Samson Escapes Gaza

1  וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ (And went) שִׁמְשׁ֖וֹן (Samson) עַזָּ֑תָה (to Gaza) וַיַּרְא־ (and saw) שָׁם֙ (there) אִשָּׁ֣ה (a woman), זוֹנָ֔ה (a prostitute), וַיָּבֹ֖א (and he went in) אֵלֶֽיהָ׃ (to her).

2  לַֽעַזָּתִ֣ים׀ (To the Gazites) לֵאמֹ֗ר (it was said), בָּ֤א (Has come) שִׁמְשׁוֹן֙ (Samson) הֵ֔נָּה (here). וַיָּסֹ֛בּוּ (And they surrounded) וַיֶּאֶרְבוּ־ (and lay in wait) ל֥וֹ (for him) כָל־ (all) הַלַּ֖יְלָה (the night) בְּשַׁ֣עַר (at the gate) הָעִ֑יר (of the city), וַיִּתְחָרְשׁ֤וּ (and they were quiet) כָל־ (all) הַלַּ֙יְלָה֙ (the night), לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), עַד־ (At) א֥וֹר (the light), הַבֹּ֖קֶר (of the morning), וַהֲרְגְנֻֽהוּ׃ (then we will kill him).

3  וַיִּשְׁכַּ֣ב (And lay down) שִׁמְשׁוֹן֮ (Samson) עַד־ (until) חֲצִ֣י (the middle) הַלַּיְלָה֒ (of the night). וַיָּ֣קָם׀ (And he arose) בַּחֲצִ֣י (in the middle) הַלַּ֗יְלָה (of the night) וַיֶּאֱחֹ֞ז (and took hold) בְּדַלְת֤וֹת (of the doors) שַֽׁעַר־ (of the gate) הָעִיר֙ (of the city), וּבִשְׁתֵּ֣י (and the two) הַמְּזוּז֔וֹת (gateposts), וַיִּסָּעֵם֙ (and he pulled them up) עִֽם־ (along with) הַבְּרִ֔יחַ (the bar), וַיָּ֖שֶׂם (and he put them) עַל־ (on) כְּתֵפָ֑יו (his shoulders), וַֽיַּעֲלֵם֙ (and he brought them up) אֶל־ (to) רֹ֣אשׁ (the top) הָהָ֔ר (of the hill) אֲשֶׁ֖ר (that) עַל־ (is at) פְּנֵ֥י (the face) חֶבְרֽוֹן׃פ (of Hebron).

Samson and Delilah

4  וַֽיְהִי֙ (And it came to pass) אַחֲרֵי־ (after) כֵ֔ן (thus), וַיֶּאֱהַ֥ב (that he loved) אִשָּׁ֖ה (a woman) בְּנַ֣חַל (in the Valley) שֹׂרֵ֑ק (of Sorek), וּשְׁמָ֖הּ (and her name was) דְּלִילָֽה׃ (Delilah). 5  וַיַּעֲל֨וּ (And came up) אֵלֶ֜יהָ (to her) סַרְנֵ֣י (the lords) פְלִשְׁתִּ֗ים (of the Philistines) וַיֹּ֨אמְרוּ (and said) לָ֜הּ (to her), פַּתִּ֣י (Entice) אוֹת֗וֹ (him) וּרְאִי֙ (and find out) בַּמֶּה֙ (in what is) כֹּח֣וֹ (his power) גָד֔וֹל (great), וּבַמֶּה֙ (and by what) נ֣וּכַל (we may overpower) ל֔וֹ (him), וַאֲסַרְנֻ֖הוּ (that we may bind him) לְעַנֹּת֑וֹ (to afflict him). וַאֲנַ֙חְנוּ֙ (And we) נִתַּן־ (will give) לָ֔ךְ (to you), אִ֕ישׁ (each man), אֶ֥לֶף (a thousand) וּמֵאָ֖ה (and a hundred shekels) כָּֽסֶף׃ (of silver).

6  וַתֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) דְּלִילָה֙ (Delilah) אֶל־ (to) שִׁמְשׁ֔וֹן (Samson), הַגִּֽידָה־ (Tell) נָּ֣א (please) לִ֔י (me), בַּמֶּ֖ה (in what is) כֹּחֲךָ֣ (your power) גָד֑וֹל (great), וּבַמֶּ֥ה (and with what) תֵאָסֵ֖ר (may you be bound) לְעַנּוֹתֶֽךָ׃ (to afflict you).

7  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) אֵלֶ֙יהָ֙ (to her) שִׁמְשׁ֔וֹן (Samson), אִם־ (If) יַאַסְרֻ֗נִי (they bind me) בְּשִׁבְעָ֛ה (with seven) יְתָרִ֥ים (bowstrings) לַחִ֖ים (fresh) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) לֹא־ (not) חֹרָ֑בוּ (have been dried), וְחָלִ֥יתִי (and I shall become weak) וְהָיִ֖יתִי (and I will be) כְּאַחַ֥ד (as any) הָאָדָֽם׃ (man).

8  וַיַּעֲלוּ־ (And brought up) לָ֞הּ (to her) סַרְנֵ֣י (the lords) פְלִשְׁתִּ֗ים (of the Philistines) שִׁבְעָ֛ה (seven) יְתָרִ֥ים (bowstrings) לַחִ֖ים (fresh) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) לֹא־ (not) חֹרָ֑בוּ (had been dried), וַתַּאַסְרֵ֖הוּ (and she bound him) בָּהֶֽם׃ (with them). 9  וְהָאֹרֵ֗ב (And they were lying in wait), יֹשֵׁ֥ב (staying) לָהּ֙ (with her) בַּחֶ֔דֶר (in the room). וַתֹּ֣אמֶר (And she said) אֵלָ֔יו (to him), פְּלִשְׁתִּ֥ים (The Philistines are) עָלֶ֖יךָ (upon you), שִׁמְשׁ֑וֹן (Samson).

וַיְנַתֵּק֙ (And he broke) אֶת־ (-) הַיְתָרִ֔ים (the bowstrings) כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר (as) יִנָּתֵ֤ק (breaks) פְּתִֽיל־ (a strand) הַנְּעֹ֙רֶת֙ (of yarn) בַּהֲרִיח֣וֹ (at its touching) אֵ֔שׁ (the fire). וְלֹ֥א (And not) נוֹדַ֖ע (was known) כֹּחֽוֹ׃ (his power).

10  וַתֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) דְּלִילָה֙ (Delilah) אֶל־ (to) שִׁמְשׁ֔וֹן (Samson), הִנֵּה֙ (Behold), הֵתַ֣לְתָּ (you have mocked) בִּ֔י (me) וַתְּדַבֵּ֥ר (and told) אֵלַ֖י (to me) כְּזָבִ֑ים (lies). עַתָּה֙ (Now) הַגִּֽידָה־ (tell) נָּ֣א (please) לִ֔י (me), בַּמֶּ֖ה (with what) תֵּאָסֵֽר׃ (may you be bound).

11  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And he said) אֵלֶ֔יהָ (to her), אִם־ (If) אָס֤וֹר (binding) יַאַסְר֙וּנִי֙ (they securely bind me) בַּעֲבֹתִ֣ים (with ropes) חֲדָשִׁ֔ים (new) אֲשֶׁ֛ר (that) לֹֽא־ (never) נַעֲשָׂ֥ה (were used) בָהֶ֖ם (in) מְלָאכָ֑ה (work), וְחָלִ֥יתִי (and I shall become weak), וְהָיִ֖יתִי (and be) כְּאַחַ֥ד (like any) הָאָדָֽם׃ (man).

12  וַתִּקַּ֣ח (Therefore took) דְּלִילָה֩ (Delilah) עֲבֹתִ֨ים (ropes) חֲדָשִׁ֜ים (new), וַתַּאַסְרֵ֣הוּ (and bound him) בָהֶ֗ם (with them), וַתֹּ֤אמֶר (and she said) אֵלָיו֙ (to him), פְּלִשְׁתִּ֤ים (The Philistines are) עָלֶ֙יךָ֙ (upon you), שִׁמְשׁ֔וֹן (Samson).

וְהָאֹרֵ֖ב (And they were lying in wait), יֹשֵׁ֣ב (staying) בֶּחָ֑דֶר (in the room). וַֽיְנַתְּקֵ֛ם (And he broke them) מֵעַ֥ל (off) זְרֹעֹתָ֖יו (his arms) כַּחֽוּט׃ (like a thread).

13  וַתֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) דְּלִילָ֜ה (Delilah) אֶל־ (to) שִׁמְשׁ֗וֹן (Samson), עַד־ (Until) הֵ֜נָּה (now) הֵתַ֤לְתָּ (you have mocked) בִּי֙ (me) וַתְּדַבֵּ֤ר (and told) אֵלַי֙ (to me) כְּזָבִ֔ים (lies). הַגִּ֣ידָה (Tell) לִּ֔י (me), בַּמֶּ֖ה (what with) תֵּאָסֵ֑ר (you may be bound).

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And he said) אֵלֶ֔יהָ (to her), אִם־ (If) תַּאַרְגִ֗י (you weave) אֶת־ (-) שֶׁ֛בַע (the seven) מַחְלְפ֥וֹת (locks) רֹאשִׁ֖י (of my head) עִם־ (into) הַמַּסָּֽכֶת׃ (the web of the loom).

14  וַתִּתְקַע֙ (And she wove it tightly) בַּיָּתֵ֔ד (with a pin), וַתֹּ֣אמֶר (and said) אֵלָ֔יו (to him) פְּלִשְׁתִּ֥ים (The Philistines are) עָלֶ֖יךָ (upon you), שִׁמְשׁ֑וֹן (Samson).

וַיִּיקַץ֙ (And he awoke) מִשְּׁנָת֔וֹ (from his sleep) וַיִּסַּ֛ע (and pulled out) אֶת־ (out) הַיְתַ֥ד (the pin) הָאֶ֖רֶג (of the loom), וְאֶת־ (and with it) הַמַּסָּֽכֶת׃ (the web).

Delilah Learns the Secret

15  וַתֹּ֣אמֶר (And she said) אֵלָ֗יו (to him), אֵ֚יךְ (How) תֹּאמַ֣ר (can you say), אֲהַבְתִּ֔יךְ (I love you), וְלִבְּךָ֖ (and your heart is) אֵ֣ין (not) אִתִּ֑י (with me). זֶ֣ה (This is) שָׁלֹ֤שׁ (three) פְּעָמִים֙ (times) הֵתַ֣לְתָּ (you have mocked) בִּ֔י (me), וְלֹא־ (and you have not) הִגַּ֣דְתָּ (have told) לִּ֔י (me) בַּמֶּ֖ה (in what is) כֹּחֲךָ֥ (your power) גָדֽוֹל׃ (great).

16  וַ֠יְהִי (And it came to pass), כִּֽי־ (when) הֵצִ֨יקָה (she had pressed) לּ֧וֹ (him) בִדְבָרֶ֛יהָ (with her words), כָּל־ (all) הַיָּמִ֖ים (the days) וַתְּאַֽלֲצֵ֑הוּ (and pleaded), וַתִּקְצַ֥ר (and was grieved) נַפְשׁ֖וֹ (his soul) לָמֽוּת׃ (to death), 17  וַיַּגֶּד־ (that he told) לָ֣הּ (her) אֶת־ (-) כָּל־ (all) לִבּ֗וֹ (his heart) וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (and said) לָהּ֙ (to her), מוֹרָה֙ (A razor) לֹֽא־ (not) עָלָ֣ה (has ever come) עַל־ (upon) רֹאשִׁ֔י (my head). כִּֽי־ (For) נְזִ֧יר (a Nazirite) אֱלֹהִ֛ים (to God) אֲנִ֖י (I am) מִבֶּ֣טֶן (from womb) אִמִּ֑י (of my mother). אִם־ (If) גֻּלַּ֙חְתִּי֙ (I am shaven), וְסָ֣ר (and will leave) מִמֶּ֣נִּי (me) כֹחִ֔י (my power), וְחָלִ֥יתִי (and I shall become weak) וְהָיִ֖יתִי (and be) כְּכָל־ (as any) הָאָדָֽם׃ (man).

18  וַתֵּ֣רֶא (And saw) דְלִילָ֗ה (Delilah) כִּֽי־ (that) הִגִּ֣יד (he had told) לָהּ֮ (her) אֶת־ (-) כָּל־ (all) לִבּוֹ֒ (his heart), וַתִּשְׁלַ֡ח (and she sent) וַתִּקְרָא֩ (and called) לְסַרְנֵ֨י (for the lords) פְלִשְׁתִּ֤ים (of the Philistines), לֵאמֹר֙ (saying), עֲל֣וּ (Come up) הַפַּ֔עַם (once more), כִּֽי־ (for) הִגִּ֥יד (he has told) לָהּ (me) אֶת־ (-) כָּל־ (all) לִבּ֑וֹ (his heart).

וְעָל֤וּ (And came up) אֵלֶ֙יהָ֙ (to her) סַרְנֵ֣י (the lords) פְלִשְׁתִּ֔ים (of the Philistines) וַיַּעֲל֥וּ (and brought) הַכֶּ֖סֶף (the silver) בְּיָדָֽם׃ (in their hands).

19  וַתְּיַשְּׁנֵ֙הוּ֙ (And she put him to sleep) עַל־ (on) בִּרְכֶּ֔יהָ (her knees), וַתִּקְרָ֣א (and called) לָאִ֔ישׁ (for the man), וַתְּגַלַּ֕ח (and had him shave off) אֶת־ (-) שֶׁ֖בַע (the seven) מַחְלְפ֣וֹת (locks) רֹאשׁ֑וֹ (of his head). וַתָּ֙חֶל֙ (And she began) לְעַנּוֹת֔וֹ (to subdue him), וַיָּ֥סַר (and turned aside) כֹּח֖וֹ (his power) מֵעָלָֽיו׃ (from him). 20  וַתֹּ֕אמֶר (And she said), פְּלִשְׁתִּ֥ים (The Philistines are) עָלֶ֖יךָ (upon you), שִׁמְשׁ֑וֹן (Samson).

וַיִּקַ֣ץ (And he awoke) מִשְּׁנָת֗וֹ (from his sleep) וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (and said), אֵצֵ֞א (I will go out) כְּפַ֤עַם (as before) בְּפַ֙עַם֙ (at other times) וְאִנָּעֵ֔ר (and shake myself free). וְהוּא֙ (And he) לֹ֣א (not) יָדַ֔ע (did know) כִּ֥י (that) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) סָ֥ר (had turned aside) מֵעָלָֽיו׃ (from him).

21  וַיֹּאחֲז֣וּהוּ (And took him) פְלִשְׁתִּ֔ים (the Philistines) וַֽיְנַקְּר֖וּ (and put out) אֶת־ (-) עֵינָ֑יו (his eyes), וַיּוֹרִ֨ידוּ (and they brought down) אוֹת֜וֹ (him) עַזָּ֗תָה (to Gaza), וַיַּאַסְר֙וּהוּ֙ (and they bound him) בַּֽנְחֻשְׁתַּ֔יִם (with bronze shackles). וַיְהִ֥י (And he was) טוֹחֵ֖ן (grinding) בְּבֵ֥ית (in the house) הָאֲסִירִים׃ (of the imprisoned).

22  וַיָּ֧חֶל (And began) שְׂעַר־ (the hair) רֹאשׁ֛וֹ (of his head) לְצַמֵּ֖חַ (to grow again) כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר (after) גֻּלָּֽח׃פ (it had been shaved).

Samson’s Vengeance and Death

23  וְסַרְנֵ֣י (And the lords) פְלִשְׁתִּ֗ים (of the Philistines) נֶֽאֱסְפוּ֙ (gathered together) לִזְבֹּ֧חַ (to offer) זֶֽבַח־ (a sacrifice) גָּד֛וֹל (great) לְדָג֥וֹן (to Dagon) אֱלֹהֵיהֶ֖ם (their god), וּלְשִׂמְחָ֑ה (and to rejoice). וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ (And they said), נָתַ֤ן (Has delivered) אֱלֹהֵ֙ינוּ֙ (Our god) בְּיָדֵ֔נוּ (into our hand) אֵ֖ת (-) שִׁמְשׁ֥וֹן (Samson) אוֹיְבֵֽינוּ׃ (our enemy).

24  וַיִּרְא֤וּ (And saw) אֹתוֹ֙ (him) הָעָ֔ם (the people), וַֽיְהַלְל֖וּ (and they praised) אֶת־ (-) אֱלֹהֵיהֶ֑ם (their god), כִּ֣י (for) אָמְר֗וּ (they said),

נָתַ֨ן (Has delivered) אֱלֹהֵ֤ינוּ (our god) בְיָדֵ֙נוּ֙ (into our hand) אֶת־ (-) א֣וֹיְבֵ֔נוּ (our enemy)

וְאֵת֙ (and) מַחֲרִ֣יב (he who destroyed) אַרְצֵ֔נוּ (our land),

וַאֲשֶׁ֥ר (and the one who) הִרְבָּ֖ה (multiplied) אֶת־ (-) חֲלָלֵֽינוּ׃ (our dead).

25  וַֽיְהִי֙ (And it came to pass), כִּי (-) טוֹב (when were merry) לִבָּ֔ם (their hearts), וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ (that they said), קִרְא֥וּ (Call) לְשִׁמְשׁ֖וֹן (for Samson), וִישַֽׂחֶק־ (that he may perform) לָ֑נוּ (for us). וַיִּקְרְא֨וּ (And they called) לְשִׁמְשׁ֜וֹן (for Samson) מִבֵּ֣ית (from the house) האסירים (of the imprisoned), וַיְצַחֵק֙ (and he performed) לִפְנֵיהֶ֔ם (for them). וַיַּעֲמִ֥ידוּ (And they stationed) אוֹת֖וֹ (him) בֵּ֥ין (between) הָעַמּוּדִֽים׃ (the pillars).

26  וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) שִׁמְשׁ֜וֹן (Samson) אֶל־ (to) הַנַּ֨עַר (the boy) הַמַּחֲזִ֣יק (who held him) בְּיָדוֹ֮ (by the hand), הַנִּ֣יחָה (Let) אוֹתִי֒ (me) וְהֵימִשֵׁנִי (and feel) אֶת־ (-) הָֽעַמֻּדִ֔ים (the pillars) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (which) הַבַּ֖יִת (the temple) נָכ֣וֹן (is established) עֲלֵיהֶ֑ם (on), וְאֶשָּׁעֵ֖ן (so that I can lean) עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃ (on them).

27  וְהַבַּ֗יִת (And the temple) מָלֵ֤א (was full) הָֽאֲנָשִׁים֙ (of the men) וְהַנָּשִׁ֔ים (and the women), וְשָׁ֕מָּה (and were there) כֹּ֖ל (all) סַרְנֵ֣י (the lords) פְלִשְׁתִּ֑ים (of the Philistines). וְעַל־ (And on) הַגָּ֗ג (the roof) כִּשְׁלֹ֤שֶׁת (about three) אֲלָפִים֙ (thousand) אִ֣ישׁ (men) וְאִשָּׁ֔ה (and women) הָרֹאִ֖ים (were watching) בִּשְׂח֥וֹק (while performed) שִׁמְשֽׁוֹן׃ (Samson).

28  וַיִּקְרָ֥א (And called) שִׁמְשׁ֛וֹן (Samson) אֶל־ (to) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) וַיֹּאמַ֑ר (and said), אֲדֹנָ֣י (O Lord) יֱהֹוִ֡ה (YHWH), זָכְרֵ֣נִי (remember me), נָא֩ (please), וְחַזְּקֵ֨נִי (and Strengthen me), נָ֜א (please), אַ֣ךְ (just) הַפַּ֤עַם (once) הַזֶּה֙ (this), הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים (O God), וְאִנָּקְמָ֧ה (that I may take vengeance) נְקַם־ (with vengeful blow) אַחַ֛ת (one) מִשְּׁתֵ֥י (for two) עֵינַ֖י (my eyes) מִפְּלִשְׁתִּֽים׃ (against the Philistines).

29  וַיִּלְפֹּ֨ת (And took hold) שִׁמְשׁ֜וֹן (of Samson) אֶת־ (-) שְׁנֵ֣י׀ (of two) עַמּוּדֵ֣י (pillars) הַתָּ֗וֶךְ (the middle) אֲשֶׁ֤ר (which) הַבַּ֙יִת֙ (the temple) נָכ֣וֹן (was established) עֲלֵיהֶ֔ם (on), וַיִּסָּמֵ֖ךְ (and he braced himself) עֲלֵיהֶ֑ם (against them), אֶחָ֥ד (one) בִּימִינ֖וֹ (on his right) וְאֶחָ֥ד (and one) בִּשְׂמֹאלֽוֹ׃ (on his left). 30  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) שִׁמְשׁ֗וֹן (Samson), תָּמ֣וֹת (Let die) נַפְשִׁי֮ (me) עִם־ (with) פְּלִשְׁתִּים֒ (the Philistines).

וַיֵּ֣ט (And he pushed) בְּכֹ֔חַ (with power), וַיִּפֹּ֤ל (and fell) הַבַּ֙יִת֙ (the temple) עַל־ (on) הַסְּרָנִ֔ים (the lords), וְעַל־ (and) כָּל־ (all) הָעָ֖ם (the people) אֲשֶׁר־ (who were) בּ֑וֹ (in it). וַיִּהְי֤וּ (And were) הַמֵּתִים֙ (the dead) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) הֵמִ֣ית (he killed) בְּמוֹת֔וֹ (at his death) רַבִּ֕ים (more) מֵאֲשֶׁ֥ר (than) הֵמִ֖ית (he had killed) בְּחַיָּֽיו׃ (in his life).

31  וַיֵּרְד֨וּ (And came down) אֶחָ֜יו (his brothers) וְכָל־ (and all) בֵּ֣ית (house) אָבִיהוּ֮ (of his father), וַיִּשְׂא֣וּ (and they lifted) אֹתוֹ֒ (him) וַֽיַּעֲל֣וּ׀ (and brought him up), וַיִּקְבְּר֣וּ (and buried) אוֹת֗וֹ (him) בֵּ֤ין (between) צָרְעָה֙ (Zorah) וּבֵ֣ין (and between) אֶשְׁתָּאֹ֔ל (Eshtaol) בְּקֶ֖בֶר (in the tomb) מָנ֣וֹחַ (of Manoah) אָבִ֑יו (his father). וְה֛וּא (And He) שָׁפַ֥ט (had judged) אֶת־ (-) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (Israel) עֶשְׂרִ֥ים (twenty) שָׁנָֽה׃פ (years).