How does Samson's last request—"Let me die with the Philistines!" (Judg 16:30)—inform our understanding of suicide? ...That God would empower Samson to take his own life should make us cautious about adopting too rigid an opinion on the matter. The Bible contains no specific prohibition against suicide, no designation of it as a 'mortal sin' (as in Catholicism). Commentators and ethicists often cite the laws on murder in this regard, but those statutes govern homicide not suicide (Manuel 2006). The penalty for transgressing the commandment against murder is death (i.e., execution), indicating that this particular prohibition concerns the taking of another person's life not the taking of one's own life. In other words, the Bible distinguishes suicide from homicide. Although scripture contains several examples of suicide, the writers simply record the act without comment, neither commending (as courageous) nor condemning (as cowardous) the party responsible.
So, what can we say about suicide? At its heart, suicide is linked to suffering. It is either an act of despair by one who is experiencing great suffering or an act of dread by one who is expecting great suffering. Incidents of suicide in the Bible include the following:2
In the biblical accounts of suicide, each one follows the loss of hope for relief from extreme suffering in this life. We cannot judge whether or not the situations of those men were, indeed, without recourse. It is difficult to identify a truly hopeless situation with any certainty. Nevertheless, it is the question we must ask and the one whose answer we must help those contemplating suicide to find: Is the situation truly hopeless, or is there a way out that is yet unnoticed? A more urgent problem than the morality of suicide is the spiritual and mental despondency that drags people down to it. Bear in mind that...
alternative to the hopelessness that often attends suicide.
If a person has already committed suicide, leaving behind a grieving family, the first and most helpful response may be simply to offer our presence and our willingness to listen (mostly without commentary and certainly without condemnation). Later, if the opportunity arises, it may be appropriate to offer a biblical perspective on the matter (perhaps as outlined above, although not necessarily to that detail). If the incident involved a non-believer, we should not offer false hope, and it might be best not to pursue the matter further. If, however, the incident involved a believer, we can offer some hope by stressing the mercy of God.
[2] Those who actually succeed to commit suicide include:
So, what can we say about suicide? At its heart, suicide is linked to suffering. It is either an act of despair by one who is experiencing great suffering or an act of dread by one who is expecting great suffering. Incidents of suicide in the Bible include the following:2
- Samson, already blind, pulled the temple of Dagon down on himself as well as on the Philistines because (?) he despaired of continuing as their prisoner.
- Saul (1 Sam 31:4-5), already critically wounded, fell on his own sword because he dreaded that falling into Philistine hands would lead to greater suffering.
- Saul's attendant, perhaps also dreading mistreatment by the Philistines, fell on his own sword.
- Ahithophel, Absalom's counselor, hanged himself either because he despaired of supporting the new king when Absalom did not heed his advice concerning David or because he dreaded the revenge of David, who had just escaped.
- Zimri, having lost the throne of the Northern Kingdom to Omri, burned his own palace while he was still inside, because he dreaded that falling into his opponent's hands would lead to greater suffering.
- Judas, having betrayed Jesus, hanged himself, because he despaired of his guilt.
In the biblical accounts of suicide, each one follows the loss of hope for relief from extreme suffering in this life. We cannot judge whether or not the situations of those men were, indeed, without recourse. It is difficult to identify a truly hopeless situation with any certainty. Nevertheless, it is the question we must ask and the one whose answer we must help those contemplating suicide to find: Is the situation truly hopeless, or is there a way out that is yet unnoticed? A more urgent problem than the morality of suicide is the spiritual and mental despondency that drags people down to it. Bear in mind that...
1 Cor 10:13 No temptation [or 'test'] has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted [or 'tested'] beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out [not necessarily so that you can escape but] so that you can stand up under it.Therefore, the most helpful response to a person contemplating suicide may be to foster hope, hope in God's ability to turn a bad situation to a person's ultimate advantage.
Rom 8:28 ...in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.Such assurance is available to those who know and love God, and it provides an
alternative to the hopelessness that often attends suicide.
If a person has already committed suicide, leaving behind a grieving family, the first and most helpful response may be simply to offer our presence and our willingness to listen (mostly without commentary and certainly without condemnation). Later, if the opportunity arises, it may be appropriate to offer a biblical perspective on the matter (perhaps as outlined above, although not necessarily to that detail). If the incident involved a non-believer, we should not offer false hope, and it might be best not to pursue the matter further. If, however, the incident involved a believer, we can offer some hope by stressing the mercy of God.
Ps 103:8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.... 13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; 14 for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.Whatever uncertainty there may be about a person's eternal destiny, we can be confident that the judge of all the earth will do right (cf. Gen 18:25).
Bibliography
- Manuel, Paul (http://paulwmanuel.blogspot.com), 2006, "on Hostility" (Exod 20:13), in the sermon series The Decalogue. A Summary of God's Precepts for God's People.
- Manuel, 2010, Judges: The Struggle for Autonomy.
Endnotes
[1] This is an excerpt from Manuel 2010.[2] Those who actually succeed to commit suicide include:
- Samson
Judg 16:30 Samson said, "Let me die with the Philistines!" Then he pushed with all his might, and down came the temple on the rulers and all the people in it. Thus he killed many more when he died than while he lived.
- Saul
1 Sam 31:4 Saul said to his armor-bearer, "Draw your sword and run me through, or these uncircumcised fellows will come and run me through and abuse me." But his armor-bearer was terrified and would not do it; so Saul took his own sword and fell on it.
- Saul's attendant
1 Sam 31:5 When the armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he too fell on his sword and died with him.
- Ahithophel
2 Sam 17:23 When Ahithophel saw that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set off for his house in his hometown. He put his house in order and then hanged himself. So he died and was buried in his father's tomb.
- Zimri
1 Kgs 16:18 When Zimri saw that the city was taken, he went into the citadel of the royal palace and set the palace on fire around him. So he died,
- Judas Matt 27:5 So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.
- Jailer
Acts 16:27 The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped.
- Unnamed
Rev 9:6 During those days men will seek death, but will not find it; they will long to die, but death will elude them.
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