This is a simplified version of the Bible story found in Judges 15, written for children to understand. For the original version, please refer to the Bible passage.
Once upon a time, there was a man named Samson. Samson loved his wife and wanted to visit her, so he brought a young goat as a gift. But when he got to his wife’s house, her father told Samson that he had given her away to someone else because he thought Samson didn’t want her anymore.
Samson was very angry and wanted to get revenge on the people who took his wife away. He came up with a plan to catch 300 foxes and tie them together in pairs with torches between them. Then he let the foxes loose in the fields of the Philistines, who were their enemies. The foxes set the grain and olive orchards on fire, causing a lot of damage.
The Philistines found out that Samson had done this and were very angry. They burned Samson’s wife and father-in-law with fire. Samson was very upset and promised to get revenge on the Philistines. He fought them and won, but the Philistines wanted to capture him and make him their prisoner.
Samson’s own people, the men of Judah, didn’t like what he had done either. They wanted to hand him over to the Philistines. Samson made a deal with them. He asked them to swear that they wouldn’t attack him themselves. They agreed to only bind him and give him to the Philistines.
The Philistines tied Samson up with new ropes and took him to a place called Lehi. When they got there, they started shouting and taunting him. But then something amazing happened! The Spirit of the Lord rushed upon Samson, and the ropes that were tying him up fell off his hands like melted butter.
Samson found a jawbone of a donkey and used it to fight against the Philistines. With the jawbone, he killed 1,000 men! When he was finished, he threw the jawbone away. Samson was very thirsty after the battle, and he called out to the Lord for help. God answered his prayer and made water come out of a rock for him to drink.
In the end, Samson judged Israel for 20 years during the time of the Philistines.
Biblical Lessons
- God can use anyone, even someone who makes mistakes, to accomplish great things.
- When we ask for God’s help, He can provide for our needs.
- God is always with us, even in the midst of difficult situations.
- Our actions have consequences, both good and bad.
Related Stories
Must-Read Christian Books
Knowing God
A classic that helps believers move from knowing about God to truly knowing Him in a personal and biblical way.
View on Amazon
Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life
Practical, biblical guidance on disciplines like prayer, Bible intake, worship, and fasting to grow in godliness.
View on Amazon
Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God
Shows how God's sovereignty in salvation fuels, rather than hinders, faithful evangelism.
View on Amazon
Pilgrim Theology
An accessible summary of Reformed theology that connects doctrine to the Christian life.
View on Amazon
A Call to Spiritual Reformation
Walks through Paul's prayers to teach believers how to pray biblically and God-centeredly.
View on Amazon
Basic Christianity
A timeless introduction to who Jesus is and what it means to follow Him according to Scripture.
View on Amazon
Finally Alive
A biblical exploration of the new birth and why regeneration is at the heart of the Christian life.
View on Amazon
Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands
Biblical counseling and discipleship that helps believers speak God's truth into one another's lives.
View on Amazon
Living the Cross-Centered Life
A call to keep Christ's cross at the center of our thinking, worship, and daily living.
View on Amazon
The Reformed Doctrine of Predestination
Explains and defends the doctrines of grace and God's sovereign election from Scripture.
View on Amazon
The Mortification of Sin
A Puritan classic urging believers to put sin to death by the power of the Spirit.
View on Amazon
The Attributes of God
Devotional meditations on God's character that stir reverence and worship.
View on Amazon
Spiritual Leadership
Biblical principles for godly leadership in the church, home, and workplace.
View on Amazon
Reformed Dogmatics (Single Volume Abridgement)
A rich, Reformed systematic theology that is deeply biblical and Christ-centered.
View on Amazon
The Hiding Place
The story of Corrie ten Boom's faith and forgiveness in the midst of Nazi persecution.
View on Amazon