Samson and Delilah
Samson falls in love with Delilah, who is bribed by the Philistine lords to learn how he may be subdued. Samson gives her a false answer about fresh bowstrings, and when the trap is sprung, he snaps them easily.
S4ome time later, Samson fell in love with a woman in the Valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah. 5The lords of the Philistines went to her and said, “Entice him and find out the source of his great strength and how we can overpower him to tie him up and subdue him. Then each one of us will give you eleven hundred shekels of silver. ” 6So Delilah said to Samson, “Please tell me the source of your great strength and how you can be tied up and subdued.” 7Samson told her, “If they tie me up with seven fresh bowstrings that have not been dried, I will become as weak as any other man.” 8So the lords of the Philistines brought her seven fresh bowstrings that had not been dried, and she tied him up with them. 9While the men were hidden in her room, she called out, “Samson, the Philistines are here!”
After accusing Samson of mocking her, Delilah asks again how he can be bound. He names new ropes, and when she tries them, he breaks free once more.
10Then Delilah said to Samson, “You have mocked me and lied to me! Now please tell me how you can be tied up.” 11He replied, “If they tie me up with new ropes that have never been used, I will become as weak as any other man.” 12So Delilah took new ropes, tied him up with them, and called out, “Samson, the Philistines are here!”
Delilah presses him a third time, and Samson answers with another false clue involving the braids of his hair. Even this closer approach to the truth fails to subdue him.
13Then Delilah said to Samson, “You have mocked me and lied to me all along! Tell me how you can be tied up.” 14So while he slept, Delilah took the seven braids of his hair and wove them into the web. Then she tightened [it] with a pin and called to him, “Samson, the Philistines are here!”