Euripides’ play, Herakles, and the story of Samson in the book of Judges both appear to be similar in that Deities play a major role in the lives of the main human characters. One major difference however, as shown by the multiple instances of abandonment displayed by Zeus in Euripides’ play, is that Zeus, in my opinion, is shown to be selfish as oppose to God in the Book of Judges who exhibits benevolence by continuously interacting with Manoah and Samson and consistently remaining present in Samson’s life. I feel that both narratives contain many examples that support my point.
At the start of Euripides’ tale we find Amphitryon, Herakles’ foster father, desperately and unsuccessfully calling on Zeus, Herakles’ actual father, for help. While Herakles is away performing his last labor in Hades his wife Megara, their three children, and Amphitryon find themselves in grave danger in Thebes. A usurper by the name of Lykos has caused a civil war in the …show more content…
First, when he is on his way to Timnah with his parents to meet his potential wife a lion roars at him, but as the spirit of the lord rushes him, Samson is able to tear the lion apart with his bare hands. Then on a second occasion, Samson is so sure no one can solve his riddle he wagers thirty linen garments and thirty festal garments, but after his wife reveals the riddle Samson has to pay his debts. Again, the spirit of the lord rushes on to him and he goes to Ashkelon and kills thirty men and takes their spoil to pay back those who explained his riddle. Additionally, when the men of Judah turn him over to the Philistines in Lehi the spirit of the lord rushes on to him once more, and he is able to devour a thousand men with the jawbone of a donkey. After slaying his enemies Samson becomes thirsty and asks God if he is to die of thirst now, but God graciously responds by opening a hollow place and sending water to
At the start of Euripides’ tale we find Amphitryon, Herakles’ foster father, desperately and unsuccessfully calling on Zeus, Herakles’ actual father, for help. While Herakles is away performing his last labor in Hades his wife Megara, their three children, and Amphitryon find themselves in grave danger in Thebes. A usurper by the name of Lykos has caused a civil war in the …show more content…
First, when he is on his way to Timnah with his parents to meet his potential wife a lion roars at him, but as the spirit of the lord rushes him, Samson is able to tear the lion apart with his bare hands. Then on a second occasion, Samson is so sure no one can solve his riddle he wagers thirty linen garments and thirty festal garments, but after his wife reveals the riddle Samson has to pay his debts. Again, the spirit of the lord rushes on to him and he goes to Ashkelon and kills thirty men and takes their spoil to pay back those who explained his riddle. Additionally, when the men of Judah turn him over to the Philistines in Lehi the spirit of the lord rushes on to him once more, and he is able to devour a thousand men with the jawbone of a donkey. After slaying his enemies Samson becomes thirsty and asks God if he is to die of thirst now, but God graciously responds by opening a hollow place and sending water to