References (6)
And it came to pass that he fell in love with a woman by the river Soreq [near Samson's home region where the cities of Tsorah, Eshtaol, Timnah, and Ekron were located], and her name was Delilah.
[In the previous verse, Samson was in Hebron (Hebr. Chevrón). Perhaps Samson would now stay in the Jewish areas and find a wife there, but already at the beginning of this verse, the reader senses something amiss. Some time passes, and Samson falls in love again. This is the third woman Samson becomes involved with (mentioned in the Book of Judges, see Judges 14:1-2; 16:1). The Bible is not against love between a man and a woman, the problem is where he is and where he is looking for love. Soreq is located in the lowlands of the Philistine territory. His first wife and the prostitute in Gaza are not mentioned by name, but now the reader is informed that this third woman is called Delilah. The meaning of her name also carries a mystery. The origin of the word can be traced back to the Arabic dalla, which means to flirt. But there is also a connection to the Hebrew word for night, which is lajla. The letter at the beginning of Delilah's name gives it the meaning "of the night." There is also an allusion here to how Samson (Hebr. Shimshon), which means "like the sun," is now heading toward night.]
Then Delilah said to Samson, "Tell me, I beg you, where does your great strength come from and how can you be bound to humiliate (torment) you?"
Then Delilah said to Samson, "Look, you have humiliated (deceived – Hebr. talal) and spoken untruthfully (illusion) to me. Now tell me, I beg you, how to bind you."
Then Delilah took new ropes and bound him with them and said to him, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" Those who were lying in wait were in the inner chamber [as before, see ]. But he tore them [the new ropes] from his arms as if they were [thin] threads.
And Delilah said to Samson, "Behold, thus far you have mocked (deceived – Hebr. talal) me and told me lies [every time]. Tell me how you can be bound."
And he said to her, "If you weave the seven locks of my head into the fabric." [Now Samson begins to play with fire, involving his hair, which is the key.]
When Delilah realized that he had told her his whole heart, she sent for the princes of the Philistines and said, "Come up this time, for he has told me his whole heart." And the princes of the Philistines came up to her and brought the silver in their hands.
