The story was told by someone with an insight into human psychology. Samson recognized her power over him, and struggled fruitlessly against it. De Mille. You have mocked me three times now and have not told me what makes your strength so great.
If my head were shaved, then my strength would leave me; I would become weak, and be like anyone else. Delilah was angry. Finally he told her the truth. If it were cut I would lose all of my strength. She sent a message to the Philistines. We know that ancient Spartan soldiers going into battle unbound and tangled their long hair, to make them look more frightening.
Samson had to explain the customs of a Nazirite to Delilah , which suggests that she did not already know them. Had she been an Israelite, she would surely have been aware of them. But Delilah recognized the truth when she finally heard it. She did not need to test it, as she had in the previous three incidents.
She sent a message to the Philistine lords. As a courtesan without the protection of a family or husband, she needed transportable wealth — usually coins or jewelry. He began to weaken, and his strength left him. But he did not know that the Lord had left him. The moment of betrayal: Samson realizes it is Delilah who has betrayed him to the Philistines. Detail from Van Dyck painting. This dehumanizes her, as if she was detached, uncaring. Unless she had good reason to hate all Israelites, Delilah must have felt some pity for him.
Samson believed that if his hair was cut, his superhuman strength would disappear, and it did. We do not know the terms of the arrangement Delilah made with the Philistine lords, or what she expected would happen to Samson.
In doing so, he eventually gives in and reveals his greatest weakness. Finally, sins do have consequences. Samson may have felt as though he could get away with an extra-marital relationship with someone who was most likely not an Israelite.
But he reaps the consequences eventually. The Philistines capture him, after blinding him, and enslave him. Only, through an act of God, does his strength return, and he ends up dying in the process. Although we may feel as though we can get away with engaging with sin, the consequences catch up with us eventually. Best to avoid Delilahs in our lives and pursue righteousness. Hope Bolinger is an editor at Salem, a multi-published novelist, and a graduate of Taylor University's professional writing program.
More than 1, of her works have been featured in various publications ranging from Writer's Digest to Keys for Kids. She has worked for various publishing companies, magazines, newspapers, and literary agencies and has edited the work of authors such as Jerry B. Jenkins and Michelle Medlock Adams. Her modern-day Daniel trilogy is out with IlluminateYA. And her inspirational adult romance Picture Imperfect releases in November of Find out more about her at her website.
Share this. Who Was Delilah in the Bible? Today on Christianity. Is Thanksgiving Truly a Christian Holiday? About Christianity. Cheryl Exum. She is named without the context of a male relative or spouse, although her identity remains unclear. Delilah is the only woman in the Samson story whose name is given. The biblical story, in which Samson falls in love with her and then the Philistines use her to learn the secret of his strength, leaves us with more questions than answers about Delilah.
She is not, as biblical women typically are, identified in terms of a man husband, father, or brother. All we know is her name, which is a Hebrew name, and the place where she lives, the valley of Sorek, which lay between Israelite and Philistine territory. She and Samson are apparently lovers but are not married.
What is her status in society? Is she a wealthy widow, like Judith? A sexually autonomous woman, like the woman in the Song of Solomon? A harlot, as is commonly supposed? Delilah is not called a harlot. Delilah is not even called a Philistine, though it is usually assumed that she is because 1 Samson is attracted to Philistine women, 2 she has dealings with the Philistine rulers and it is unlikely that the Philistines would seek to enlist the aid of an Israelite woman, and 3 she betrays the Israelite hero to his enemies, and it is unlikely that a biblical author would portray one of his countrywomen doing such a scandalous thing without further comment.
All are good reasons, but none is conclusive. Actually, only one of the three women with whom Samson is involved—his wife—is specifically identified as a Philistine. The bribe would make sense if the woman was Israelite—she would probably need enticement to betray a leader of her people.
Each of the Philistine rulers probably five of them, representing the five important Philistine city-states pays her eleven hundred pieces of silver.
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