Judges 16:4-19
After this he fell in love with a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah. The lords of the Philistines came to her and said to her, ‘Coax him, and find out what makes his strength so great, and how we may overpower him so that we may bind him in order to subdue him; and we will each give you eleven hundred pieces of silver.’ So Delilah said to Samson, ‘Please tell me what makes your strength so great, and how you could be bound, so that one could subdue you.’ Samson said to her, ‘If they bind me with seven fresh bowstrings that are not dried out, then I shall become weak, and be like anyone else.’ Then the lords of the Philistines brought her seven fresh bowstrings that had not dried out, and she bound him with them. While men were lying in wait in an inner chamber, she said to him, ‘The Philistines are upon you, Samson!’ But he snapped the bowstrings, as a strand of fiber snaps when it touches the fire. So the secret of his strength was not known. Then Delilah said to Samson, ‘You have mocked me and told me lies; please tell me how you could be bound.’ He said to her, ‘If they bind me with new ropes that have not been used, then I shall become weak, and be like anyone else.’ So Delilah took new ropes and bound him with them and said to him, ‘The Philistines are upon you, Samson!’ (The men lying in wait were in an inner chamber.) But he snapped the ropes off his arms like a thread. Then Delilah said to Samson, ‘Until now you have mocked me and told me lies; tell me how you could be bound.’ He said to her, ‘If you weave the seven locks of my head with the web and make it tight with the pin, then I shall become weak, and be like anyone else.’ So while he slept, Delilah took the seven locks of his head and wove them into the web, and made them tight with the pin. Then she said to him, ‘The Philistines are upon you, Samson!’ But he awoke from his sleep, and pulled away the pin, the loom, and the web. Then she said to him, ‘How can you say, “I love you,” when your heart is not with me? You have mocked me three times now, and have not told me what makes your strength so great.’ Finally, after she had nagged him with her words day after day, and pestered him, he was tired to death. So he told her his whole secret, and said to her, ‘A razor has never come upon my head; for I have been a nazirite to God from my mother’s womb. If my head were shaved, then my strength would leave me; I would become weak, and be like anyone else.’ When Delilah realized that he had told her his whole secret, she sent and called the lords of the Philistines, saying, ‘This time come up, for he has told his whole secret to me.’ Then the lords of the Philistines came up to her and brought the money in their hands. She let him fall asleep on her lap; and she called a man, and had him shave off the seven locks of his head. He began to weaken, and his strength left him.
Deeper Dive into the Passage
### Hypothesis 1: The Consequences of Betrayal and Weakness
The writer of Judges 16:4- 9 may have been trying to convey the severe consequences of betrayal and personal weakness. Samson, a Nazirite dedicated to God from birth, falls in love with Delilah, who ultimately betrays him for money. The passage states, “She let him fall asleep on her lap; and she called a man, and had him shave off the seven locks of his head” (Judges 16:19, NRSV). This act leads to Samson losing his strength, symbolising how personal weaknesses and misplaced trust can lead to one’s downfall. In the context of the period, this story would have served as a cautionary tale for the Israelites, who were often tempted to stray from their covenant with God. The audience would have understood the importance of loyalty to God and the dangers of succumbing to external temptations.
### Hypothesis 2: The Power of Divine Strength and Human Frailty
Another interpretation could be that the writer wanted to highlight the contrast between divine strength and human frailty. Samson’s strength was a gift from God, and his downfall came when he revealed the secret of his strength to Delilah. “Then she began to torment him, and his strength left him” (Judges 16:19, NRSV). This narrative underscores that human strength is ultimately dependent on divine favour and that turning away from God can lead to vulnerability and defeat.
For the original audience, this would have been a powerful reminder of their dependence on God for protection and success. It would have encouraged them to remain faithful and obedient to God’s commandments.
### Modern Interpretation
Today, this passage serves as a reminder of the importance of integrity, trust, and the consequences of betrayal. For instance, in a modern workplace, if someone shares confidential information with a competitor for personal gain, it can lead to the downfall of an entire company. This mirrors how Delilah’s betrayal led to Samson’s capture and humiliation.
### Historical Accuracy
It’s essential to understand that the Book of Judges is a mix of historical events, folklore, and theological messages. While there may have been a historical figure like Samson, the details of his life, including his supernatural strength and the dramatic events with Delilah, are likely embellished to convey moral and theological lessons. Scholars generally agree that while the core events may have some historical basis, the narrative’s primary purpose is didactic rather than strictly historical.
Judges 16:4-19
After this he fell in love with a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah. The lords of the Philistines came to her and said to her, ‘Coax him, and find out what makes his strength so great, and how we may overpower him so that we may bind him in order to subdue him; and we will each give you eleven hundred pieces of silver.’ So Delilah said to Samson, ‘Please tell me what makes your strength so great, and how you could be bound, so that one could subdue you.’ Samson said to her, ‘If they bind me with seven fresh bowstrings that are not dried out, then I shall become weak, and be like anyone else.’ Then the lords of the Philistines brought her seven fresh bowstrings that had not dried out, and she bound him with them. While men were lying in wait in an inner chamber, she said to him, ‘The Philistines are upon you, Samson!’ But he snapped the bowstrings, as a strand of fiber snaps when it touches the fire. So the secret of his strength was not known. Then Delilah said to Samson, ‘You have mocked me and told me lies; please tell me how you could be bound.’ He said to her, ‘If they bind me with new ropes that have not been used, then I shall become weak, and be like anyone else.’ So Delilah took new ropes and bound him with them and said to him, ‘The Philistines are upon you, Samson!’ (The men lying in wait were in an inner chamber.) But he snapped the ropes off his arms like a thread. Then Delilah said to Samson, ‘Until now you have mocked me and told me lies; tell me how you could be bound.’ He said to her, ‘If you weave the seven locks of my head with the web and make it tight with the pin, then I shall become weak, and be like anyone else.’ So while he slept, Delilah took the seven locks of his head and wove them into the web, and made them tight with the pin. Then she said to him, ‘The Philistines are upon you, Samson!’ But he awoke from his sleep, and pulled away the pin, the loom, and the web. Then she said to him, ‘How can you say, “I love you,” when your heart is not with me? You have mocked me three times now, and have not told me what makes your strength so great.’ Finally, after she had nagged him with her words day after day, and pestered him, he was tired to death. So he told her his whole secret, and said to her, ‘A razor has never come upon my head; for I have been a nazirite to God from my mother’s womb. If my head were shaved, then my strength would leave me; I would become weak, and be like anyone else.’ When Delilah realized that he had told her his whole secret, she sent and called the lords of the Philistines, saying, ‘This time come up, for he has told his whole secret to me.’ Then the lords of the Philistines came up to her and brought the money in their hands. She let him fall asleep on her lap; and she called a man, and had him shave off the seven locks of his head. He began to weaken, and his strength left him.
Deeper Dive into the Passage
### Hypothesis 1: The Consequences of Betrayal and Weakness
The writer of Judges 16:4- 9 may have been trying to convey the severe consequences of betrayal and personal weakness. Samson, a Nazirite dedicated to God from birth, falls in love with Delilah, who ultimately betrays him for money. The passage states, “She let him fall asleep on her lap; and she called a man, and had him shave off the seven locks of his head” (Judges 16:19, NRSV). This act leads to Samson losing his strength, symbolising how personal weaknesses and misplaced trust can lead to one’s downfall. In the context of the period, this story would have served as a cautionary tale for the Israelites, who were often tempted to stray from their covenant with God. The audience would have understood the importance of loyalty to God and the dangers of succumbing to external temptations.
### Hypothesis 2: The Power of Divine Strength and Human Frailty
Another interpretation could be that the writer wanted to highlight the contrast between divine strength and human frailty. Samson’s strength was a gift from God, and his downfall came when he revealed the secret of his strength to Delilah. “Then she began to torment him, and his strength left him” (Judges 16:19, NRSV). This narrative underscores that human strength is ultimately dependent on divine favour and that turning away from God can lead to vulnerability and defeat.
For the original audience, this would have been a powerful reminder of their dependence on God for protection and success. It would have encouraged them to remain faithful and obedient to God’s commandments.
### Modern Interpretation
Today, this passage serves as a reminder of the importance of integrity, trust, and the consequences of betrayal. For instance, in a modern workplace, if someone shares confidential information with a competitor for personal gain, it can lead to the downfall of an entire company. This mirrors how Delilah’s betrayal led to Samson’s capture and humiliation.
### Historical Accuracy
It’s essential to understand that the Book of Judges is a mix of historical events, folklore, and theological messages. While there may have been a historical figure like Samson, the details of his life, including his supernatural strength and the dramatic events with Delilah, are likely embellished to convey moral and theological lessons. Scholars generally agree that while the core events may have some historical basis, the narrative’s primary purpose is didactic rather than strictly historical.
