Samson was a Nazarite:

Samson came into contact with many many dead bodies. Sometimes, thousands at a time. So, what does that mean in light of:

Help me out here, Scholars.

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Ok, not just the Scholars then. You lesser folks may folks may also help me out.

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They weren't dead when he donkey-jawed 'em...

Expiration usually takes a {period} of time. "Instantaneous death" is a modern term.

Samson's real violation regarding a dead thing was his getting into the carcasse of the lion he killed.

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Thanks, Bruce.

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It also seems pretty obvious to me that he doesn't take his vow very seriously at all. He hangs out with Pagan chicks, gets drunk, eats honey out of a dead carcass, etc.

The hair thing was kind of the last straw.

His story perfectly matches the refrain of Judges: "There was no king in the land and everyone did what was right in his own eyes...."

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I think Rich is exactly right is describing the faithlessness of Samuel. And it seems that Samson is a good example of God using a crooked stick to draw a straight line.
Another interesting aspect of this is that, by all appearances, Samson and Samuel were born about the same time. (Samson's conflict with the Philistines seems to best fit the time period between Eli's death immediately following the battle of Aphek and the battle of Ebenezer, some 20 years later - see Jud. 15:20. This puts Samson in between Eli and Samuel. It may, although this is just speculation on my part, have been the fall of Dagon's temple that inspired the Israelite revival in 1 Sam. 7:3-9)

If Samson is, as has been pointed out, and example of "Everyone doing what was right in his own eyes", then Samuel is the contrasting figure. Samson was unfaithful to his vows, Samuel was not. Samson's leadership drove Israel into further idolotry, while Samuel led them out of the same.

Samson's faithlessness, then, sets up a) a stunning contrast to Samuel, and b) a preview of God's ability to use other sinful men connected to Samuel (Saul and David) to accomplish his will.

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