Then went Samson to Gaza, and saw there an harlot, and went in unto her.
And it was told the Gazites, saying, Samson is come hither. And they compassed him in, and laid wait for him all night in the gate of the city, and were quiet all the night, saying, In the morning, when it is day, we shall kill him.
And Samson lay till midnight, and arose at midnight, and took the doors of the gate of the city, and the two posts, and went away with them, bar and all, and put them upon his shoulders, and carried them up to the top of an hill that is before Hebron.
And it came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah.
And the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and said unto her, Entice him, and see wherein his great strength lieth, and by what means we may prevail against him, that we may bind him to afflict him: and we will give thee every one of us eleven hundred pieces of silver.
And Delilah said to Samson, Tell me, I pray thee, wherein thy great strength lieth, and wherewith thou mightest be bound to afflict thee.
And Samson said unto her, If they bind me with seven green withs that were never dried, then shall I be weak, and be as another man.
Then the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven green withs which had not been dried, and she bound him with them.
Now there were men lying in wait, abiding with her in the chamber. And she said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he brake the withs, as a thread of tow is broken when it toucheth the fire. So his strength was not known.
And Delilah said unto Samson, Behold, thou hast mocked me, and told me lies: now tell me, I pray thee, wherewith thou mightest be bound.
And he said unto her, If they bind me fast with new ropes that never were occupied, then shall I be weak, and be as another man.
Delilah therefore took new ropes, and bound him therewith, and said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And there were liers in wait abiding in the chamber. And he brake them from off his arms like a thread.
And Delilah said unto Samson, Hitherto thou hast mocked me, and told me lies: tell me wherewith thou mightest be bound. And he said unto her, If thou weavest the seven locks of my head with the web.
And she fastened it with the pin, and said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awaked out of his sleep, and went away with the pin of the beam, and with the web.
And she said unto him, How canst thou say, I love thee, when thine heart is not with me? thou hast mocked me these three times, and hast not told me wherein thy great strength lieth.
And it came to pass, when she pressed him daily with her words, and urged him, so that his soul was vexed unto death;
That he told her all his heart, and said unto her, There hath not come a razor upon mine head; for I have been a Nazarite unto God from my mother’s womb: if I be shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man.
And when Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, Come up this once, for he hath shewed me all his heart. Then the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and brought money in their hand.
And she made him sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head; and she began to afflict him, and his strength went from him.
And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the Lord was departed from him.
But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison house.
Howbeit the hair of his head began to grow again after he was shaven.
Then the lords of the Philistines gathered them together for to offer a great sacrifice unto Dagon their god, and to rejoice: for they said, Our god hath delivered Samson our enemy into our hand.
And when the people saw him, they praised their god: for they said, Our god hath delivered into our hands our enemy, and the destroyer of our country, which slew many of us.
And it came to pass, when their hearts were merry, that they said, Call for Samson, that he may make us sport. And they called for Samson out of the prison house; and he made them sport: and they set him between the pillars.
And Samson said unto the lad that held him by the hand, Suffer me that I may feel the pillars whereupon the house standeth, that I may lean upon them.
Now the house was full of men and women; and all the lords of the Philistines were there; and there were upon the roof about three thousand men and women, that beheld while Samson made sport.
And Samson called unto the Lord, and said, O Lord God, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.
And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the house stood, and on which it was borne up, of the one with his right hand, and of the other with his left.
And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life.
Then his brethren and all the house of his father came down, and took him, and brought him up, and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the buryingplace of Manoah his father. And he judged Israel twenty years.
Judges 16 marks the tragic climax of Samson's story, a narrative that began in Judges 14. Though he judged Israel for twenty years (Judges 15:20), the scriptures only highlight a few key events, demonstrating a life marked by both incredible strength and profound weakness. This chapter reveals the depths of Samson's personal failings, yet also hints at the enduring grace of God, even in the face of repeated disobedience.
Gaza and a Prostitute (Judges 16:1-3)
The chapter opens with Samson in Gaza, the southernmost of the Philistine's five major cities (Joshua 13:3), where he visits a prostitute. The text doesn't specify his reason for being there, whether on a mission or simply passing through. This act mirrors the spiritual "prostitution" of Israel, who repeatedly turned to other gods (Judges 2:17; 8:27, 33). Samson, as a leader, was reflecting the compromised state of the nation.
The men of Gaza, recognizing him, lay in wait to ambush him at the city gates. However, Samson arises at midnight, uproots the entire gate structure, and carries it to the top of a hill overlooking Hebron. This act, while demonstrating his continued strength, also serves as a powerful symbol. City gates were centers of commerce, defense, and authority. By removing them, Samson not only leaves Gaza vulnerable but also delivers a humiliating insult to the Philistines, the ruling power (Genesis 22:17; 24:60). It proves that even though Samson was outside of God’s will, God had not abandoned him—yet.
Delilah and Betrayal (Judges 16:4-22)
Samson's downward spiral intensifies with Delilah. The Valley of Sorek, where she lived, is named after a variety of grapes, a subtle reminder of Samson's Nazirite vow (Judges 13:5) that forbade him from consuming grape products (Numbers 6:1-4). Delilah's name itself might imply "weakness," contrasting with Samson's strength.
The lords of the Philistines, seeing an opportunity, offer Delilah a substantial sum of money to discover the secret of Samson's strength. What follows is a series of deceptions, where Samson repeatedly lies about the source of his power. Delilah's persistent questioning and accusations of insincerity wear him down. She pleads, “How can you say, “I love you” . . . when your heart is not with me?” (Judges 16:15).
Eventually, Samson, succumbing to her manipulation, reveals the truth: his strength is tied to his uncut hair, a sign of his dedication to God. This moment highlights the danger of prioritizing human relationships over one's commitment to God. Delilah wastes no time in betraying him. She has his head shaved while he sleeps, and the Philistines capture him, gouge out his eyes, and enslave him.
The text notes, "He did not know that the LORD had left him" (Judges 16:20). Samson's sin has cost him dearly. Without God in the equation of his life, Satan controls the situation. His hair was not a magical substance, but an outward sign of his commitment to obey God. He violated his purpose, and God took away his strength.
However, Judges 16:22 offers a glimmer of hope: "But the hair on his head began to grow again after it had been shaved." This detail suggests a spiritual renewal, a turning back to God. His hair’s return was an outward symbol that he was inwardly repentant and turning back to God. Sometimes God has to take you as low as you can possibly go to get your undivided attention.
The Final Act of Strength (Judges 16:23-31)
The Philistines celebrate their victory over Samson, attributing it to their god Dagon. They bring Samson out of prison to mock him during a religious festival. This was not merely personal or political but theological. The battle between Samson and his tormentors was a conflict between the god of the Philistines and the true God.
In a moment of humility and repentance, Samson prays to God for one last burst of strength. He positions himself between the two central pillars of the temple and pushes with all his might, collapsing the building and killing himself along with thousands of Philistines. In this final act, Samson accomplishes more in death than he did in his entire life, shattering Philistine oppression.
Samson’s final act of faith is commemorated in Hebrews 11:32-33, where he is included in the “Hall of Faith.” While Samson was not even close to being a perfect man, he got this right: he believed God could use him to accomplish his will.
Lessons from Judges 16
Judges 16 serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked desire, the consequences of prioritizing human relationships over God, and the importance of remaining faithful to one's calling. Yet, it also reveals the enduring grace and mercy of God, who can use even flawed individuals to accomplish His purposes. Samson's story reminds us that repentance and faith, even at the end of one's life, can lead to redemption and a lasting impact.
The events which close out the book of Judges highlight the tragic, disturbing results of rejecting God's will. During this time period there was no divine standard operating in the nation. Everyone simply ignored the rules God had given to Moses and did “whatever seemed right to him” (Judges 17:6).
Then went Samson to Gaza, and saw there an harlot, and went in unto her.
And it was told the Gazites, saying, Samson is come hither. And they compassed him in, and laid wait for him all night in the gate of the city, and were quiet all the night, saying, In the morning, when it is day, we shall kill him.
And Samson lay till midnight, and arose at midnight, and took the doors of the gate of the city, and the two posts, and went away with them, bar and all, and put them upon his shoulders, and carried them up to the top of an hill that is before Hebron.
And it came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah.
And the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and said unto her, Entice him, and see wherein his great strength lieth, and by what means we may prevail against him, that we may bind him to afflict him: and we will give thee every one of us eleven hundred pieces of silver.
And Delilah said to Samson, Tell me, I pray thee, wherein thy great strength lieth, and wherewith thou mightest be bound to afflict thee.
And Samson said unto her, If they bind me with seven green withs that were never dried, then shall I be weak, and be as another man.
Then the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven green withs which had not been dried, and she bound him with them.
Now there were men lying in wait, abiding with her in the chamber. And she said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he brake the withs, as a thread of tow is broken when it toucheth the fire. So his strength was not known.
And Delilah said unto Samson, Behold, thou hast mocked me, and told me lies: now tell me, I pray thee, wherewith thou mightest be bound.
And he said unto her, If they bind me fast with new ropes that never were occupied, then shall I be weak, and be as another man.
Delilah therefore took new ropes, and bound him therewith, and said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And there were liers in wait abiding in the chamber. And he brake them from off his arms like a thread.
And Delilah said unto Samson, Hitherto thou hast mocked me, and told me lies: tell me wherewith thou mightest be bound. And he said unto her, If thou weavest the seven locks of my head with the web.
And she fastened it with the pin, and said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awaked out of his sleep, and went away with the pin of the beam, and with the web.
And she said unto him, How canst thou say, I love thee, when thine heart is not with me? thou hast mocked me these three times, and hast not told me wherein thy great strength lieth.
And it came to pass, when she pressed him daily with her words, and urged him, so that his soul was vexed unto death;
That he told her all his heart, and said unto her, There hath not come a razor upon mine head; for I have been a Nazarite unto God from my mother’s womb: if I be shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man.
And when Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, Come up this once, for he hath shewed me all his heart. Then the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and brought money in their hand.
And she made him sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head; and she began to afflict him, and his strength went from him.
And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the Lord was departed from him.
But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison house.
Howbeit the hair of his head began to grow again after he was shaven.
Then the lords of the Philistines gathered them together for to offer a great sacrifice unto Dagon their god, and to rejoice: for they said, Our god hath delivered Samson our enemy into our hand.
And when the people saw him, they praised their god: for they said, Our god hath delivered into our hands our enemy, and the destroyer of our country, which slew many of us.
And it came to pass, when their hearts were merry, that they said, Call for Samson, that he may make us sport. And they called for Samson out of the prison house; and he made them sport: and they set him between the pillars.
And Samson said unto the lad that held him by the hand, Suffer me that I may feel the pillars whereupon the house standeth, that I may lean upon them.
Now the house was full of men and women; and all the lords of the Philistines were there; and there were upon the roof about three thousand men and women, that beheld while Samson made sport.
And Samson called unto the Lord, and said, O Lord God, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.
And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the house stood, and on which it was borne up, of the one with his right hand, and of the other with his left.
And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life.
Then his brethren and all the house of his father came down, and took him, and brought him up, and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the buryingplace of Manoah his father. And he judged Israel twenty years.
Judges 16 marks the tragic climax of Samson's story, a narrative that began in Judges 14. Though he judged Israel for twenty years (Judges 15:20), the scriptures only highlight a few key events, demonstrating a life marked by both incredible strength and profound weakness. This chapter reveals the depths of Samson's personal failings, yet also hints at the enduring grace of God, even in the face of repeated disobedience.
Gaza and a Prostitute (Judges 16:1-3)
The chapter opens with Samson in Gaza, the southernmost of the Philistine's five major cities (Joshua 13:3), where he visits a prostitute. The text doesn't specify his reason for being there, whether on a mission or simply passing through. This act mirrors the spiritual "prostitution" of Israel, who repeatedly turned to other gods (Judges 2:17; 8:27, 33). Samson, as a leader, was reflecting the compromised state of the nation.
The men of Gaza, recognizing him, lay in wait to ambush him at the city gates. However, Samson arises at midnight, uproots the entire gate structure, and carries it to the top of a hill overlooking Hebron. This act, while demonstrating his continued strength, also serves as a powerful symbol. City gates were centers of commerce, defense, and authority. By removing them, Samson not only leaves Gaza vulnerable but also delivers a humiliating insult to the Philistines, the ruling power (Genesis 22:17; 24:60). It proves that even though Samson was outside of God’s will, God had not abandoned him—yet.
Delilah and Betrayal (Judges 16:4-22)
Samson's downward spiral intensifies with Delilah. The Valley of Sorek, where she lived, is named after a variety of grapes, a subtle reminder of Samson's Nazirite vow (Judges 13:5) that forbade him from consuming grape products (Numbers 6:1-4). Delilah's name itself might imply "weakness," contrasting with Samson's strength.
The lords of the Philistines, seeing an opportunity, offer Delilah a substantial sum of money to discover the secret of Samson's strength. What follows is a series of deceptions, where Samson repeatedly lies about the source of his power. Delilah's persistent questioning and accusations of insincerity wear him down. She pleads, “How can you say, “I love you” . . . when your heart is not with me?” (Judges 16:15).
Eventually, Samson, succumbing to her manipulation, reveals the truth: his strength is tied to his uncut hair, a sign of his dedication to God. This moment highlights the danger of prioritizing human relationships over one's commitment to God. Delilah wastes no time in betraying him. She has his head shaved while he sleeps, and the Philistines capture him, gouge out his eyes, and enslave him.
The text notes, "He did not know that the LORD had left him" (Judges 16:20). Samson's sin has cost him dearly. Without God in the equation of his life, Satan controls the situation. His hair was not a magical substance, but an outward sign of his commitment to obey God. He violated his purpose, and God took away his strength.
However, Judges 16:22 offers a glimmer of hope: "But the hair on his head began to grow again after it had been shaved." This detail suggests a spiritual renewal, a turning back to God. His hair’s return was an outward symbol that he was inwardly repentant and turning back to God. Sometimes God has to take you as low as you can possibly go to get your undivided attention.
The Final Act of Strength (Judges 16:23-31)
The Philistines celebrate their victory over Samson, attributing it to their god Dagon. They bring Samson out of prison to mock him during a religious festival. This was not merely personal or political but theological. The battle between Samson and his tormentors was a conflict between the god of the Philistines and the true God.
In a moment of humility and repentance, Samson prays to God for one last burst of strength. He positions himself between the two central pillars of the temple and pushes with all his might, collapsing the building and killing himself along with thousands of Philistines. In this final act, Samson accomplishes more in death than he did in his entire life, shattering Philistine oppression.
Samson’s final act of faith is commemorated in Hebrews 11:32-33, where he is included in the “Hall of Faith.” While Samson was not even close to being a perfect man, he got this right: he believed God could use him to accomplish his will.
Lessons from Judges 16
Judges 16 serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked desire, the consequences of prioritizing human relationships over God, and the importance of remaining faithful to one's calling. Yet, it also reveals the enduring grace and mercy of God, who can use even flawed individuals to accomplish His purposes. Samson's story reminds us that repentance and faith, even at the end of one's life, can lead to redemption and a lasting impact.
The events which close out the book of Judges highlight the tragic, disturbing results of rejecting God's will. During this time period there was no divine standard operating in the nation. Everyone simply ignored the rules God had given to Moses and did “whatever seemed right to him” (Judges 17:6).