1. Ibzan, Elon, Abdon, and Samson
Lesson 15
Ibzan, Elon, Abdon, and Samson

2. Ibzan, Elon, Abdon Ibzan From Bethlehem (probably in Zebulun)
Had 30 sons and gave away 30 daughters in marriage
Judged for 7 years
Elon
From Zebulun and judged 10 years
Abdon
Had 40 sons and 30 grandsons who rode on 70 donkey colts
Lived and died in the hill country of Ephraim

3. The Cycle Begins Again Again, Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord
This time, the enemy was the Philistines
The Philistines oppressed Israel for 40 years
Remember the oppressors mentioned in the beginning of the story of Jephthah?

4. Overview of Samson Samson did some immoral things Gambled
Chose a wife contrary to the law because she pleased him
Visited a harlot
Samson is listed as a hero of faith (Heb. 11:32)
Jephthah, Samson, and Eli perhaps overlapped
Samson began to, but did not completely deliver Israel from the Philistines

5. Zorah

6. Foretelling of Samson’s Birth
Manoah lived in Zorah, on the border of Judah and Dan
Manoah’s wife was barren
The Angel of the Lord appeared to her to inform her that she would have a son
He was to be a Nazarite from birth
She was not to have wine or anything unclean

7. Foretelling of Samson’s Birth
She told her husband of the encounter
Manoah prayed that the Angel would come again
God listened, and the Angel appeared to her again while Manoah was not with her
She ran to get Manoah
Manoah sees the Angel and begins to ask questions about the son to come

8. Foretelling of Samson’s Birth
Manoah wanted the Angel to stay
The Angel will not eat the food and commands that a burnt offering be given to Jehovah
He asks the Angel His name
He does not give a direct answer, but wonderful
Manoah offers the goat and meal, and the Angel goes up into heaven with the flame of the offering
Manoah and his wife are afraid that they will die because they have seen the Lord
Samson is born

9. Samson and the Woman from Timnah
Samson wants a wife from the daughters of the Philistines in Timnah
Samson’s mother and father disapprove (they did not know it was of the Lord), but Samson insists!
On his way to Timnah, Samson kills a lion with his bare hands like it was a young goat
Samson continued to Timnah

10. Zorah
Timnah

11. Samson and the Woman from Timnah
Samson goes to Timnah again, this time to take her for his wife
On the way, he goes to see the carcass of the lion he had killed
There was honey in the lion, and Samson ate
Samson gave his parents some honey, too

12. Samson and the Woman from Timnah
Samson gives a feast for seven days
Samson poses a riddle to them, and essentially, places a bet
The bet is for 30 linen garments and 30 changes of clothes (for his companions)
“Out of the eater came something to eat, and out of the strong came something sweet”
They could not explain the riddle

13. Samson and the Woman from Timnah
The Philistines threaten Samson’s wife and family
She weeps excessively
Eventually, on the 7th day of the feast, Samson tells her, and she tells the Philistines
Samson kills 30 Philistines in Ashkelon to pay his bet
Samson’s father gives his wife to his best man

14. Zorah
Ashkelon
Timnah