Samson visits a hooker
1One day, Samson ventured into the Philistine town of Gaza. He saw a prostitute there, so he went into her place. 2People in Gaza heard that Samson had come to town. They surrounded the prostitute’s house and waited for Samson at the city gate. [1] They spent all night quietly waiting for him. They thought that when he came out in the morning, they could ambush him and kill him. [2] 3Samson came out at midnight. He walked over to the city gates and tore them off the wall—posts, doors, and the bar. He heaved them up onto his shoulders and carried them away—to the top of a hill near Hebron. [3]Samson loves Delilah
4Samson later fell in love with a woman named Delilah. [4] She lived in Sorek Valley. [5] 5Philistine leaders offered her a reward for Samson. They said, “Find out what makes him so strong, and how we can catch him, tie him up, and defeat him. If you do that, we’ll each give you 1,100 silver coins.” [6]Tied with bowstring
6Delilah told Samson, “Honey, tell me what makes you so strong? How could anyone possibly overpower you and tie you up?” 7Samson said, “They could tie me with seven new bowstrings that are still damp and strong, not yet dried. That would make me as weak as anyone else.” 8Philistine rulers gave Delilah seven fresh, undried bowstrings. She tied Samson. 9Men hid in another room in her house, ready to arrest him. Delilah screamed, “Samson, the Philistines are here!” He snapped the bowstrings like fiber pops when fire hits it. So, Delilah didn’t get her reward.Tied with new rope
10Delilah told Samson, “You’re making me look stupid. Stop lying. Just please give me an honest answer. What does it take to tie you, and to keep you tied?” 11Samson said, “If they tie me with new ropes, I’ll lose my strength. I’ll be like everyone else.” 12Delilah went shopping. She got new ropes, tied Samson, and said, “Samson, the Philistines are here!” It was no lie. Philistines were hiding to arrest him. But he snapped the ropes like sewing thread.Tied to weaver’s loom
13Delilah told Samson, “You’ve done nothing but make me look like a fool. Stop lying to me. How could someone tie you up, and keep you tied?” Samson said, “Weave my seven braids tightly into fabric on a loom and pin them there.”14Delilah did just that while Samson slept. She wove all seven braids into the loom and locked it tight with a pin. Then she said, “Samson, the Philistines are here!” He woke and pulled himself loose from the loom.
15Delilah said, “You know something, how can you look me in the eyes and say ‘I love you?’ Your heart’s not in this. You don’t confide in me. This is the third time you’ve made me look like an idiot by not telling me the source of your strength.” 16Delilah nagged Samson like this day after doggone day. She nagged him to death. He couldn’t take it anymore.
17So he told her. The whole secret. “I am a Nazirite. [7] I’m bound to God by Nazirite vows. I have been since the day I was born. My hair has never been cut because that’s one of the vows—we can’t cut our hair. If my head is shaved, I’ll become as weak as anyone else.” [8] 18When Delilah sensed he had finally told her the truth, she sent a message to the Philistine rulers: “Get up here right now. I got the secret out of him.” The Philistine rulers came up with the silver they promised. 19Delilah let Samson fall asleep with his head on her lap. She called in a man to cut off his seven braids and tie him up. Samson’s strength left him.
20Delilah said, “Samson, the Philistines are here!” He woke and thought he could break himself free.” He didn’t know that the LORD’s strength had left him. 21Philistines grabbed him and gouged out his eyes. They shackled him in bronze and took him to Gaza. They put him to work at the prison mill, pushing the grinding stone that crushed grain kernels into flour. [9] 22In time, Samson’s shaved hair grew back.
Samson dies
23Philistine rulers met for a religious holiday to offer sacrifices to their god Dagon. [10] They said, “Our god helped us defeat Samson, our enemy.” 24When Philistines in the crowd got a look at Samson, they thanked Dagon, too. They said, “Our god let us defeat this terrorist who killed so many of our people and destroyed so much of our property.” 25When everyone was happy and having a great time, they said, “Get Samson out here to entertain us.” So, they brought Samson out of the prison and put him on display. They positioned him between two pillars.26Samson told the servant leading him, “Put me between the pillars supporting the temple, so I can feel them, and lean there to rest.” 27The temple was crowded with men and women. All the top Philistine leaders were there. Up on the roof, looking down at Samson, there were about 3,000 more men and women.
28Samson called out to the LORD, “LORD God, remember who I was and give me that strength again one last time. Please God, let me settle the score with these Philistines for taking my eyes.” [11] 29Samson grabbed the two central pillars supporting the temple roof. He put his right hand on one pillar and his left hand on the other. [12] 30Then Samson said, “Let me die with these Philistines.” He pushed with all the force he could find, and the temple collapsed onto the rulers and the people celebrating with them. He killed more people when he died than he had killed throughout his life.
31His brothers and other family members came and took his body. They buried him in the family tomb, where his dad, Manoah, was buried. The tomb was between the towns of Zorah and Eshtaol. [13] Samson led Israel 20 years.
