The Hebrew word behind stir
is not used to describe the relationship between Spirit and any other judge in the book. The Spirit came
upon Othniel and Jephthah (Judges 3:10; Judges 11:29). The Spirit clothed
Gideon (Judges 6:34). Between Abimelech and the Shechemite leaders God sent
an evil spirit (Judges 9:23). Samson, however, receives the Spirit on four discrete occasions, which is three times more than any other judge: the Spirit stirred
Samson in Judges 13:25, and he came mightily
upon him in Judges 14:6, Judges 14:19; Judges 15:14. The verb to stir
points to a great deal of verve and vigor and vitality in the arrival of Yahweh’s Spirit.
1 It foreshadows something of what Samson’s career will look like: restless, passionate, erratic, turbulent.2
25 And the Spirit of the LORD began to stir him in Mahaneh-dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.