Table of Contents
P ART 1. ARRIVAL......................................................................................................... 104
1. A childless couple ............................................................................................... 104
2. Travel to Springfield ........................................................................................... 107
3. The reception ...................................................................................................... 109 PART 2. SURVIVAL....................................................................................................... 111
4. The hunt for Samson ........................................................................................... 111
5. In Paris, Illinois .................................................................................................. 113
6. Delilah................................................................................................................. 114
7. Against Dagan .................................................................................................... 117
In the early 1940s, God felt the Illinoisans acted badly, so God gave them a corrupt legislature for 40 years. It was in Springfield, Illinois – the state capital.1
During this time, there was a man in Lincoln, Illinois named Menoah. His wife couldn’t have children.2
A soldier of God wore a service uniform and drove a Jeep. This wasn’t unusual because it was during World War II. He pulled up to the wife and said to her, “I know you can’t conceive, but you will. You’ll have a baby – a boy.3 Please, don’t drink beer or anything strong, and watch what you eat.4 Also, don’t cut his hair. Your child will be a devoted follower of God, and he’ll begin to save Illinois from this legislature.”5
The woman told her husband what happened.6 She said their son will follow God from the day of birth until his death.7The wife told Menoah, and he begged God: “Oh, Lord, please return that soldier to us, so he can teach us what to do for this child.”8
God listened, and the soldier met the woman in the grocery store parking lot. Menoah wasn’t with her.9
1 Jud 13:01 And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD delivered them into the hand of the Philistines forty years.
2 Jud 13:02 And there was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren, and bare not.
3 Jud 13:03 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto the woman, and said unto her, Behold now, thou art barren, and bearest not: but thou shalt conceive, and bear a son.
4 Jud 13:04 Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink not wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing:
5 Jud 13:05 For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.
6 Jud 13:06 Then the woman came and told her husband, saying, A man of God came unto me, and his countenance was like the countenance of an angel of God, very terrible: but I asked him not whence he was, neither told he me his name:
7 Jud 13:07 But he said unto me, Behold, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and now drink no wine nor strong drink, neither eat any unclean thing: for the child shall be a Nazarite to God from the womb to the day of his death.
8 Jud 13:08 Then Manoah intreated the LORD, and said, O my Lord, let the man of God which thou didst send come again unto us, and teach us what we shall do unto the child that shall be born.
9 Jud 13:09 And God hearkened to the voice of Manoah; and the angel of God came again unto the woman as she sat in the field: but Manoah her husband was not with her.
Menoah got up from the couch, drove with his wife to the parking lot, and asked the soldier, “Are you the man who spoke to my wife?”
He said, “I am.”2
Menoah asked, “All right, please tell me: How should we raise this child? What should we do for him?”3
The soldier said to Menoah, “I told the woman to be attentive.4 She shouldn’t drink beer or anything strong, and she needs to watch what she eats.”5
Menoah replied, “Come to our house, and my wife will make you chicken and corn on the cob for a special dinner.”6
The soldier said, “I’m meeting you here, but I won’t eat your dinner. Make your dinner for Yahweh.” Note: Menoah didn’t know this soldier was the angel of God.7
Menoah asked, “What’s your name, so when the baby arrives, we can honor you?”8The soldier replied, “Why do you want to know my name?”9 Back at home, Menoah made chicken and corn on the cob – a popular meal in the central Illinois farmland. They drove to a local radio station.1 As they were sitting in the studio, sparks came off the console, and suddenly the soldier was with them. He took the meal. Menoah and his wife could hardly believe their eyes.2
1 Jud 13:10 And the woman made haste, and ran, and shewed her husband, and said unto him, Behold, the man hath appeared unto me, that came unto me the other day.
2Jud 13:11 And Manoah arose, and went after his wife, and came to the man, and said unto him, Art thou the man that spakest unto the woman? And he said, I am.
3Jud 13:12 And Manoah said, Now let thy words come to pass. How shall we order the child, and how shall we do unto him?
4Jud 13:13 And the angel of the LORD said unto Manoah, Of all that I said unto the woman let her beware.
5Jud 13:14 She may not eat of any thing that cometh of the vine, neither let her drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing: all that I commanded her let her observe.
6Jud 13:15 And Manoah said unto the angel of the LORD, I pray thee, let us detain thee, until we shall have made ready a kid for thee.
7Jud 13:16 And the angel of the LORD said unto Manoah, Though thou detain me, I will not eat of thy bread: and if thou wilt offer a burnt offering, thou must offer it unto the LORD. For Manoah knew not that he was an angel of the LORD.
8Jud 13:17 And Manoah said unto the angel of the LORD, What is thy name, that when thy sayings come to pass we may do thee honour?
9Jud 13:18 And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it is secret?
At that moment, Menoah knew this soldier was the angel of God. But they never saw him again.3 Menoah said to his wife, “We’re going to die, because we’ve seen Yahweh.”4
His wife replied, “If Yahweh wanted us dead, he wouldn’t have accepted our dinner. Also, he wouldn’t have shown us and told us all these things.”5The woman had a son, and she named him Samson. The child grew, and God blessed him.6 The Spirit of God raised him in Lincoln, Illinois.7
1 Jud 13:19 So Manoah took a kid with a meat offering, and offered it upon a rock unto the LORD: and the angel did wonderously; and Manoah and his wife looked on.
2Jud 13:20 For it came to pass, when the flame went up toward heaven from off the altar, that the angel of the LORD ascended in the flame of the altar. And Manoah and his wife looked on it, and fell on their faces to the ground.
3Jud 13:21 But the angel of the LORD did no more appear to Manoah and to his wife. Then Manoah knew that he was an angel of the LORD.
4Jud 13:22 And Manoah said unto his wife, We shall surely die, because we have seen God.
5Jud 13:23 But his wife said unto him, If the LORD were pleased to kill us, he would not have received a burnt offering and a meat offering at our hands, neither would he have shewed us all these things, nor would as at this time have told us such things as these.
6Jud 13:24 And the woman bare a son, and called his name Samson: and the child grew, and the LORD blessed him.
7Jud 13:25 And the Spirit of the LORD began to move him at times in the camp of Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol.
2. Travel to Springfield
In the early 1960s, Samson was 20 years old. He rode his motorcycle 32 miles (51 km) to the state capital: Springfield, Illinois. He saw a woman there –
Samson returned to his home in Lincoln, Illinois. He said to his father and his mother, “I met a fantastic gal in Springfield. Can you help me marry her?”2
His parents replied, “Isn’t there a woman in our town you can marry – instead of someone from a corrupt political family?”
Samson said, “Mom, Dad, help me – I want her.”3
His father and his mother didn’t know that these wishes were actually from God, because God wanted a way to attack the state legislature. This crooked group had firm control over Illinois.4
The three family members traveled on Route 66 to Springfield. Samson rode
The three family members traveled on Route 66 to Springfield. Samson rode wheel truck almost hit Samson, but he was OK.5 The spirit of God came on Sampson. With his bare hands, Samson ripped up the truck like it was a plastic toy. But he didn’t tell his parents what had happened.6
While in Springfield, Samson took the young lady on a date, and he was delighted. Samson and his parents left.7After a time, the three began their return to Springfield so Samson could propose marriage. On the way, Samson saw the body of the destroyed 18-wheel truck. It had been converted into a roadside stand, and a man was selling an iced honey drink from it.8
1 Jud 14:01 And Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines.
2Jud 14:02 And he came up, and told his father and his mother, and said, I have seen a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines: now therefore get her for me to wife.
3Jud 14:03 Then his father and his mother said unto him, Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines? And Samson said unto his father, Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well.
4Jud 14:04 But his father and his mother knew not that it was of the LORD, that he sought an occasion against the Philistines: for at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel.
5Jud 14:05 Then went Samson down, and his father and his mother, to Timnath, and came to the vineyards of Timnath: and, behold, a young lion roared against him.
6Jud 14:06 And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand: but he told not his father or his mother what he had done.
7Jud 14:07 And he went down, and talked with the woman; and she pleased Samson well.
8Jud 14:08 And after a time he returned to take her, and he turned aside to see the carcase of the lion: and, behold, there was a swarm of bees and honey in the carcase of the lion.
Samson bought three large cups of the refreshment. Drinking as he went, Samson rode up to his father driving the car, and he gave his parents their cups. Samson rode up to his father driving the car, and he gave his parents their cups. wheeler.1
1Jud 14:09 And he took thereof in his hands, and went on eating, and came to his father and mother, and he gave them, and they did eat: but he told not them that he had taken the honey out of the carcase of the lion. 3. The receptionSamson’s father met with the woman’s family and helped arrange the 1marriage. They had a large wedding reception there – as young adults like to do. When other politically corrupt families learned there would be a reception, 30 young punks from the families crashed the party.2
Samson said to the 30, “Guys, let me give you a challenge. If you can solve it in the seven hours this reception will last, I’ll give you 30 leather jackets.3 But if you can’t solve it, you’ll give me 30 sport team jackets – a different one for every team.”4
They said to him, “All right, give us your challenge.”Samson replied, “Out of the 18 came food. Out of the strong came sweetness.”
In three hours the punks hadn’t solved the challenge.5 They said to Samson’s wife, “Talk your husband into telling us the answer. If you won’t, we’ll burn your father’s house down. Do you want us to buy 30 expensive team jackets?”6
A short time after, Samson’s wife cried to him, “You hate me, because you gave everyone a challenge, and you won’t tell me the answer.”Samson replied, “I haven’t even told my father or mother, so why should I tell you?”7
She cried from hour four to hour six. Finally, Samson told her. She then told the answer to the punks.8 At the seventh hour and 59th minute, the 30 party crashers said to Samson, “Hey Samson, what’s stronger than an 18-wheel truck? What’s sweeter than an iced honey drink?”
1 Jud 14:10 So his father went down unto the woman: and Samson made there a feast; for so used the young men to do.
2Jud 14:11 And it came to pass, when they saw him, that they brought thirty companions to be with him.
3Jud 14:12 And Samson said unto them, I will now put forth a riddle unto you: if ye can certainly declare it me within the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then I will give you thirty sheets and thirty change of garments:
4Jud 14:13 But if ye cannot declare it me, then shall ye give me thirty sheets and thirty change of garments. And they said unto him, Put forth thy riddle, that we may hear it.
5Jud 14:14 And he said unto them, Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness. And they could not in three days expound the riddle.
6Jud 14:15 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they said unto Samson’s wife, Entice thy husband, that he may declare unto us the riddle, lest we burn thee and thy father’s house with fire: have ye called us to take that we have? is it not so?
7Jud 14:16 And Samson’s wife wept before him, and said, Thou dost but hate me, and lovest me not: thou hast put forth a riddle unto the children of my people, and hast not told it me. And he said unto her, Behold, I have not told it my father nor my mother, and shall I tell it thee?
8Jud 14:17 And she wept before him the seven days, while their feast lasted: and it came to pass on the seventh day, that he told her, because she lay sore upon him: and she told the riddle to the children of her people.
The Spirit of God came onto Samson, and he rode to a truck stop along Route 66 – in Williamsville, Illinois (in 1865, President Abraham Lincoln’s funeral train rode through this town). Samson mugged 30 truckers and motorcycle gang members. He took their leather jackets. Still angry, Samson rode back to his father-in-law’s house and handed out the jackets.2 But, Samson’s wife was sleeping with Samson’s best man. Samson didn’t know this yet.3
When he had returned to his father-in-law’s house, Samson wanted to give his wife a double cheeseburger – her favorite food. He asked, “Is my wife in her bedroom?”
But, her father wouldn’t allow Samson to enter, saying,4 “I thought you hated her now. So, I’m letting her spend time with your friend. Isn’t your sister-in-law more beautiful than your wife? Please take her instead.”5
Samson said, “This time, nobody can blame me for what I do to you political families.”6Samson took his motorcycle and kicked it so sparks came from the exhaust. Then, carrying a gas can, he rode through the wheat fields like a fox, leaving a stream of fire behind him.7 Entire crops burned. He also torched many taverns and bars in the city.8
1 Jud 14:18 And the men of the city said unto him on the seventh day before the sun went down, What is sweeter than honey? and what is stronger than a lion? And he said unto them, If ye had not plowed with my heifer, ye had not found out my riddle.
2Jud 14:19 And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon, and slew thirty men of them, and took their spoil, and gave change of garments unto them which expounded the riddle. And his anger was kindled, and he went up to his father’s house.
3Jud 14:20 But Samson’s wife was given to his companion, whom he had used as his friend. 4Jud 15:01 But it came to pass within a while after, in the time of wheat harvest, that Samson visited his wife with a kid; and he said, I will go in to my wife into the chamber. But her father would not suffer him to go in.
5Jud 15:02 And her father said, I verily thought that thou hadst utterly hated her; therefore I gave her to thy companion: is not her younger sister fairer than she? take her, I pray thee, instead of her. 6Jud 15:03 And Samson said concerning them, Now shall I be more blameless than the Philistines, though I do them a displeasure.
7Jud 15:04 And Samson went and caught three hundred foxes, and took firebrands, and turned tail to tail, and put a firebrand in the midst between two tails.
8Jud 15:05 And when he had set the brands on fire, he let them go into the standing corn of the Philistines, and burnt up both the shocks, and also the standing corn, with the vineyards and olives.
Later, members of the corrupt legislature asked, “Who did these crimes?”
They said, “A guy named Samson. He’s the son-in-law of a State Senator. This happened because the Senator gave Samson’s wife to Samson’s best man.”
The legislature gave secret orders to two cooperative criminals: Break into the father-in-law and daughter’s house and kill them. This took place.1
After discovering their deaths, Samson went into the state capitol building, walked into a major legislative session in the House Chamber, and stepped up to the podium. Samson said into the microphone, “Now, I’ll take revenge on this legislature.”2
Samson stepped down, and nobody knew he had blocked off all the doors. With his hands, Samson proceeded to beat and kill many of the representatives. He escaped and rode his motorcycle to Decatur, Illinois (“Soybean Capital of the World”). He hid in the Decatur Staleys football field (the Staleys are now the Chicago Bears NFL team).3
The Illinois state police followed and set up a base in Decatur, and they spread themselves out in Macon County.4 The citizens of Decatur asked the state police, “Why are you here bothering us?”
The police said, “To arrest Samson and bring him to justice.”5Three hundred citizens of Decatur went down to the football field and asked Samson, “Do you understand the power of the legislature? What have you done to us?”
Samson replied, “What they did to me I did to them.”61 Jud 15:06 Then the Philistines said, Who hath done this? And they answered, Samson, the son in law of the Timnite, because he had taken his wife, and given her to his companion. And the Philistines came up, and burnt her and her father with fire.
2Jud 15:07 And Samson said unto them, Though ye have done this, yet will I be avenged of you, and after that I will cease.
3 Jud 15:08 And he smote them hip and thigh with a great slaughter: and he went down and dwelt in the top of the rock Etam.
4Jud 15:09 Then the Philistines went up, and pitched in Judah, and spread themselves in Lehi. 5Jud 15:10 And the men of Judah said, Why are ye come up against us? And they answered, To bind Samson are we come up, to do to him as he hath done to us.
6Jud 15:11 Then three thousand men of Judah went to the top of the rock Etam, and said to Samson, Knowest thou not that the Philistines are rulers over us? what is this that thou hast done unto us? And he said unto them, As they did unto me, so have I done unto them.
Samson said, “Swear to me that you won’t fight me yourselves.”1
They replied, “We swear we won’t kill you. But we will tie you up.”
They bound him with two new chains and took him from the field.2
When Samson came to Decatur, the police shouted as they apprehended him. The Spirit of God came on Samson, and he snapped the chains and handcuffs.3 He found a tire iron, grabbed it, and struck a hundred officers with it.4
Samson thought, “I killed a hundred men – with a tire iron.”5All this happened in the Decatur police station parking lot. Samson tossed aside the tire iron, and6 he was thirsty. Samson said to God, “You’ve rescued me, but now I’ll die of thirst, and they’ll get me.”7
Suddenly, God opened a fire hydrant, and water came out of it. When Samson drank, his spirit revived. The name of this street was renamed Fountain Avenue. It is in Decatur to this day.8
After this event, Samson was named a judge in Decatur. He served for 20 years.91 Jud 15:12 And they said unto him, We are come down to bind thee, that we may deliver thee into the hand of the Philistines. And Samson said unto them, Swear unto me, that ye will not fall upon me yourselves.
2Jud 15:13 And they spake unto him, saying, No; but we will bind thee fast, and deliver thee into their hand: but surely we will not kill thee. And they bound him with two new cords, and brought him up from the rock.
3Jud 15:14 And when he came unto Lehi, the Philistines shouted against him: and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and the cords that were upon his arms became as flax that was burnt with fire, and his bands loosed from off his hands.
4Jud 15:15 And he found a new jawbone of an ass, and put forth his hand, and took it, and slew a thousand men therewith.
5Jud 15:16 And Samson said, With the jawbone of an ass, heaps upon heaps, with the jaw of an ass have I slain a thousand men.
6Jud 15:17 And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking, that he cast away the jawbone out of his hand, and called that place Ramath-lehi.
7Jud 15:18 And he was sore athirst, and called on the LORD, and said, Thou hast given this great deliverance into the hand of thy servant: and now shall I die for thirst, and fall into the hand of the uncircumcised?
8Jud 15:19 But God clave an hollow place that was in the jaw, and there came water thereout; and when he had drunk, his spirit came again, and he revived: wherefore he called the name thereof En-hakkore, which is in Lehi unto this day.
9Jud 15:20 And he judged Israel in the days of the Philistines twenty years.
5. In Paris, Illinois
Samson was popular in Decatur, but he was a wanted man elsewhere in
Illinois. Still, in the early 1980s, the 40-year-old judge rode his motorcycle 82
miles (131 km) to Paris, Illinois (named after Paris, Kentucky…which was named
in thanks for French assistance during the American Revolution), and he met with
a prostitute.1 The Parisians were aware of Samson’s arrival. They encircled the
town and quietly laid in wait for Samson. They said, “We’ll kill him in the
morning.”2
Samson woke up at midnight, and he slowly rode his motorcycle down the main street. Police cars were used as barricades, and Samson quietly chained two of them to his motorcycle. Then, Samson broke the barricade, and he dragged the two cars all the way to the football stadium in the University of Illinois.3
1 Jud 16:01 Then went Samson to Gaza, and saw there an harlot, and went in unto her.
2Jud 16:02 And it was told the Gazites, saying, Samson is come hither. And they compassed him in, and laid wait for him all night in the gate of the city, and were quiet all the night, saying, In the morning, when it is day, we shall kill him.
3Jud 16:03 And Samson lay till midnight, and arose at midnight, and took the doors of the gate of the city, and the two posts, and went away with them, bar and all, and put them upon his should