DELILAH

Samson’s mistress, who betrayed him to his Philistine enemies (Jgs 16). Because Philistia held southern Israel in vassalage at the time (c. 1070 BC), Samson was chosen by God to begin the delivery of Israel. His success prompted the five Philistine rulers to offer Delilah a bribe if she would help capture him by discovering the secret of his enormous strength.

Delilah was from the valley of Sorek, in the southeast corner of Dan’s territory, only a few miles from Samson’s home in Zorah. It is clear from Judges 14:1 that she was a Philistine, although the large reward she accepted (5,500 pieces of silver) implies that her motivations were other than Philistine loyalty. Her unhindered contact with men probably indicates that she was a prostitute.

On her fourth attempt Delilah finally tricked Samson into revealing his secret. His strength was from God; his long hair, which signified that he was under a Nazirite vow (see Nm 6:1-8) and thus “set apart” by God for special service (Jgs 13:5), was never to be cut. Delilah lulled him to sleep, shaved his head, and delivered him (still unsuspecting) into the hands of his enemies.