Samson’s Suicide: Psychopathology (Grossman) vs. Heroism (Jabotinsky)

This article examines how two authors explain the biblical story of Samson’s suicide. One author, Grossman, sees Samson’s death as a deliberate choice to end his suffering. The other, Jabotinsky, regards Samson as a heroic figure who killed himself to help his people. Since the personal & political opinions of these authors influenced their interpretations, the discussion in this article includes brief biographies. A comparison between their two versions of the narrative will be made. A word of caution is introduced regarding the merits & demerits of artistic & creative analysis of the biblical narrative. (17 refs.)