Delilah

KNOWN FOR CAUSING THE FALL
OF THE WORLD’S SRONGEST MAN
Judges 16:4-21

            IMAGINE: Being able to sap the strength from the world’s strongest man and causing the death of 3,000 Philistines, all from the drop of a tear.

Sometime later, he fell in love
with a woman named Delilah,
who lived in the Sorek Valley.
Judg. 16:4

            Some Bible translations read “he fell in love with a woman” while others read “he loved a woman”. The word used for ‘love’ in the Hebrew means to have affection for (sexually or otherwise). It is not clear if he was truly in love with her or just liked keeping company with her for whatever the reason.
            Some sources claim the name Delilah is of Arabic origin while others claim it originated from Hebrew. In Arabic the name means ‘to tease’ or ‘to flirt’. Delilah’s name in Hebrew means ‘delicate’ or ‘dainty one’. To tease or to flirt certainly describes her demeanor. Delicate or dainty probably indicates what her outward appearance was like. But, no name given her would be synonymous with her apparent rock-hard heart.
            There is no information given concerning heritage or background other than she originated from the valley of Sorek which was between Jerusalem and the Mediterranean Sea. The area lay between Israelite and Philistine lands. There is no mention as to whether she was an Israelite or of Philistine descent.
            The Valley of Sorek, where Delilah lived, was known for its beautiful flowers and blossoming vines leaving a sweet smell throughout the valley. The period in which she lived, the Philistines ruled this area known as western Palestine which is better known as Canaan.
            After learning Delilah’s story, the probability exists she was, more than likely, a Philistine femme fatale. In other words, a dangerously seductive, enticing temptress. Her associates appear to be the rich and powerful leaders of the day. These men would gift luxuries and status in exchange for women’s services giving them a very elegant lifestyle. This would explain how she had her own house, which apparently consisted of more than one room. This would have been a questionable circumstance and rare distinction for a single woman at that time.
            It is impossible to mention Delilah without bringing forth her counterpart, Sampson. The Angel of the Lord had foretold of his birth. The Israelites, because of their disobedience to God, had been under Philistine rule for forty years when Sampson was born. He had been set apart as a Nazirite, consecrated to God. He was also recorded as a Judge in Israel after serving for twenty years in that capacity.
            Sampson was a divinely inspired leader and an Israelite warrior. He possessed super human, physical strength but was humanly super weak morally. He chose Philistine women and prostitutes for his company. In Judges 14:1,2,20 he abandoned his Philistine wife and in Judges 16:1 he became involved with a prostitute. Of all the women he was associated with, Delilah is the only one mentioned by name. This was a time in history when “everyone did what was right in his own eyes”. (Judg. 21:25). 
            Sampson, it is assumed, loves Delilah, but Scripture is silent about her feelings for him. Falling for her though enabled her to lure him to his spiritual destruction, and ultimately to his physical death leaving her with a legacy as one of the most detestable women in Scripture.

The Philistine leaders went to her
and said, “Persuade him to tell you
where his great strength comes
from, so we can overpower him,
tie him up and make him helpless.
Each of us will then give
you 1,100 pieces of silver.”
Judges 16:5

            At that time there were five major Philistine cities, Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Ekron, and Gath. Each city had its own ruler, so it is believed she was offered at least 5,500 pieces of silver. In today’s market that comes to the equivalency of approximately $89,641.00.
            Sampson had exposed himself as prideful and arrogant thus causing the Philistines to hate him. He had a reputation of leadership and military might that was to be feared. It was also well known he had a penchant for women. As far as the Philistines were concerned he needed to go. And Delilah was their ticket to get him gone.
            Delilah was, no doubt, beautiful, charming and smart. She was also full of nerve, greed, gall and deceit. With this mixture, and a lot of manipulation, she sets out to earn her promised money. Her future is set. She tries three fruitless attempts to learn the secret of his strength, how to overpower him, and how to render him helpless. After each attempt of thinking her actions were successful she would call out to the Philistines hidden in a room nearby.
            It is clear her reputation was of a questionable nature since Sampson did spend alone time with her in her chamber. Also, at that time no man or men would have gone directly to a woman for a business deal, but instead would have approached a male family member for services needed. After toying with her as to where his strength is gained from he then very foolishly tells her the truth.

Because she nagged him day after
day and pled with him until she
wore him out, he told her the whole
truth and said to her, “My hair has
never been cut, because I am a
Nazirite to God from birth. If I am
shaved my strength will leave me,
and I will become weak and be
like any other man.”
Judges 16:16, 17

            Sampson had been set apart as a Nazarite to God from birth. (Judg. 13:5). The Angel of the Lord told his mother she would conceive a son whose hair must never be cut. He would begin to save Israel from the Philistines. He was to abstain from wine or beer, not to touch the dead (be it human or animal), and not eat anything unclean. Sampson had a great deal of trouble with this Nazirite vow and following the instructions that went with being set apart to the Lord.
            He went into the vineyards of Timnah. (Judg. 14:5). As a Nazirite he was not allowed anything from a vine, be it wine, grape, or raisin. He tore a lion apart with his bare hands thus touching a dead carcass. (Judg. 14:6). Later he scoops honey, a swarm of bees had made, from the dead lion’s carcass and eats the unclean sweet. (Judg. 14:9). All this occurred on his way to marry a young Philistine woman instead of an Israelite lady from his own clan.
            Sampson had trouble following the rules laid out before him concerning the Nazirite vow, so becoming entangled with someone like Delilah wasn’t exactly a case of shock and awe. Telling Delilah his strength was in his hair never being cut was, however, his ultimate downfall.
            Sampson’s hair was not exactly his source of strength. His hair never being cut was a symbol of the covenant between him and God. Cutting his hair would break the covenant, removing God’s protection over him and God’s strength within him. Cutting his hair would bring forth his disobedience to the Lord, which Delilah could not have cared less about.
            As he lay in her lap sleeping she had his head shaved causing his strength to leave him, although he was unaware this had happened when he awoke from his nap. Delilah had accomplished removing him from his role as Judge in Israel. The Philistines gouged out his eyes, blinding him, and took him to Gaza where he had earlier stolen their city gate and thus their protection from their enemies.
            In prison he was put to grinding grain between millstones, a women’s work, indicating to him and others just how weak he had truly become. (Judg. 9:53, 54). Delilah had been bought and paid to accomplish what the powers of the day could not. That was to have Sampson tied up and helpless.
            The Philistines were unable to stop him as he torched grain and groves. When he killed a thousand of them with the jawbone of a donkey they were helpless to stop him. Delilah’s greed and manipulation had enabled her to render Sampson senseless without hesitation. He may have loved her, but she loved the idea of being financially set for life. The Philistines loved the idea that their enemy was now in their hands and under their control.
            After she is paid by the Philistine leaders for a job well done it is the last she is mentioned in Scripture. Sampson, on the other hand, has one last appearance. It is before 3,000 Philistines gathered at their temple to honor their god, dagon, for delivering to them their enemy, Sampson. Interestingly, dagon was the god of grain for which they put blind Sampson to grinding.
            Three thousand Philistines gathered at their temple to watch Sampson used for their entertainment. That was a fatal day for Sampson and all 3,000 Philistines as God returned his strength back to him. As he leaned against the pillars of the temple his strength caused it to come crashing down on all who were in and around the temple.

“…and he will begin to save Israel
from the power of the Philistines.”
Judges 13:5

            It was through this destruction of the temple, plus the death of thousands of Philistines and their leaders that the Israelites were freed from Philistine rule and oppression. God had a plan for his people and it was not going to be destroyed by His enemies, their god, or even by one of His own.

            Delilah, three different times, asks Sampson his source of strength. On each occasion he lies to her and each time she reports his lie to the Philistines, waiting in an inner room, to subdue and destroy him. Delilah had three chances to back out of her agreement with the enemy of the Israelites. Instead she appears to become more agitated with him and his tales. She thus turns up the charm and turns on the tears.
            It is also recorded she nagged to the point of annoying him to death. Because of all her shenanigans he does indeed tell her the truth thus sealing his fate with Israel’s enemies.

The Philistines seized him and
gouged out his eyes. They
brought him down to Gaza…
Judges 16:21

            It appears Sampson was taken captive and his eyes gouged out while possibly still in Delilah’s presence. Talk about greed! All this for some silver, be it a large sum or not, this was an ultimate betrayal against someone who had supposedly loved her.
            Was Delilah at the temple among the people that fateful day when its walls came crashing down? It is not noted one way or the other. Did she live to spend her financial whirlwind, or did she perish along with Sampson?
            Whatever her demise was, it remains unknown. What is known is she became financially rich and remained morally poor. What is learned from the life of Delilah is having financial gain without spiritual security does not pay in the end.

            Something to consider:
There are people so poor,
that the only thing they have is money.