Previously, Balladeer’s Blog examined Samson myths depicting the figure as a sun god and Islamic variations of the Samson saga. In this third installment, I will look at Samson as depicted in The Legends of the Jews by Louis Ginzberg in 1909. For the first post in this series click HERE.
SAMSON IN THE LEGENDS OF THE JEWS – Samson was born the son of Manoah, a man of the Dan tribe and his wife Zelalponit aka Hazelalponit of the tribe of Judah.
NOTE: Though the Bible and many non-Biblical versions of the Samson tale reveal no name for Samson’s mother, the Babylonian Talmud and other sources provide the names mentioned above.
Typical of so many myths from around the world, Manoah and Zelalponit/ Hazelalponit had never had any children and had given up hope of having any. The Legends of the Jews does not deal with the angelic visits informing Samson’s parents of his impending birth so I will save that aspect of the story for a future installment. Continue reading
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LANE COLLEGE CONQUERS DIVISION ONE – NCAA Division Two’s LANE COLLEGE DRAGONS visited NCAA Division One’s TENNESSEE STATE TIGERS. A 13-10 Dragons edge at Halftime turned into a 20-17 lead to end the 3rd Quarter. The Tigers forced Overtime with a 20-20 tie to end Regulation, then scored 7 points in the extra session. Lane College took a gamble by going for 2 after notching a TD of their own and SUCCEEDED for a gutsy 28-27 Upset. 
TOPPLING NUMBER SIX – Staying in D2 for a moment, the MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE CHOCTAWS took it on the road against the number 6 team in the nation – the UNIVERSITY OF WEST GEORGIA WOLVES. The Wolves held a 21-10 advantage at the Half and a 28-23 lead in the 3rd Quarter. In the 4th the Choctaws came from behind to win this Instant Classic 39-38. 
DOWN GOES NUMBER SEVEN – Over in the NAIA the ARIZONA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY FIRESTORM welcomed the country’s number 7 team – the OTTAWA UNIVERSITY (AZ) SPIRIT. The Spirit were on top 24-9 at the break, but the Firestorm cut that to a 31-23 deficit in the 3rd Quarter before pulling out a 40-38 comeback victory in the 4th. 
This weekend’s light-hearted, escapist superhero post here at Balladeer’s Blog marks the start of Halloween Month with a retrospective on Marvel Comics’ 1970s horror figures like Ghost Rider, Satana the Devil’s Daughter, Werewolf by Night, Blade the Vampire Slayer, Son of Satan, Golem, the Living Mummy and the Simon Garth Zombie. 
WEREWOLF BY NIGHT – Since Marvel has a Werewolf by Night production coming out soon, we’ll start with this character. Moon Knight made his very first appearance in Werewolf by Night #32 (August 1975) but beat the werewolf to the screen this year. 
ONE-POINT WONDERS – The UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT PEMBROKE BRAVES welcomed the FROSTBURG STATE BOBCATS and snuck past them by a score of 10-9 ### And the TUSCULUM COLLEGE PIONEERS won 14-13 at the BARTON COLLEGE BULLDOGS. 
BLOWOUT – In this game the JOHNSON C. SMITH UNIVERSITY GOLDEN BULLS took the field against the ELIZABETH CITY STATE VIKINGS. The 1st Quarter ended in a 14-14 tie, but from there the Golden Bulls took control. By Halftime Johnson C. Smith University was up 35-14 on their way to a 49-14 triumph. 
SAMSON IN ISLAM – Right at the start, I’ll make it clear that there is no specific reference to Samson in the Koran. Period. In some of the other scholarly writings by Muslim authorities of the distant past they included Samson aka Shamsun by speculating that he was among the many unnamed prophets of their faith. 
NOTE: Yes, that still puts Samson’s existence before Muhammad was even born, but the academic and religious debates about this are outside the material I am covering in this post.
LOVE AND DEATH (1975) 
SAMSON AS A NON-BIBLICAL SUN GOD – Before getting into the Biblical and Talmudic Samson tales, let’s take a look at the tradition of Samson being an ancient sun deity. In this context his “seven locks/ braids of hair” were seven solar rays emanating from his head like in ancient artwork of other solar figures. 
DOWN GOES NUMBER TWO – Down in NCAA Division Three the 20th ranked BETHEL (MN) ROYALS played host to the number 2 team in the nation – the SAINT JOHN’S UNIVERSITY JOHNNIES. A 7-7 1st Quarter tie turned into a 10-7 Johnnies edge at the break and 17-14 to end the 3rd Quarter. In the 4th the Royals came from behind for a 28-24 victory. 
NUMBER THREE TAKES A FALL – In NCAA Division Two the UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA BRONCHOS (their spelling) welcomed the 3rd ranked NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE BEARCATS. The Bronchos put the Bearcats on Upset Alert by Halftime with a 13-7 lead, then carried through from there, winning the game 23-14. 
AND NUMBER SIX COMES TUMBLING AFTER – This D2 game pitted the traveling DELTA STATE STATESMEN against the number 6 team in the nation – the UNIVERSITY OF WEST FLORIDA ARGONAUTS. In DOUBLE OVERTIME the Statesmen emerged with a 45-42 Upset win. 
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