Samson in rabbinic literature x. 13), was a member of that clan (comp. I Chronicles iv. 3). The name "Samson" is derived from "shemesh" ("sun"), so that Samson bore the name of God, who is also "a sun and shield" (Psalm lxxxiv. 12 [A. V. 11]); and as God protected Israel, so did Samson watch over it in his generation, judging the people even as did God. Samson's strength was divinely derived (Sotah 10a); and he further resembled God in requiring neither aid nor help (Genesis Rabba xcviii. 18). In the blessings which Jacob pronounced on the tribe of Dan (Genesis xlix. 16-17) he
Leaders of the tribes of Israel their request, only received inheritance on the east bank of the Jordan, and not in the Land of Canaan. The list begins with Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, who led the entire nation. Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh appear on this list as well as the list of the spies, the other ten spies having died in punishment for slandering the Holy Land. Leaders of the tribes of Israel The Torah gives several lists of leaders of the tribes of Israel. The first, and main, list appears in . It lists the