The Spirit Began to Stir Samson Like a Ringing Bell

"And the spirit of the LORD began to move him" (Judges 13:25). Rabbi Chama bar Chanina said: The blessing of Jacob took effect, as it is written, "Dan shall be a serpent by the way" (Genesis 49:17). "To move him in the camp of Dan" (Judges 13:25). Rabbi Yitzchak of the school of Rav Ami said: This teaches that the Shekhinah rang before him like a bell. It is written here "to move him" [le-faamo], and it is written there "a bell [paamon] and a pomegranate" (Exodus 28:34). "Between Zorah and Eshtaol" (Judges 13:25). Rav Ashi said: Zorah and Eshtaol were two great mountains, and Samson uprooted them and ground them one against the other. Rabbi Yochanan said: Samson judged Israel as their Father in Heaven, as it is said, "Dan shall judge his people as one" (Genesis 49:16). And Rabbi Yochanan said: Samson was called after the name of the Holy One, blessed be He, as it is said, "For the LORD God is a sun and a shield" (Psalms 84:12). The Gemara objects: If so, one may not erase his name. Rather, his name was modeled after the name of the Holy One, blessed be He: just as the Holy One shields the whole world, so Samson shielded all Israel by his strength. And Rabbi Yochanan said: Balaam was lame in one foot, and Samson in both his feet. Balaam was lame in one foot, as it is written, "And he went limping" (Numbers 23:3, read as shefi); Samson in both his feet, as it is written, "a horned snake [shefifon] by the path" (Genesis 49:17).