WERE SAMSON AND HERCULES REAL?
There are both real and unlikely aspects of the stories of these men. If there is some truth in the stories, then much of it is probably exaggerated.
Samson
A lot of the stories told of Samson do not seem realistic. His strength and fighting abilities do not seem possible. However, there may hidden truths in his stories. It is possible that Samson was a judge of Israel and a great fighter that began the Israelites’ resistance to the Philistines, and a strong man that completed many heroic tasks. Whether or not God was involved in Samson’s life is up for debate. If God was not involved in Samson’s life, then Samson’s story may just have been exaggerated. Samson could have lit foxes on fire, but it was most likely exaggerated that he lit 300 on fire. It is unlikely that the secret of his strength was in his hair and the cutting it caused his defeat. Samson could have married a Philistine woman and could have been betrayed by her, whereas it's improbable that he killed 1,000 Philistines with a donkey’s jawbone.
Hercules
The story of Samson is more likely to have occurred then the story of Hercules. This is because Hercules is mostly based off the Greek Gods. His 12 labors often included mythical creatures like the hydra. The Gods played a big role in his life, creating and solving a lot of his problems. It is possible that Hercules was loosely based off of a historical figure, though his story must have been drastically altered over time. All in all, Samson's story is more believable because there things that could've actually happened and were just exaggerated, whereas Hercules' story is mostly impossible.
HOW CAN THE STORIES OF SAMSON AND HERCULES BE GOOD LESSONS?
Samson
Samson was a violent man with a bad temper. He did not use his abilities for good. With this in mind, one may wonder why he is included in the bible. There are several lessons in his story. He is an example of how not to use one's abilities. If he had focused his abilities on something productive, he could've accomplished great things. God can work through anyone, and how God is in everybody. His weakness for the Philistine women that did him in. His passion for women was more important to him than God, which was the reason for his death.
Hercules
Hercules, morally, is opposite of Samson. He used his strength for good, in this he accomplished many things and helped many people. He endured many hardships, but he overcame them because he was determined. His story was positive and inspiring, where Samson's was the opposite.
There are both real and unlikely aspects of the stories of these men. If there is some truth in the stories, then much of it is probably exaggerated.
Samson
A lot of the stories told of Samson do not seem realistic. His strength and fighting abilities do not seem possible. However, there may hidden truths in his stories. It is possible that Samson was a judge of Israel and a great fighter that began the Israelites’ resistance to the Philistines, and a strong man that completed many heroic tasks. Whether or not God was involved in Samson’s life is up for debate. If God was not involved in Samson’s life, then Samson’s story may just have been exaggerated. Samson could have lit foxes on fire, but it was most likely exaggerated that he lit 300 on fire. It is unlikely that the secret of his strength was in his hair and the cutting it caused his defeat. Samson could have married a Philistine woman and could have been betrayed by her, whereas it's improbable that he killed 1,000 Philistines with a donkey’s jawbone.
Hercules
The story of Samson is more likely to have occurred then the story of Hercules. This is because Hercules is mostly based off the Greek Gods. His 12 labors often included mythical creatures like the hydra. The Gods played a big role in his life, creating and solving a lot of his problems. It is possible that Hercules was loosely based off of a historical figure, though his story must have been drastically altered over time. All in all, Samson's story is more believable because there things that could've actually happened and were just exaggerated, whereas Hercules' story is mostly impossible.
HOW CAN THE STORIES OF SAMSON AND HERCULES BE GOOD LESSONS?
Samson
Samson was a violent man with a bad temper. He did not use his abilities for good. With this in mind, one may wonder why he is included in the bible. There are several lessons in his story. He is an example of how not to use one's abilities. If he had focused his abilities on something productive, he could've accomplished great things. God can work through anyone, and how God is in everybody. His weakness for the Philistine women that did him in. His passion for women was more important to him than God, which was the reason for his death.
Hercules
Hercules, morally, is opposite of Samson. He used his strength for good, in this he accomplished many things and helped many people. He endured many hardships, but he overcame them because he was determined. His story was positive and inspiring, where Samson's was the opposite.