Topical Bible: Samson: Cohabits With Delilah, a Prostitute; Her Machinations With the Philistines to Overcome Him

◄ Samson: Cohabits With Delilah, a Prostitute; Her Machinations With the Philistines to Overcome Him ►

Topical Encyclopedia

Background:
Samson, a judge of Israel, is renowned for his extraordinary strength, which he derives from his Nazirite vow to God. His life is chronicled in the Book of Judges, where he is depicted as a complex character, both a deliverer of Israel and a man prone to personal weaknesses. One of the most pivotal episodes in Samson's life involves his relationship with Delilah, a woman from the Valley of Sorek, whose actions lead to his downfall.

Cohabitation with Delilah:
Samson's relationship with Delilah is marked by his infatuation and her betrayal. Judges 16:4 states, "After this, Samson fell in love with a woman in the Valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah." Delilah's background is not extensively detailed in the Scriptures, but her actions suggest she was aligned with the Philistines, Israel's enemies. The text implies that Delilah may have been a prostitute, as her interactions with Samson are transactional and motivated by financial gain.

Delilah's Machinations:
The Philistine rulers, aware of Samson's affection for Delilah, approach her with a proposition to discover the secret of his strength. Judges 16:5 records their offer: "Entice him, and find out the source of his great strength and how we can overpower him, so we may tie him up and subdue him. Each of us will give you eleven hundred shekels of silver." This substantial bribe indicates the Philistines' desperation to neutralize Samson, who had been a formidable adversary.

Delilah's attempts to extract the secret of Samson's strength are marked by persistence and deception. She repeatedly questions him, and Samson initially misleads her with false answers. Judges 16:6-14 recounts these interactions, where Samson provides misleading information about being bound with fresh bowstrings, new ropes, and weaving his hair into a loom, each time breaking free when the Philistines attempt to capture him.

Samson's Betrayal:
Delilah's persistence eventually wears down Samson. Judges 16:15-16 describes her emotional manipulation: "How can you say, ‘I love you,’ she asked, ‘when your heart is not with me? This is the third time you have deceived me and have not told me the source of your great strength.’ Because she tormented him with her nagging day after day until he was sick to death of it." Finally, Samson reveals the true source of his strength: his uncut hair, a symbol of his Nazirite vow to God.

The Fall of Samson:
Upon learning the truth, Delilah orchestrates Samson's capture. Judges 16:19-20 narrates the moment of betrayal: "Having lulled him to sleep on her lap, she called a man to shave off the seven braids of his hair. In this way she began to subdue him, and his strength left him. Then she called out, ‘Samson, the Philistines are upon you!’ When he awoke from his sleep, he thought, ‘I will go out as before and shake myself free.’ But he did not know that the LORD had departed from him."

The Philistines seize Samson, gouge out his eyes, and imprison him, leading to his eventual demise. This episode underscores the consequences of Samson's moral failings and the dangers of succumbing to temptation. Delilah's role in his downfall highlights the treachery and cunning of those who oppose God's chosen deliverers.