The narrative of Samson (Judg 13-16) occupies a prominent place within the book of Judges. Settled between the failed kingship of Abimelech in Judges 9, and several narratives containing the refrain “in those days there was no king in Israel” (Judg 17:6, 18:1, 19:1, 21:25; indicating the apparent societal failures in the absence of a king), it seems to foreshadow the possibility of Samson as an ideal king. As a possessor of extraordinary strength, a lion-killer, and dispenser of wisdom (adept at navigating riddles), Samson would parallel well the ideology of kingship within the broader ancient Near East. However, we see that Samson never steps into this role or lives up to these expectations. This paper examines Samson in light of these ideals, along with his ultimate failure, within the broader narrative of the book of Judges.