Tragic end of Samson the Judge (Judges 16:4-31)
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Introduction
Introduction
Biblical Timeline
“Book of Judges is named after an interesting collection of individuals who led Israel after Joshua’s death until the rise of the monarchy under Samuel (up to about 1050 B.C.). In this time of national decline, despite their promise to keep the covenant (Josh. 24:16–18) the people turned from the Lord and began to worship other gods.” (The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016. Print.)
Time of the Judges
“A pattern repeats throughout the book: 1) the people abandoned the Lord; 2) God punished them by raising up a foreign power to oppress them; 3) the people cried out to God for deliverance; and 4) God raised up a deliverer, or judge, for them.” (The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016. Print.)
Samson the Judge (Judges 13-16)
Samson’s Downfall (16:4–19)
Samson’s Downfall (16:4–19)
The bribe (16:4–6)
History (4)
Judges 16:4 (ESV)
4 After this he loved a woman in the Valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah.
Valley of Sorek - A valley in the western foothills of Judah
Woman named Delilah
Very little is known about Delilah.
Ethnicity of Delilah? “While the text does not identify her ethnicity, Delilah could be a Philistine (or at least non-Israelite) based on her geographical location and her political affiliations.” (Way, Kenneth C. Judges and Ruth. Ed. Mark L. Strauss and John H. Walton. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books: A Division of Baker Publishing Group, 2016. Print. Teach the Text Commentary Series.)
Was she a prostitute, concubine, or wife? the text is ambiguous about the relationship between Samson and Delilah, except that he loved her. It is interesting that his wife and prostitute mentioned earlier in the narrative goes unnamed, but Delilah is named.
Bribe from the Philistines (5)
Judges 16:5 (ESV)
5 And the lords of the Philistines came up to her and said to her, “Seduce him, and see where his great strength lies, and by what means we may overpower him, that we may bind him to humble him. And we will each give you 1,100 pieces of silver.”
Lords of the Philistines
Joshua 13:3 (ESV)
3 (from the Shihor, which is east of Egypt, northward to the boundary of Ekron, it is counted as Canaanite; there are five rulers of the Philistines, those of Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron), and those of the Avvim,
These lords of the Philistines knew that Samson must be stopped, and was watching him for weaknesses to bring him down.
They failed the first attempt. (Judges 16.1-3) They noticed his love for Delilah and decided to use her to get to know his secret.
1,100 pieces of Silver
1100 X 5 = 5,500 silver
“Eleven hundred shekels of silver is a generous reward (equal to about 27.5 lb. / 12.6 kg), and when the figure is multiplied times five (the number of the Philistine lords), the amount is overwhelmingly large (139.4 lb. / 63.2 kg), possibly ‘equivalent to 550 years’ wages.’” (Way, Kenneth C. Judges and Ruth. Ed. Mark L. Strauss and John H. Walton. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books: A Division of Baker Publishing Group, 2016. Print. Teach the Text Commentary Series.)
Delilah’s Acceptance of the Bribe (6)
Judges 16:6 (ESV)
6 So Delilah said to Samson, “Please tell me where your great strength lies, and how you might be bound, that one could subdue you.”
She is very deliberate with what she wants to know form him.
“Delilah went about her errand with a cold, heartless efficiency that causes the reader to wonder why Samson was so lacking in suspicion. In all probability he was so blinded by his passion and its gratification that no thought of insecurity entered his head.” (Cundall, Arthur E., and Leon Morris. Judges and Ruth: An Introduction and Commentary. Vol. 7. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1968. Print. Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries.)
The cycle of deception (16:7–15)
1st cycle (7-9)
Judges 16:7–9 (ESV)
7 Samson said to her, “If they bind me with seven fresh bowstrings that have not been dried, then I shall become weak and be like any other man.” 8 Then the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven fresh bowstrings that had not been dried, and she bound him with them. 9 Now she had men lying in ambush in an inner chamber. And she said to him, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” But he snapped the bowstrings, as a thread of flax snaps when it touches the fire. So the secret of his strength was not known.
The exact timing of all these cycles is not clear from the text and could have played out in a short or long period of time. The only clue of timing is, “day after day” (16)
“In the first three attempts made by Delilah Samson adopted a playful, teasing attitude.” (Cundall, Arthur E., and Leon Morris. Judges and Ruth: An Introduction and Commentary. Vol. 7. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1968. Print. Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries.)
Samson used riddles in the past to deceive others. He is doing the same here with Delilah. Its interesting that they both are trying to deceive each other.
Samson was arrogant with the strength the Lord gave him. That is a very important detail for the life of Samson, His strength was from the Lord not because of the Gym. He never thought that he would loose this strength.
2nd cycle (10-12)
Judges 16:10–12 (ESV)
10 Then Delilah said to Samson, “Behold, you have mocked me and told me lies. Please tell me how you might be bound.” 11 And he said to her, “If they bind me with new ropes that have not been used, then I shall become weak and be like any other man.” 12 So Delilah took new ropes and bound him with them and said to him, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” And the men lying in ambush were in an inner chamber. But he snapped the ropes off his arms like a thread.
Similar to the 1st cycle.
3rd cycle (13-14)
Judges 16:13–14 (ESV)
13 Then Delilah said to Samson, “Until now you have mocked me and told me lies. Tell me how you might be bound.” And he said to her, “If you weave the seven locks of my head with the web and fasten it tight with the pin, then I shall become weak and be like any other man.” 14 So while he slept, Delilah took the seven locks of his head and wove them into the web. And she made them tight with the pin and said to him, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” But he awoke from his sleep and pulled away the pin, the loom, and the web.
“The third attempt was perilously near the truth, for it concerned Samson’s hair (13, 14) and this may reveal a stage in the breaking down of his will.” (Cundall, Arthur E., and Leon Morris. Judges and Ruth: An Introduction and Commentary. Vol. 7. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1968. Print. Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries.)
Delilah’s New approach. (15-16)
Judges 16:15–16 (ESV)
15 And she said to him, “How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when your heart is not with me? You have mocked me these three times, and you have not told me where your great strength lies.” 16 And when she pressed him hard with her words day after day, and urged him, his soul was vexed to death.
After being deceived these 3 times, Delilah is going to try a new approach.
First, she challenge his love of her. (15)
Second, she begins to nag him. (16a)
Pressed Hard - to pester v., to persistently prod someone verbally to the point of annoyance. (The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible 2017: n. pag. Print.)
“day after day...” - continuing to pester him until he told her the truth.
Third, potentially withholds what he desires. (16b)
vexed - to be impatient v., to be or become intolerant of waiting for an amount of time; often the amount of time is longer than expected or necessary. (The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible 2017: n. pag. Print.)
“his soul grew impatient to the point of death Delilah may have withheld sexual favors from Samson since he kept coming to her day after day.” (Barry, John D. et al. Faithlife Study Bible. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016. Print.)
This all finally wears down Samson, who finally tells her the truth.
The betrayal (16:17-19)
Honesty (17)
Judges 16:17 (ESV)
17 And he told her all his heart, and said to her, “A razor has never come upon my head, for I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother’s womb. If my head is shaved, then my strength will leave me, and I shall become weak and be like any other man.”
Nazirite to God
“This institution was a symbol of a life devoted to God and separated from all sin—a holy life (Numbers 6:2–21). The vow of a Nazarite involved these three things. 1. Abstinence from wine and strong drink. 2. Refraining from cutting their hair during the whole period of the continuance of the vow. 3. Avoidance of contact with the dead.” (Freeman, James M., and Harold J. Chadwick. Manners & Customs of the Bible. North Brunswick, NJ: Bridge-Logos Publishers, 1998. Print.)
Samson had a clear understanding that he was a Nazirite from Birth, that it ment he was dedicated to God, he had clear regulations to follow, and that his strength was from God because he was a Nazirite.
Why would he Finally tell her the truth?
Arrogance - He still had his strength even though he did not obey the stipulations of the Nazirite.
He was wore out with the continual words and potential neglect.
“His lust for Delilah may have clouded his judgment, or he is arrogantly sure of his ability to overcome any foe. Since he continues to play along as she asks the secret of his strength and tests his answer, he is likely overconfident; this is evident in his assumption in v. 20 that he will break free again. However, it is surprising that he eventually trusts Delilah with the real secret since she has tested all of his prior answers. He should have suspected she would test that claim as well.” (Barry, John D. et al. Faithlife Study Bible. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016. Print.)
Betrayal (18-19)
Judges 16:18–19 (ESV)
18 When Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called the lords of the Philistines, saying, “Come up again, for he has told me all his heart.” Then the lords of the Philistines came up to her and brought the money in their hands. 19 She made him sleep on her knees. And she called a man and had him shave off the seven locks of his head. Then she began to torment him, and his strength left him.
Delilah contacts the lords of the Philistines to bring the money for she discovered his secret. (18)
What happened? (19)
“she called for someone. The identity and role of this “someone” are obscure. While he could be Delilah’s servant, a barber, or a Philistine warrior, it seems more likely that he is Samson, as suggested by Jack Sasson. That is, Delilah calls to the man (i.e., Samson) to ensure that he is really asleep before she wields the razor.” (Way, Kenneth C. Judges and Ruth. Ed. Mark L. Strauss and John H. Walton. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books: A Division of Baker Publishing Group, 2016. Print. Teach the Text Commentary Series.)
One commentary (Faithlife Study Bible), I read that it is potential that Delilah drugged Samson and was calling out to him to make sure he was out.
“she put him to sleep on her lap This may indicate that Delilah drugged Samson in some way to put him to sleep.” (Barry, John D. et al. Faithlife Study Bible. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016. Print.)
“she began to subdue him Delilah is probably trying to awaken Samson from some sort of drug-induced stupor and, seeing him begin to stir, calls out as before.” (Barry, John D. et al. Faithlife Study Bible. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016. Print.)
Samson’s Imprisonment (16:20–22)
Samson’s Imprisonment (16:20–22)
Samson alone (16:20)
Judges 16:20 (ESV)
20 And she said, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” And he awoke from his sleep and said, “I will go out as at other times and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the Lord had left him.
He woke up and though he would break free as before. However something happened that will change everything.
“But he did not know that the LORD had left him.”
This phase is very scary to me. He did not realize that the Lord left him alone.
“the LORD had left him. The source of Samson’s strength has always been God: “his strength left him” (16:19) only because the Lord has left him. This means that Samson’s hair is not magical (although the Philistines probably perceive it as such; cf. 16:5), and it suggests that Samson is not an unusually large or muscular man (if he were, then the Philistines would not wonder what made him so strong; cf. 16:5). Thus Samson’s foolish error is not that he has disclosed the secret of his strength per se. Instead, he foolishly presumes (or perhaps gambles with the hypothesis) that he is invincible because God’s power always seems to be present regardless of his apathetic behavior. He probably thinks that shaving will have no consequence since he frequently compromises his Nazirite status (see the sidebar “Nazirite of God” in the unit on Judg. 13:1–25). While he fully expects to break free from the Philistines as he did previous times, God seems to view his presumption as a test that has crossed a line.” (Way, Kenneth C. Judges and Ruth. Ed. Mark L. Strauss and John H. Walton. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books: A Division of Baker Publishing Group, 2016. Print. Teach the Text Commentary Series.)
Samson imprisoned (16:21-22)
Judges 16:21–22 (ESV)
21 And the Philistines seized him and gouged out his eyes and brought him down to Gaza and bound him with bronze shackles. And he ground at the mill in the prison. 22 But the hair of his head began to grow again after it had been shaved.
Samson was overpowered and imprisoned.
“seized him and gouged out his eyes and brought him down to Gaza and bound him with bronze shackles. And he ground at the mill in the prison.”
His Hair starts to Grow (22)
“the hair on his head began to grow again. By this statement, the narrator indicates that the tables are about to turn. The remark means not that Samson magically regains access to power but that he is transitioning back to his holy Nazirite status and to his function as a divinely empowered judge-deliverer.” (Way, Kenneth C. Judges and Ruth. Ed. Mark L. Strauss and John H. Walton. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books: A Division of Baker Publishing Group, 2016. Print. Teach the Text Commentary Series.)
Is this indicating that he is repenting? I don't see any indication from the text that he is repentant.
Samson’s final act (16:23–31)
Samson’s final act (16:23–31)
Samson mocked by the Philistines (16:23–25)
Judges 16:23–25 (ESV)
23 Now the lords of the Philistines gathered to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god and to rejoice, and they said, “Our god has given Samson our enemy into our hand.” 24 And when the people saw him, they praised their god. For they said, “Our god has given our enemy into our hand, the ravager of our country, who has killed many of us.” 25 And when their hearts were merry, they said, “Call Samson, that he may entertain us.” So they called Samson out of the prison, and he entertained them. They made him stand between the pillars.
Philistines celebrate (23-24)
Dagon - The grain deity Dagon, also spelled Dagan, had numerous temples in Philistine cities like Gaza, Ashdod, and possibly Beth Shan (cf. 1 Sam. 5:1–2; 31:10; 1 Chron. 10:10), but the Philistines also worshiped other deities, according to biblical and epigraphic sources. In this context it is appropriate to focus on Dagon because Samson specifically has burned the grain fields (15:4–5) and thereby “laid waste” Dagon’s domain (16:24). (Way, Kenneth C. Judges and Ruth. Ed. Mark L. Strauss and John H. Walton. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books: A Division of Baker Publishing Group, 2016. Print. Teach the Text Commentary Series.)
They are celebrating and worshiping Dagon because they believe that he gave them victory. What they do not know is that they got victory over Samson because of his sin before God.
Philistines mock Samson (25)
The lords of the Philistines called out Samson to entertain the crowds. They are calling Samson out as a show of their victory and to mock him as anyone sees fit.
entertain them - laugh; amuse; be merry; joke; provide amusement; play, dance; struggle, fight. (The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible 2017: n. pag. Print.)
Samson’s request of the young man (16:26–27)
Judges 16:26–27 (ESV)
26 And Samson said to the young man who held him by the hand, “Let me feel the pillars on which the house rests, that I may lean against them.” 27 Now the house was full of men and women. All the lords of the Philistines were there, and on the roof there were about 3,000 men and women, who looked on while Samson entertained.
Samson asked to be moved to the supporting pillars of the temple. There are differences in the artist renditions of the Temple of Dagon based upon archaeological finds.
Samson continues to entertain the crowds. (27)
Samson’s request of the Lord (16:28)
Judges 16:28 (ESV)
28 Then Samson called to the Lord and said, “O Lord God, please remember me and please strengthen me only this once, O God, that I may be avenged on the Philistines for my two eyes.”
This shows that Samson is more interested in avenging his loss than repenting of his sins.
Samson destroys the Philistines (16:29–31)
Judges 16:29–31 (ESV)
29 And Samson grasped the two middle pillars on which the house rested, and he leaned his weight against them, his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other. 30 And Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines.” Then he bowed with all his strength, and the house fell upon the lords and upon all the people who were in it. So the dead whom he killed at his death were more than those whom he had killed during his life. 31 Then his brothers and all his family came down and took him and brought him up and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of Manoah his father. He had judged Israel twenty years.
“Previously he had killed at least 1,030 Philistines (30 in Ashkelon, 14:19; and 1,000 at Ramath Lehi, 15:14–17).” (Lindsey, F. Duane. “Judges.” The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures. Ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck. Vol. 1. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985. 408. Print.)
Lessons from Samson
Lessons from Samson
Samson is not the Hero of the story, God is.
“God is the main actor and the only real hero. All of the Samson stories in chapters 13–16 are framed by God’s agenda (13:5; 14:4) and God’s empowerment (13:25; 14:6, 19; 15:14). Thus, God’s brief withdrawal from Samson (16:20–22) and the entrance of Dagon into the story (16:23–24) set up readers for the climax of God’s return to Samson and the reversal of Philistine fortunes (16:28–30).” (Way, Kenneth C. Judges and Ruth. Ed. Mark L. Strauss and John H. Walton. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books: A Division of Baker Publishing Group, 2016. Print. Teach the Text Commentary Series.)
“Samson is a carnal believer; God’s power unfolds through him but never dwells in him.” (Way, Kenneth C. Judges and Ruth. Ed. Mark L. Strauss and John H. Walton. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books: A Division of Baker Publishing Group, 2016. Print. Teach the Text Commentary Series.)
Although we are called by God to be a part of His mission, we have a standard of conduct to uphold.
Samson was called from birth as a nazirite for the purpose of delivering the Israelites from the oppression from the Philistines. Being a Nazirite, he had specific guidelines to follow. When he did not follow them, he was punished and suffered greatly.
“Despite his gift of physical strength given by the power of the Spirit, Samson’s inability to conquer his own passions ultimately led to his demise. Thus, the final cycle of the judges ends with Samson crushed beneath the rubble of a destroyed Philistine temple and Israel still without a leader.” (Hindson, Ed, and Elmer L. Towns. Illustrated Bible Survey: An Introduction. Nashville, TN: B&H Academic, 2013. Print.)
We, as followers of Jesus, have a great mission we are a part of to proclaim the gospel to those around us. We also have standards to live by. When we neglect to live by these standards we will suffer loss as well.
“If God’s people aren’t holy, they will become a cautionary tale instead of a city on a hill.” (Way, Kenneth C. Judges and Ruth. Ed. Mark L. Strauss and John H. Walton. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books: A Division of Baker Publishing Group, 2016. Print. Teach the Text Commentary Series.)
“God’s power is great enough to use evil for good.” (Way, Kenneth C. Judges and Ruth. Ed. Mark L. Strauss and John H. Walton. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books: A Division of Baker Publishing Group, 2016. Print. Teach the Text Commentary Series.)
God still saved his people from the Philistines even though Samson was far from godly and every decision was sinful.
2 great stories of God using sinfulness of others to accomplish His will.
Joseph sold into slavery by his brothers. (Gen 37-50)
Jesus on the Cross
Benediction
1 Thessalonians 5:23 (NET 2nd ed.)
23 Now may the God of peace himself make you completely holy and may your spirit and soul and body be kept entirely blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.