Samson at the Olympics - Paperback

by Loghan O'Pace (Illustrator), Leland P. Gamson (Author)

The ancient Greeks invite Israel to field a team at their Olympics. Israel sends a team with one member, Samson. Lampis, the legendary Spartan Olympian, mocks the Israelite for showing up. They, the Greeks, are world renowned athletes who train rigorously. The Hebrews, in contrast, spend their time studying their scripture and praying. Some of the Greeks have heard stories of a Hebrew, strong man, who dragged a forty ton gate forty miles in one day and could catch 300 foxes in one day. He got his strength from God. They didn't believe these reports, but then they didn't believe in the God of Israel either. In the first event, the discus throw, the Greeks are astounded when Samson throws his discuss out of the stadium and into the sea. The judges won't credit the Hebrew's toss, as they can't find the discuss. Samson makes certain, the judges can find his javelin in the next event. He tosses it into their chair. Again, his throw is not counted as it landed too close to the judges. In the third event, Lampis tries to trip Samson but winds up flipped backwards. Samson's finishes the race first, but he is disqualified for tripping the Spartan. The Greeks tie ten pounds of rock to Samson for the running broad jump. They say it is his Olympic number. Samson wins anyway and is granted his first win. To win the wrestling event, Samson is told he must beat everyone without resting. He does it and now he has two first place wins. In the final event, boxing, Samson is told they box as a team. Samson, is unphased, saying, "Twelve strong Spartans against me and the God of Israel. That sounds fair enough." Samson knocks down his twelve opponents and wins for Israel. The judges make one more effort to have a Greek, the Olympic winner. They offer to make Samson a Greek citizen if he will become clean shaven. Samson explains to them he will not break God's law, by cutting his hair and shaving off his beard. The judges respond, by the time he gets back to Israel, his hair will grow back. His fellow Hebrews will not know he shaved. Samson tells them God will know and it is God who gives him strength. The judges tell Samson he will not go down in history as an Olympian. This is why there is no mention of Samson in the ancient Greek Olympic records. However, his deeds of strength are recorded in the Bible.