The story of Delilah in the Bible is made known through Samson. He was a strong and handsome man known for his magnificent long hair in ancient Israel. He was also invincible and therefore feared until one day, he met Delilah and fell in love, for she was a woman of exquisite beauty.
Delilah in the Bible, was a Philistine woman. She is a biblical character well-known to the Israelite camp. While Samson was traveling to Gaza, he met a beautiful woman named Delilah. He fell in love. And this is where the Philistines saw their chance. They urged Delilah to find out the secret of Samson’s power and offered her a lot of money in return. Delilah grabbed him and tried to put Samson on the ropes. And Samson, blinded by love, said: The reason for his limitless power was his hair. If it were cut, he would lose his control. This discovery was Samson’s downfall, for Delilah betrayed him to the Philistines, and they cut off his hair while he slept.
After this event, Samson and then Delilah died, and Delilah died struck by the temple pillars because Samson asked God to give him power again to kill all the Philistines. And so Samson brought down the temple with all the people in it, including Delilah.
Their sad and emotional story made quite an impression on posterity. Many philosophers and artists have dealt with symbolism. One of the most famous paintings shows Samson and Delilah cutting each other’s hair while he sleeps.
What kind of woman was Delilah?
Many also believe that the story of Samson and Delilah in the Bible reflects a tale of betrayal. However, this is a misconception. The motif of betrayal is indeed quite common in the Bible. You may, for example, recall the betrayal of Judas Iscariot, the story of Joseph and his brothers. But while this reason can be traced in the legend of Samson and Delilah, it is not the main one.
Delilah was a beautiful woman in the Bible, but not a woman of words. She was not an honest and honorable woman. Delilah is false because she sells Samson to her opponents, who capture and blind him. The dishonorable woman for cunning and the good man for being in love. The character of Delilah intrigues and amazes her at the same time. And not so much her as the relationship she has with Samson. Scripture portrays her as promiscuous but devilishly wise. She and the men of the Philistine city plotted in such a way that they defeated Samson.
Historically, a woman’s honor was not private but a public good. This can be life-threatening, especially for the woman. So say the stories in the Old and New Testaments and the apocryphal writings.
Biography of Delilah
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Biblical places from the times of Delilah
- Gaza- Was Gaza a safe place?
- State of Palestine- Is Palestine in the same location nowadays?
Did Samson and Delilah have a child?
Samson emerges as a model of biblical power; even when he goes to prostitutes, he can defeat his enemies. Samson falls in love with Delilah, who is from Soren. Most biblical interpreters say this is Samson’s first sin: loving a woman from the enemy’s clan. In primitive societies, leaving the group is a cardinal sin, and God later punishes Samson for the betrayal he experiences from Delilah.
According to biblical and apocryphal accounts, Samson and Delilah had no children. Delilah also died young, having no chance of having heirs. Samson had begun to love her, but she didn’t want children because she had a devious plan. She had no pure feelings for Samson. Because the Philistines had contacted Delilah to find out Samson’s powers, to capture him, they paid Delilah in exchange for the information that was to come.
Delilah in the Bible, deceives Samson, deceiving him that she loves him. After two failed attempts, she discovers the secret of his manhood, that lure that makes him manly and strong: his hair. After this event, Samson never wants to see Delilah again and becomes completely blind.
Key Verse related to Delilah
“Sometime later, he fell in love with a woman in the Valley of Sorek named Delilah. The rulers of the Philistines went to her and said, “See if you can lure him into showing you the secret of his great strength and how we can overpower him so we may tie him up and subdue him. Each one of us will give you eleven hundred shekels of silver.”
What happened to Delilah after she cut Samson’s hair?
Delilah’s name can be translated as the Harlot, and the biblical narrative demonstrates that her name genuinely represents her. She consumed, by her words and pretense, the life of a person dedicated to God from birth.
After cutting Samson’s hair, Delilah in the Bible goes mad and realizes the mistake she has made and has hysterics of laughter in the temple as she looks at Samson, who is blind. Delilah misused the skill and beauty God had given her. The heavenly Father endows us all with spiritual gifts, qualities that we should use for the glory of His name.
Ellen G. White says in her book about Delilah that they dared not try to seize him while he was in the grip of his great power, but the plan was to find out, if possible, the secret of his power. That is why they bribed Delilah with money so that she would find this out and reveal it to them. So we conclude that Delilah was a tool in Samson’s capture.
What happened to Delilah in the end?
After the tragedy of Delilah cutting Samson’s hair, his hair begins to grow back. And God restores her strength. And so he destroys the temple and kills 3000 Philistines, himself, and Delilah.
As the saying goes, after the deed comes to the reward, Delilah finally dies with the Philistines in the temple under the wrath of God. Yahweh punished her because Delilah used her cunning and beauty to destroy the life of a man who was a judge in Israel. She took advantage of Samson’s character weakness and tried to kill a man’s life.
In the Old Testament, Delilah is the central figure of Samson’s last love story. She was a Philistine woman who, bribed to trap Samson, persuaded him to reveal that the secret of his power was his long hair, after which she took advantage of his trust to betray him to his enemies. Her name has since become synonymous with a voluptuous and treacherous woman.
Primary Takeaways
- The Jewish people, enslaved under the Philistines, are subjected to mockery and backbreaking work. In fervent prayer, they all beg for God’s mercy and help to save them from torment. Samson encourages them and urges them to fight for freedom but is overpowered by Delilah, who cuts off his hair.
- Delilah asks her lover to tell her the secret of his physical strength, but Samson refuses. She will pretend to cry, to be unhappy, and under the pressure of her suffering, Samson, impressed, gives in. After putting him to sleep on her knees, Delilah cuts off his hair and summons the guards who will handcuff him and gouge out his eyes.
- Delilah tricks Samson, the Philistines capture him, and his eyes are gouged out. Although God often helps Samson to slaughter the hordes of enemies, he has departed because Samson is no longer worthy, having no hair.
Conclusion
After being sheared by the cunning Delilah in the Bible, Samson is taken out among the Philistines to be mocked. Delilah tortures him by reminding him of the details of her plot, and the High Priest forces him to worship the Great Dagon. Samson prays one last time to God for strength, and He hears his prayer. By moving the two pillars of support, Samson causes the temple to collapse over all the Philistines, himself sacrificing his life as atonement for the wrongs he committed out of love.
If you enjoyed reading our article, play the following Quiz to test your biblical knowledge about Delilah and her life.
Quizlet about The Story of Delilah
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Explanation of biblical words
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Bibliography
- Collins, F. (2010). After the apology: Reframing violence and suffering in First Australians, Australia, and Samson and Delilah. Continuum, 24(1), 65-77.
- Sasson, J. M. (1988). Who cut Samson’s hair? (And other trifling issues raised by Judges 16). Prooftexts, 333-339.
- DeMille, C. B., Mature, V., & Lamarr, H. (1949). Samson and Delilah. Paramount Pictures.
- Smith, C. (1997). Samson and Delilah in the Bible: A parable of power?. Journal for the Study of the Old Testament, 22(76), 45-57.
- Marlow, L. (2000). Samson and Delilah in Divorce Mediation. Family Court Review, 38(2), 224-233.
