In order to understand what the sculpture depicts we should turn to the history of Samson as told by the “Judges” Book according to Jewish tradition.
Samson represents an exception in Jewish tradition as he was chosen even before his birth by the God to serve the People of Israel (as opposed to Samuel who before his birth was chosen to serve the God). He was to begin the liberation from the Philistine rule. His mission was announced to his mother but upon a condition that he would abstain from consuming alcoholic beverages. He got the heavenly blessing but was obliged to observe some (though not all) of the restrictions of a “nazir” (a hermit) and to follow his heart.
Samson’s strength is not physical one. According to a Jewish tradition only that that is able to overcome an evil nature within him is strong. During his entire life Samson was compelled to live amidst the idolaters, among the Philistine corruption, but he was able to preserve the purity of heart and thought, to cast away his pride. This is his strength and that what helped him to obtain a heavenly assistance in his task of liberating the People of Israel from the Philistine yoke.
At about the age of twenty, because of his deeds, Samson becomes the Judge and he judges the People of Israel for twenty years. He is the only Judge, whose activities do not end with the words “and he has died”. He transferred his judicial duties to Eli, continuing to attack Philistines. After one of his deeds, putting the gates of Gaza atop of one of Judea Mountains, he is hiding in the Sorek River area, were he is helped by the Philistine woman, Delilah. Samson is a human being having all the human weaknesses. He commits two mistakes. The first one is when after his striking down the Philistines by ass’s jaw he fills himself up with pride instead of praising the God. The punishment is swift and thirsting Samson understands his mistake and repents of it.
His second mistake he is committing when he tells Delilah about his mission. His punishment is a loss of sight (as he followed not his heart but his eyes looking at Delilah) and Philistine slavery.
At the idolaters’ temple Samson, casting away his pride, asks the Heaven to provide him with strength to deal with Philistines and to accomplish his mission.
The mask underneath his feet is his pride cast away. The smile at his face expresses the joy that the heavenly help has returned to him and that he is now able to accomplish his mission. Three thousand Philistines were killed under the ruins of Dagon’s temple at Ashkelon.
