Samson and Heracles Revisited

A Hellenistic First Testament: The Views of Minimalist Scholars

“…Pterelaus loses power and subsequently dies because of the loss of his golden hair (Apollodorus, Library 2, 4, 7), as Samson loses strength with his hair cut (Judg 16:19-20) (Wajdenbaum 2011: 224-29). I have adduced additional parallels between Hercules and Samson (Gnuse 2018).…”

“…(5) The sacrifice of Iphigenia in two plays by Euripides may have inspired the account of Jephthah's sacrifice of his daughter in Judges 11 (under submission). (6) A number of Greek legends about Heracles appear to have influenced the Samson narratives in Judges 13-16, at a late date, most likely the Hellenistic era (Gnuse 2018). 7"The Rape of the Sabine Women" as an old tale recalled by Livy and Plutarch may be the template for the abducted girls in Judges 21 (Gnuse 2007).…”