*Judges 16:1-21
Seduced by Delilah, Samson reveals the secret of his strength and is captured by the Philistines.
- Samson in Gaza:
- Samson visits Gaza, a Philistine city.
- He sees a prostitute and spends the night with her, defying societal norms and risking his safety.
- Gate of Gaza:
- At midnight, Samson leaves the city but encounters locked gates barring his exit.
- He tears off the city gates, posts, and bars, demonstrating his exceptional strength.
- Samson carries them to the top of a hill near Hebron, showcasing his prowess over the Philistines.
- Samson and Delilah:
- Samson falls in love with Delilah, a woman from the Valley of Sorek, despite the warnings of his parents.
- The rulers of the Philistines offer Delilah a substantial sum to discover the secret of Samson’s strength, aiming to subdue him.
- Delilah’s Deception:
- Delilah repeatedly asks Samson to reveal the source of his strength.
- Samson deceives her with false explanations, such as tying him with fresh bowstrings or new ropes.
- Samson’s Vulnerability:
- Delilah persists in her inquiries, wearing down Samson’s resistance.
- Eventually, Samson divulges the truth: his uncut hair is the symbol of his consecration to God and the source of his strength.
- Betrayal and Capture:
- Delilah betrays Samson’s trust, revealing the secret to the Philistine rulers.
- While Samson sleeps, Delilah calls for a man to shave off his hair, symbolically severing his connection to God and stripping him of his strength.
- The Philistines seize Samson, gouge out his eyes, and take him captive, marking the tragic culmination of his downfall.
16:1 Then went Samson to Gaza, and saw there an harlot, and went in unto her.
16:2 And it was told the Gazites, saying, Samson is come hither. And they compassed him in, and laid wait for him all night in the gate of the city, and were quiet all the night, saying, In the morning, when it is day, we shall kill him.
16:3 And Samson lay till midnight, and arose at midnight, and took the doors of the gate of the city, and the two posts, and went away with them, bar and all, and put them upon his shoulders, and carried them up to the top of an hill that is before Hebron.
16:4 And it came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah.
16:5 And the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and said unto her, Entice him, and see wherein his great strength lieth, and by what means we may prevail against him, that we may bind him to afflict him; and we will give thee every one of us eleven hundred pieces of silver.
16:6 And Delilah said to Samson, Tell me, I pray thee, wherein thy great strength lieth, and wherewith thou mightest be bound to afflict thee.
16:7 And Samson said unto her, If they bind me with seven green withs that were never dried, then shall I be weak, and be as another man.
16:8 Then the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven green withs which had not been dried, and she bound him with them.
16:9 Now there were men lying in wait, abiding with her in the chamber.
And she said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he brake the withs, as a thread of tow is broken when it toucheth the fire. So his strength was not known.
16:10 And Delilah said unto Samson, Behold, thou hast mocked me, and told me lies: now tell me, I pray thee, wherewith thou mightest be bound.
16:11 And he said unto her, If they bind me fast with new ropes that never were occupied, then shall I be weak, and be as another man.
16:12 Delilah therefore took new ropes, and bound him therewith, and said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And there were liers in wait abiding in the chamber. And he brake them from off his arms like a thread.
16:13 And Delilah said unto Samson, Hitherto thou hast mocked me, and told me lies: tell me wherewith thou mightest be bound. And he said unto her, If thou weavest the seven locks of my head with the web.
16:14 And she fastened it with the pin, and said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awaked out of his sleep, and went away with the pin of the beam, and with the web.
16:15 And she said unto him, How canst thou say, I love thee, when thine heart is not with me? thou hast mocked me these three times, and hast not told me wherein thy great strength lieth.
16:16 And it came to pass, when she pressed him daily with her words, and urged him, so that his soul was vexed unto death; 16:17 That he told her all his heart, and said unto her, There hath not come a razor upon mine head; for I have been a Nazarite unto God from my mother’s womb: if I be shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man.
16:18 And when Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, Come up this once, for he hath shewed me all his heart. Then the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and brought money in their hand.
16:19 And she made him sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head; and she began to afflict him, and his strength went from him.
16:20 And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him.
16:21 But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison house.