Items of Interest September 17, 2012 Issue

First archaeological evidence of Samson?

Nir Hasson

“Seal found by Israeli archeologists may give substance to Samson legend”
© 2012 Haaretz. Used with permission. July 30, 2012.

A small stone seal found recently in the excavations of Tel Beit Shemesh could be the first archaeological evidence of the story of the biblical Samson.

The seal, measuring 1.5 centimeters, depicts a large animal next to a human figure. The seal was found in a level of excavation that dates to the 11th century BCE. That was prior to the establishment of the Judean kingdom and is considered to be the period of the biblical judges—including Samson. Scholars say the scene shown on the artifact recalls the story in Judges of Samson fighting a lion. …

Not far from Beit Shemesh is Tel Batash, which is the biblical Timna, where Samson’s wife lived. As the Bible tells it, Samson was on his way to his engagement party when “a young lion roared against him” (Judges 14:5).

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