The Vineyards of Timnah and the Spirit That Stirred Samson

Yalkut Shimoni on Nach 69:7

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

"And they came to the vineyards of Timnah" (Judges 14:5). Rabbi Shmuel bar Rav Yitzchak said: This teaches that his father and mother were showing him the vineyards of Timnah sown with forbidden mixtures, and saying to him, "Our son, just as their vineyards are sown with forbidden mixtures, so their daughters are sown with forbidden mixtures." "But his father and mother did not know that it was from the LORD" (Judges 14:4). Rabbi Elazar said: In seven places it is written, "You shall not intermarry with them" (Deuteronomy 7:3), said Rabbi Avin, to forbid the seven nations. And here it says thus. Rabbi Yitzchak said: "If it concerns scoffers, He scoffs at them" (Proverbs 3:34). It is written, "And the spirit of the LORD began to move him" (Judges 13:25). Two Amoraim: one said, when the holy spirit rested upon him, his strides became like the distance from Tzorah to Eshtaol. And one said, his hair would clang like a bell, and its sound went from Tzorah to Eshtaol.

Themes

SamsonMarriageProphecy

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