How we cite our quotes: (Chapter:Verse)
Quote #4
After this he fell in love with a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah. (NRSV 16:4)
And it came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah. (KJV 16:4)
"The purpose of a man is to love a woman."—Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders. Samson, more than anyone else in Judges, covers the two main requirements of traditional masculinity: love of fighting, and love of women. Does the way his romantic relationships go make him more of a man, or less?
Quote #5
While they were enjoying themselves, the men of the city, a depraved lot, surrounded the house, and started pounding on the door. They said to the old man, the master of the house, "Bring out the man who came into your house, so that we may have intercourse with him." And the man, the master of the house, went out to them and said to them, "No, my brothers, do not act so wickedly. Since this man is my guest, do not do this vile thing. Here are my virgin daughter and his concubine; let me bring them out now. Ravish them and do whatever you want to them; but against this man do not do such a vile thing." But the men would not listen to him. So the man seized his concubine, and put her out to them. They wantonly raped her, and abused her all through the night until the morning. And as the dawn began to break, they let her go. (NRSV 19:22)
Now as they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, certain sons of Belial, beset the house round about, and beat at the door, and spake to the master of the house, the old man, saying, Bring forth the man that came into thine house, that we may know him. And the man, the master of the house, went out unto them, and said unto them, Nay, my brethren, nay, I pray you, do not so wickedly; seeing that this man is come into mine house, do not this folly. Behold, here is my daughter a maiden, and his concubine; them I will bring out now, and humble ye them, and do with them what seemeth good unto you: but unto this man do not so vile a thing. But the men would not hearken to him: so the man took his concubine, and brought her forth unto them; and they knew her, and abused her all the night until the morning: and when the day began to spring, they let her go. (KJV 19:22)
This is the biggest masculinity fail in all of Judges, and is probably the most damning evidence that Israel's morality was in the toilet. Masculinity usually involves the protection of family, but here the men are either cowards who give up those in their care to murderous sexual aggressors, or are the aggressors themselves.