As a reminder, three laws apply to a lifelong Nazirite vow: he is forbidden to drink wine, he is forbidden to touch the dead, and he is forbidden to cut the hair of his head.
Samson’s hair was a symbol of the last remaining Nazirite vow he had. Because he had already drunk wine, he had touched the dead. Only the hair still retained the bond of “sanctification.” When the hair was cut, the connection between identity and mission was also severed. What is it about the cutting of hair that was the secret of his strength?
First, hair in the Bible symbolizes great power. People with some kind of inner fire that affects everyone around them. Such were Esau, who was completely covered in hair; Absalom, the son of David, who grew long hair; and Elijah the prophet, who is described as a man with hair. Even today, hair growth is considered an expression of the sometimes unbridled, unrestrained life instinct.
Second, we saw that Samson had already violated the two previous restrictions given to him,...
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