The first line of this prayer raises expectations that perhaps finally Samson is genuinely turning to Yahweh in humility and proper faith. But the next two lines dash this. Samson is portrayed as repeatedly putting personal ambitions ahead of Yahweh’s interests. There is virtually no difference between Samson and the Philistines with respect to seeking revenge. Rather than praying, “O Yahweh, let me deliver Israel,” Samson’s prayer is for personal revenge for his eyes. Self-interest dominates him to the end. Yet Yahweh controls the “circumstances so that Samson becomes an unwitting (if not
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