As we delve deeper into Tragic Hero narratives in The Bible, this episode we take a look at Samson. As you could probably guess, this story is much deeper, and much more nuanced than the typical Sunday-school treatment it gets. In fact, it could be said, that his story is a miniature history and foretelling of the fates and fortunes of Israel.
 
Topics Covered:
<ul>
 <li>Samson&#39;s family history</li>
 <li>Divine/miracle birth</li>
 <li>The Nazirite&#39;s vow</li>
 <li>The Riddle</li>
 <li>The betrayal</li>
 <li>Samson&#39;s retribution and the question of holy violence</li>
 <li>How many times does Samson break his vow?</li>
 <li>Symbolism behind burning vineyards, wheat fields, and olive groves</li>
 <li>Samson&#39;s lack of having a sword</li>
 <li>Discernment, sight and blindness</li>
 <li>Betrayal trauma</li>
 <li>Relying on one&#39;s own &quot;giftedness&quot;</li>
</ul>

Solomon: Wisdom and How Wealth and Fame can lead to a downfall.

This podcast explores The Bible as a work of literature. We dig into themes, patterns, motifs, archetypes, and all kinds of literary criticism and interpretations. We also tackle controversial topics from The Bible, and riff on listener generated questions and topics.