Parashat Naso 5785, 2025: "To Sanctify Hashem’s Name"

 










​Rabbi David Etengoff
 
ה' יעזור וירחם על אחינו כל בני ישראל בארץ ישראל ובכל חלקי הארץ
 
The laws pertaining to the Nazirite are found in this week’s parasha. As Chazal often chose a haftarah that parallels a subject found in its associated Torah portion, our haftarah focuses on the miraculous events preceding the birth of the most famous nazir of all time, Shimshon HaGibor. Our narrative begins with these words:

And there was one man from Zorah, from the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren and had not borne. And an angel of Hashem appeared to the woman, and said to her, “Behold now, you are barren and have not borne; and you shall conceive and bear a son. Consequently, beware now, and do not drink wine or strong drink, and do not eat any unclean thing. Because you shall conceive and bear a son; and a razor shall not come upon his head, for a nazir to Elokim shall the lad be from the womb; and he will begin to save Israel from the hand of the Philistines.” (Sefer Shoftim 13:2-5, this and all Tanach translations, The Judaica Press Complete Tanach)
 
The haftarah concludes with the birth of Shimshon and explicit statements that Hashem both blessed and rested His Divine spirit upon him: “And the woman bore a son and called his name Shimshon; and the lad grew, and Hashem blessed him. And the spirit of Hashem began to come to him at times in the camp of Dan...” (Sefer Shoftim 13:24-25)
 
Based upon his colorful nature and the all-too famous incident with Delilah, Shimshon emerges as one of the most misunderstood figures in Tanach. We are indeed fortunate that Chazal address these misperceptions and help reveal his authentic persona. The Torah teaches us that two of the twelve tribes received the appellation “gur aryeh.” Ya’akov Avinu bestowed this title on Yehudah and his descendants, and Moshe Rabbeinu did so regarding the tribe of Dan:

A cub (gur) [and] a grown lion (aryeh) is Judah. From the prey, my son, you withdrew. He crouched, rested like a lion, and like a lion, who will rouse him? (Ya’akov Avinu, Sefer Bereishit 49:9)
 
And of Dan he (Moshe) said: “Dan is a young lion (gur aryeh), streaming from Bashan.” (Sefer Devarim 33:22)
 
Midrash Bereishit Rabbah, Parashat Vayechi VII, explains “gur aryeh” as Ya’akov’s blessing to Yehudah to acquire “the strength of a lion and the temerity of a lion cub.” In his Commentary on the Torah on this verse (Sefer Bereishit 49:9), Rashi (1040-1105) notes that Ya’akov’s use of gur aryeh prophetically refers to Yehudah’s most famous descendant and forebear of the Mashiach, Dovid HaMelech (King David), who was the embodiment of both lion-like strength and great boldness. In addition, in Sefer Bereishit 49:16, we find: “Dan will avenge his people, like one, the tribes of Israel.” Basing himself on a variety of passages from Chazal, Rashi states:

All Israel will be like one with him, and he will avenge them all. Concerning Shimshon he [Ya’akov] uttered this prophecy. We can also explain, “like one, the tribes of Israel,” [as follows]: like the special one of the tribes, namely David, who came from Yehudah.
 
Rashi’s gloss underscores Chazal’s perception regarding the relationship between the tribe of Yehudah and the tribe of Dan that is exemplified by their most famous descendants, Dovid HaMelech and Shimshon. Midrash Bereishit Rabbah, Parashat Vayechi 14, gives this idea powerful voice: “Ya’akov Avinu saw him [Shimshon in a prophetic vision] and thought he was the Melech HaMashiach (the King Messiah)…” Clearly, Shimshon’s potential was nearly unlimited.
 
In my estimation, Shimshon’s status as one of the most outstanding Shoftim and protectors of the Jewish people is given its clearest expression in Rabbi Yochanan’s words, as found in Talmud Bavli, Sotah 10a:

Rabbi Yochanan said: “Shimshon judged the Jewish people just like their Father-in-Heaven. As the text states, ‘Dan will avenge his people, like one [Rashi — the One of the World Who renders righteous judgment], the tribes of Israel.’” (Sefer Bereishit 49:16). And [in addition,] Rabbi Yochanan said: “Shimshon was named after the name of the Holy One blessed be He. As the text states: ‘For a sun (shemesh — similar in Hebrew spelling to Shimshon) and a shield is Hashem; Hashem will give grace and glory; He will not withhold good from those who go with sincerity.’” (Sefer Tehillim 84:12, Talmud translation my own)
 
Rabbi Yochanan compares Shimshon to the Almighty in two respects, as an honest and forthright judge and as an authentic shomer Yisrael—guardian and defender of the Jewish people. In his view, this was the real Shimshon, regardless of his negative actions at different periods of his life.
 
I believe another aspect of Shimshon’s greatness is found in his willingness to do teshuvah, just as Dovid HaMelech sought to repent following his initial involvement with Batsheva. Shimshon rose to this level when he implored Hashem for the strength to destroy his idolatrous Philistine captors:
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And the people [Philistines] saw him (Shimshon) and praised their god, because they said, “Our god has delivered into our hands our enemy and the destroyer of our land, and who has slain many of us.” And Shimshon called to Hashem and said, “O’ L-rd G-d, remember me and strengthen me now, only this once O’ G-d, that I may be avenged the vengeance for one of my two eyes from the Philistines.” And Shimshon grasped the two pillars of the center, upon which the house rested, and leaned upon them, (the) one with his right hand and the other with his left. And Shimshon said, “Let my soul die with the Philistines,” and he bent with (his) might, and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. And the dead that he killed at his death were more than he had killed in his lifetime. (Sefer Shoftim 16:24,28-30)
 
When Hashem granted him this power, Shimshon was able to mekadash shame Shamayim b’rabim—sanctify Hashem’s name before the entire world. With Hashem’s help and our fervent desire, may we, too, dedicate ourselves to bring honor to His holy name. V’chane yihi ratzon.
 
Shabbat Shalom
 
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