Samson [Hardcover]

Vladimir Jabotinsky (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English, German, Russian (translation)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 348 pages
• Publisher: Distributed by Sparks (1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0933447019
• ISBN-13: 978-0933447011
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.9 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,579,751 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars " Collect iron , choose a king , and learn to laugh"., June 8, 2006

By 

Gary Selikow (Great Kush) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Samson (Hardcover)

Samson , who'se legendary exploits can be found in Judges (13-16) has been an inspiration to writers, poets and artists for centuries.
In the Land of Israel, 1000 BCE , the Israelites are ruled by the Phillistines.
Budding Israelite revolutionary Samson wants to marry Semadar , a Phillistine , though it is her younger sister Elinoar , who really wants Samson. After his marriage to Semadar , he is estranged from his wife , who he believes has betrayed him by revealing the riddle that he asked the Phillistines.

After a few months , he comes back to claim his wife , but her father has married her to someone else.
This sparks Samson's rage , and in the ensuing fight , the Phillistines murder Semadar and her father , and Samson becomes a hunted man. Samson , scorning Elinoar , becomes a guerilla and a respected judge among his people, striking fear into the hearts of the Phillistines , enemies of the Israelites.
But Elinoar , now re-emerges as Delilah , captures Samsons heart , discovers his weakness and betrays him to the Phillistines.
Samson is blinded by the Phillistines who use him for sport. Several years later, as a captive of the Phillistines, he regains his strength , and takes revenge , killing thousands of Phillistines , together with himself.
Ze'ev Jabotinsky , Zionist leader , writer, philosopher and educator , adapts this story of Samson , in this brilliant novel , first written in 1927.
It made a great impact on Jewish youth of the time , and especially on member's of Jabotinsky's Betar Movement.
It inspired many later works on the story of Samson and Delilah , including the 1949 Cecil B. DeMille Paramount film starring Hedy Lamarr and Victor Mature.
Jabotinsky , a genius and visionary , used this novel to communicate his thoughts on the issued facing the Jewish people at the time , and the coming fight of the Jewish Nation , for freedom and survival.
The immortal message of Samson to the Israelite people before his death , rings out to the people of Israel and world Jewry today : " Collect iron , choose a king , and learn to laugh".

2 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jabotinsky's great fictional tale, December 4, 2005

By 

Seth J. Frantzman (Jerusalem, Israel) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Samson (Hardcover)

Jabotinsky, founder of the Jewish legion, polemist, and revisionsit Israeli pioneer, wrote this book as a parable of the Jewish people and their experience in exile, especially their weakness in the face of anti-semitism and assimilation. This is his fictional account of the life of Samson, a controversial and alluring figure from the Bible. Samson, who appears for a short time in Judges, was a man of great strength who angels had said would lead Israel. However he was has a problemativ history, he married non-Jewish women and broke his nazarite vows. For Jabotinsky to weave his tale of the need for Jewish strength through the narrative of Samson is brilliant, the story is well written, the characters alive, the land and the history accurate and interesting. This is a wonderful book if one can get a hold of it.

Seth J. Frantzman