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Commentary on Judges 16 verses 4–17
The burnt child dreads the fire; yet Samson, that has more than the strength of a man, in this comes short of the wisdom of a child; for, though he had been more than once brought into the highest degree of mischief and danger by the love of women and lusting after them, yet he would not take warning, but is here again taken in the same snare, and this third time pays for all. Solomon seems to refer especially to this story of Samson when, in his caution against uncleanness, he gives this account of a whorish woman (Pro 7:26), that she hath cast down many wounded, yea, many strong men have been slain by her; and (Pro 6:26) that the adulteress will hunt for the precious life. This bad woman, that brought Samson to ruin, is here named Delilah, an infamous name, and fitly used to express the person, or thing, that by flattery or falsehood brings mischief and destruction on those to whom kindness is pretended. See here,
I. The affection Samson had for Delilah: he loved her, Jdg 16:4. Some think she was his wife, but then he would have had her home to his own house; others that he courted her to make her his wife; but there is too much reason to suspect that it was a sinful affection he had for her, and that he lived in uncleanness with her. Whether she was an Israelite or a Philistine is not certain. If an Israelite, which is scarcely probable, yet she had the heart of a Philistine.
II. The interest which the lords of the Philistines made with her to betray Samson, Jdg 16:5. 1. That which they told her they designed was to humble him, or afflict him; they would promise not to do him any hurt, only they would disable him not to do them any. And so much conscience it should seem they made of this promise that even then, when he lay ever so much at their mercy, they would not kill him, no, not when the razor that cut his hair might sooner and more easily have cut his throat. 2. That which they desired, in order hereunto, was to know where his great strength lay, and by what means he might be bound. Perhaps they imagined he had some spell or charm which he carried about with him, by the force of which he did these great things, and doubted not but that, if they could get this from him, he would be manageable; and therefore, having had reason enough formerly to know which was his blind side, hoped to find out his riddle a second time by ploughing with his heifer. They engaged Delilah to get it out of him, telling her what a kindness it would be to them, and perhaps assuring her it should not be improved to any real mischief, either to him or her. 3. For this they bid high, promised to give her each of them 1100 pieces of silver, 5500 in all. So many shekels amounted to above 1000l. sterling; with this she was hired to betray one she pretended to love. See what horrid wickedness the love of money is the root of. Our blessed Saviour was thus betrayed by one whom he called friend, and with a kiss too, for filthy lucre. No marvel if those who are unchaste, as Delilah, be unjust; such as lose their honesty in one instance will in another.
III. The arts by which he put her off from time to time, and kept his own counsel a great while. She asked him where his great strength lay, and whether it were possible for him to be bound and afflicted (Jdg 16:6), pretending that she only desired he would satisfy her curiosity in that one thing, and that she thought it was impossible he should be bound otherwise than by her charms.
1.When she urged him very much, he told her, (1.) That he might be bound with seven green withs, Jdg 16:7. The experiment was tried (Jdg 16:8), but it would not do: he broke the withs as easily as a thread of tow is broken when it toucheth the fire, Jdg 16:9. (2.) When she still continued her importunity (Jdg 16:10) he told her that with two new ropes he might be so cramped and hampered that he might be as easily dealt with as any other man, Jdg 16:11. This experiment was tried too, but it failed: the new ropes broke from off his arm like a thread, Jdg 16:12. (3.) When she still pressed him to communicate the secret, and upbraided him with it as an unkindness that he had bantered her so long, he then told her that the weaving of the seven locks of his head would make a great alteration in him, Jdg 16:13. This came nearer the matter than any thing he had yet said, but it would not do: his strength appeared to be very much in his hair, when, upon the trial of this, purely by the strength of his hair, he carried away the pin of the beam and the web.
2.In the making of all these experiments, it is hard to say whether there appears more of Samson's weakness or Delilah's wickedness. (1.) Could any thing be more wicked than her restless and unreasonable importunity with him to discover a secret which she knew would endanger his life if ever it were lodged any where but in his own breast? What could be more base and disingenuous, more false and treacherous, than to lay his head in her lap, as one whom she loved, and at the same time to design the betraying of him to those by whom he was mortally hated? (2.) Could any thing be more weak than for him to continue a parley with one who, he so plainly saw, was aiming to do him a mischief, - that he should lend an ear so long to such an impudent request, that she might know how to do him a mischief, - that when he perceived liers in wait for him in the chamber, and that they were ready to apprehend him if they had been able, he did not immediately quit the chamber, with a resolution never to come into it any more, - nay, that he should again lay his head in that lap out of which he had been so often roused with that alarm, The Philistines are upon thee, Samson? One can hardly imagine a man so perfectly besotted, and void of all consideration, as Samson now was; but whoredom is one of those things that take away the heart. It is hard to say what Samson meant in suffering her to try so often whether she could weaken and afflict him; some think he did not certainly know himself where his strength lay, but, it should seem, he did know, for, when he told her that which would disable him indeed, it is said, He told her all his heart. It seems, he designed to banter her, and to try if he could turn it off with a jest, and to baffle the liers in wait, and make fools of them; but it was very unwise in him that he did not quit the field as soon as ever he perceived that he was not able to keep the ground.
IV. The disclosure he at last made of this great secret; and, if the disclosure proved fatal to him, he must thank himself, who had not power to keep his own counsel from one that manifestly sought his ruin. Surely in vain is the net spread in the sight of any bird, but in Samson's sight is the net spread, and yet he is taken in it. If he had not been blind before the Philistines put out his eyes, he might have seen himself betrayed. Delilah signifies a consumer; she was so to him. Observe, 1. How she teazed him, telling him she would not believe he loved her, unless he would gratify her in this matter (Jdg 16:15): How canst thou say, I love thee, when they heart is not with me? That is, "when thou canst not trust me with the counsels of they heart?" Passionate lovers cannot bear to have their love called in question; they would do any thing rather than their sincerity should be suspected. Here therefore Delilah had this fond fool (excuse me that I call him so) at an advantage. This expostulation is indeed grounded upon a great truth, that those only have our love, not that have our good words or our good wishes, but that have our hearts. That is love without dissimulation; but it is falsehood and flattery in the highest degree to say we love those with whom our hearts are not. How can we say we love either our brother, whom we have seen, or God, whom we have not seen, if our hearts be not with him? She continued many days vexatious to him with her importunity, so that he had no pleasure of his life with her (Jdg 16:16); why then did he not leave her? It was because he was captivated to her by the power of love, falsely so called, but truly lust. This bewitched and perfectly intoxicated him, and by the force of it see, 2. How she conquered him (Jdg 16:17): He told her all his heart. God left him to himself to do this foolish thing, to punish him for indulging himself in the lusts of uncleanness. The angel that foretold his birth said nothing of his great strength, but only that he should be a Nazarite, and particularly that no razor should come upon his head, Jdg 13:5. His consecration to God was to be his strength, for he was to be strengthened according to the glorious power of that Spirit which wrought in him mightily, that his strength, by promise, not by nature, might be a type and figure of the spiritual strength of believers, Col 1:11, Col 1:29. Therefore the badge of his consecration was the pledge of his strength; if he lose the former, he knows he forfeits the latter. "If I be shaven, I shall no longer be a Nazarite, and then my strength will be lost." The making of his bodily strength to depend so much on his hair, which could have no natural influence upon it either one way or other, teaches us to magnify divine institutions, and to expect God's grace, and the continuance of it, only the use of those means of grace wherein he has appointed us to attend upon him, the word, sacraments, and prayer. In these earthen vessels is this treasure.
Overcome by love of money, Achan led to destruction all the people of the fathers. So Joshua the son of Nun, who could stay the sun from setting, could not stay the love of money in people from creeping on. At the sound of his voice the sun stood still, but love of money stayed not. When the sun stood still, Joshua completed his triumph, but when love of money went on, he almost lost the victory.Why? Did not the woman Delilah’s love of money deceive Samson, the bravest man of all? So he who had torn apart the roaring lion with his hands; who, when bound and handed over to his enemies, alone, without help, burst his bonds and killed a thousand of them; who broke the cords interwoven with sinews as though they were but the slight threads of a net; he, I say, having laid his head on the woman’s knee, was robbed of the decoration of his victory-bringing hair, that which gave him his might. Money flowed into the lap of the woman, and the favor of God forsook the man.
Love of money, then, is deadly. Money is seductive, as it defiles those who have it and does not help those who do not.
But now his licence transgressed the limits not only of his paternal territory, but of good morals, such as ancient discipline had prescribed, and this brought upon him destruction in the end. For although he had experienced in his first marriage the treachery of a foreign wife, and ought to have avoided it in future, he did not shun connecting himself with the harlot Delilah, and by his passionate love of her opened a way for the craft of his enemies to assail him. For the Philistines came up to her, and promised each of them to give her eleven hundred pieces of silver if she would disclose to them wherein his assurance of strength lay, that by means of this knowledge they might entrap and take him.
But she having once prostituted herself for money, began during the banquet and the blandishments of love, cunningly and craftily to inquire of him in what respect his strength excelled that of others, and at the same time, as if solicitous and fearful for his safety, to entreat him to confide to his beloved by what means he could be bound and subdued into the power of others. But he, still self-possessed and unshaken, opposed craft to the allurements of the harlot, and told her that if he were bound with withs yet green and not dried, his strength would be like that of other men. When the Philistines learnt this from Delilah, they bound him while asleep with green withs, and then awoke him as though on a sudden, but found that he had not fallen off from his accustomed fortitude, but bursting its bonds his freed strength was able to resist and drive back a host of assailants.
Why was the mighty man Samson rejected by God, he who was set apart and consecrated to God while still in the womb; whose birth was announced by an angel, like John, the son of Zacharias; who was granted great power and worked great wonders [and who by the supernatural strength which God poured into his body smote a thousand men with the jawbone of an ass and became a saviour and judge unto Israel]? Was it not because he defiled his holy members by union with a harlot? For this reason God departed from him and surrendered him to his enemies.
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SUMMARY
Judges 16:6 marks the treacherous turning point in the tragic narrative of Samson, as Delilah, swayed by the immense financial incentive offered by the Philistine lords, initiates her cunning interrogation. This pivotal verse launches a series of manipulative inquiries aimed at unearthing the secret source of Samson's supernatural strength, thereby setting the stage for his ultimate betrayal, capture, and humiliation, while powerfully illustrating the destructive interplay of temptation, human vulnerability, and the profound consequences of compromising divine anointing.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Judges 16:6 is rich with powerful literary devices that amplify its dramatic and thematic impact. Irony is profoundly evident, as Samson, the physically strongest man in Israel, is portrayed as morally and emotionally weak, easily manipulated by a woman he desires. His immense physical strength, divinely bestowed for the purpose of delivering Israel, is starkly juxtaposed with his spiritual and relational vulnerability. Foreshadowing is also a prominent device; Delilah's persistent, probing questions about binding and afflicting Samson powerfully hint at his inevitable capture, blinding, and suffering. The verse employs direct address ("Tell me, I pray thee"), which creates a false sense of intimacy and urgency, drawing Samson deeper into her trap. Furthermore, the recurring phrase "wherein thy great strength lieth" and "wherewith thou mightest be bound" functions as a motif that will be repeated throughout the subsequent verses, emphasizing Delilah's relentless pursuit of the truth and Samson's repeated, albeit temporary, evasions, building narrative tension towards the tragic climax.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Judges 16:6 serves as a stark and sobering reminder of the insidious nature of temptation and the devastating consequences of spiritual compromise. Samson's physical strength was not merely a natural attribute but a divine gift, a tangible sign of God's anointing for a specific purpose—to initiate Israel's deliverance from Philistine oppression. However, his repeated moral failures, particularly his entanglement with foreign women and his casual disregard for the terms of his Nazarite vow, systematically eroded his spiritual resolve and discernment. Delilah's manipulative question is not just a physical threat but a profound spiritual assault, probing the very source of his consecrated power. This narrative powerfully underscores that true strength, particularly in the life of a believer, is not merely physical prowess but is fundamentally rooted in faithfulness and obedience to God. When individuals entertain temptation and compromise their divine principles, they open themselves to the enemy's cunning schemes, potentially leading to spiritual blindness and incapacitation, mirroring Samson's tragic and humiliating fate.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Judges 16:6 offers a profound and timeless cautionary tale for believers across all generations, highlighting the subtle yet potent dangers of persistent temptation and the critical importance of guarding our hearts and minds. Samson's tragic downfall did not commence with a sudden, catastrophic spiritual collapse, but rather with a series of seemingly minor compromises and a persistent willingness to entertain a relationship that was clearly contrary to God's revealed will and his Nazarite consecration. Delilah's question, deceptively framed with the seemingly innocent "I pray thee," was in reality a calculated psychological and spiritual assault on his integrity and divine calling. We, too, encounter "Delilahs" in our contemporary lives—whether they manifest as alluring temptations, compromising relationships, or ungodly desires that promise fleeting pleasure or worldly gain but ultimately seek to uncover and exploit our spiritual vulnerabilities. This verse compels us to engage in honest self-examination, prompting us to ask: What are the specific areas where I am most susceptible to compromise? How might persistent temptation, even in seemingly insignificant areas, gradually erode my spiritual defenses and discernment? In what ways might I be compromising my spiritual walk by entertaining relationships or influences that are not fully aligned with God's will and His kingdom purposes? How can I cultivate greater spiritual discernment to recognize and resist manipulative tactics, whether they originate from external sources or from the deceptive desires within my own heart? True spiritual strength is not found in our own inherent abilities or self-reliance, but in our unwavering reliance on God's power and our steadfast commitment to His commands.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Was Delilah truly in love with Samson, or was she purely motivated by money?
Answer: The biblical narrative provides overwhelming evidence that Delilah's motivation was purely mercenary and devoid of genuine affection. Judges 16:5 explicitly details the Philistine lords' offer of an enormous bribe—"eleven hundred pieces of silver from each of us"—to discover the secret of Samson's strength. Her relentless and increasingly aggressive attempts to extract the truth, despite Samson's initial deceptions, and her immediate, cold-hearted betrayal once she succeeded, demonstrate a calculated, avaricious pursuit of wealth rather than any form of genuine love or concern. Her actions are consistent with a hired agent executing a contract, culminating in her delivering Samson, the man she supposedly loved, directly into the hands of his sworn enemies for financial gain.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Samson's story stands as a tragic account of human weakness, compromised divine anointing, and ultimate betrayal, it simultaneously serves as a profound foreshadowing of the ultimate strength, unwavering faithfulness, and sacrificial love found perfectly in Jesus Christ. Samson, though supernaturally empowered by God, ultimately succumbed to temptation and was betrayed by one he desired, leading to his humiliation, blinding, and death. He was a divinely appointed deliverer who, due to his own moral failings, could only partially deliver his people, a strong man who became weak through his own choices. In stark contrast, Jesus Christ, the true Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, was also "bound" and "afflicted," yet not because of His own weakness or sin. He willingly submitted to the cross, allowing Himself to be bound by human hands (Matthew 27:2) and afflicted for our transgressions (Isaiah 53:5). His strength was not physical might tied to an outward sign, but perfect obedience, unwavering love, and absolute faithfulness to the Father's will, even unto death (Philippians 2:8). Unlike Samson, whose power was vulnerable to compromise, Christ's power is inherent, eternal, and perfectly exercised, securing true and lasting deliverance for all who believe in Him (Hebrews 7:25). He is the faithful deliverer who conquered sin, death, and the powers of darkness, not through physical prowess, but through His sacrificial love and the triumphant power of His resurrection (Colossians 2:15).