighten it with the pin, I’ll become as weak as any other man.” So while he was sleeping, Delilah took the seven braids of his head, wove them into the fabric 14 and tightened it with the pin.

Again she called to him, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!” He awoke from his sleep and pulled up the pin and the loom, with the fabric.

15 Then she said to him, “How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when you won’t confide in me? This is the third time you have made a fool of me and haven’t told me the secret of your great strength.” 16 With such nagging she prodded him day after day until he was sick to death of it.

17 So he told her everything. “No razor has ever been used on my head,” he said, “because I have been a Nazirite dedicated to God from my mother’s womb. If my head were shaved, my strength would leave me, and I would become as weak as any other man.”

18 When Delilah saw that he had told her everything, she sent word to the rulers of the Philistines, “Come back once more; he has told me everything.” So the rulers of the Philistines returned with the silver in their hands. 19 After putting him to sleep on her lap, she called for someone to shave off the seven braids of his hair, and so began to subdue him. And his strength left him.

20 Then she called, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!”

He awoke from his sleep and thought, “I’ll go out as before and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the Lord had left him.

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by JAMES TISSOT
“Samson and Delilah”

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by JOSÉ ECHENAGUSÍA
“Samson and Delilah”

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by GUSTAVE DORÉ
“Samson and Delilah”

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by ANTONIO ZANCHI
“Samson and Delilah”

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by GUERCINO
“Samson and Delilah”

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by REMBRANDT
“Samson And Delilah”

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by CARLO FRANCESCO NUVOLONE
“Samson And Delilah”

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by JASON CHALKER
“Samson And Delilah”
“This is my painting for the Old Testament part of "An Art Show of Biblical Proportions" happening in Austin Easter weekend. I treated it like a cover for a pulp novel. So many of the stories in the Old Testament would make great pulp stories.”

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“Sol Finkelstein was a smut publisher who found God later in life. While he had a change of heart, he didn't know how to change careers, so he came up with a compromise. Pulp stories based on the Bible. This surprisingly successful series was called "The Torrid Torah - Sultry Tales from the Bible".”

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by POMPEO GIROLAMO BATONI
“Samson And Delilah”

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by ALEXANDRE CABANEL
“Samson And Delilah”

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After Albrecht Durer
“Fools Who Tell Secrets”

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by ANTHONIE WIERIX
“Samson and Delilah”

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by CARAVAGGIO
“Samson and Delilah”

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by ANTHONY VAN DYCK
“Samson and Delilah” (1620)

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by ANTHONY VAN DYCK
“Samson and Delilah” (1630)

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by PETER PAUL RUBENS
“Samson and Delilah”

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by TINTORETTO
“Samson and Delilah”

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by KASPER VAN DEN HOECKE
“Samson and Delilah”

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by CRANACH
“Samson and Delilah”

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by PADOVANINO
“Samson and Delilah”

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by CECIL B. DEMILLE
“Samson and Delilah” – 1949, with Victor Mature & Hedy Lamarr

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SNEAK PEEK: Next time,

SAMSON & DELILAH
Part 2

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 & Delilah

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 75 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

……... .

[Hebrews 11:6]

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YES, WE DO HAVE A

P I N G… .L I S T

for "The Bible In Paintings" series

… .

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

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[marktwain]

The lesson is women make fools of men.

[Hebrews 11:6]

Not to me, not at all. That woman fooled that man, but God is not suggesting we should generalize from it. Rather, He wants us to be careful with everyone, as I am being with you.

Projecting from your own experience?

[left that other site]

This one is my favorite of the whole group...and I never even heard of the artist before!

[Hebrews 11:6]

It is wonderful. The lion is a great touch--presumably Samson's trophy. It's the first time I too have run across José Etxenagusia.

[left that other site]

I noticed the lion and had the same thoughts.

I hope he cleaned all the bees out before installing it in the living room!

The facial expressions are priceless: Delilah scheming, and Samson besotted with her!

[Hebrews 11:6]

As you say, ol’ José nailed it.

[Hebrews 11:6]

[left that other site]

LOL...When I teach piano, I often create silly lyrics to help kids remember the melody. Sing this to “Ode To Joy”:

King Kong Was A Giant Monkey
Who Behaved Just Like a Jerk.
He fell in love with a human
Even though it couldn’t work.
He climbed to the top of the building
To protect his love, at least.
Then the airplanes shot him down
They said “Twas Beauty killed the Beast”.

[Hebrews 11:6]

Great!

[left that other site]

Thanks!

[EliRoom8]

Superb!!! Much to mull on.

[Hebrews 11:6]

Yes.

We have an unfinished conversation that you initiated. I await your answer here.

[Forgiven_Sinner]

A rather hair razing post.

[Hebrews 11:6]

There are places for those who say such things: for instance, the Punitentiary.

[Maudeen]

It is evident that many of the artists didn’t read the Scripture before painting the hair cutting scene. :)

[Forgiven_Sinner]

I think I’ll the cut the puns off and remove any supernatural power in them.

[Hebrews 11:6]

In doing this series, that’s been my chief disappointment and frustration: their cavalier attitude toward Scripture. I can forgive artists’ ignorance about foreign lands and ancient times, pre-photography and pre-internet; but they all had ready access to adequate Bible translations. They just didn’t think that being faithful to the text was important. I don’t know who issued their artistic licenses, but they ought to revoke them.