Judges Chapter 16 - The Secret of Samson’s Strength Revealed

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Man’s Wickedness, Nephilim and the Flood</U></A>   |   <A HREF="genesis_chapter_7.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The LORD Told Noah and HIs Family to Go "><U>The LORD Told Noah and HIs Family to Go into the Ark</U></A>   |   <A HREF="god_remembered_noah.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="But God Remembered Noah All the Wild An"><U>But God Remembered Noah & All the Wild Animals and Livestock </U></A>   |   <A HREF="genesis_chapter_9.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gods Blessing, Gods Covenant with Noah, "><U>God’s Blessing, God’s Covenant with Noah, and Canaan’s Curse</U></A>   |   <A HREF="genesis_chapter_10.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Genesis Chapter 10 The Account of Shem,"><U>"Genesis Chapter 10" - The Account of Shem, Ham and Japheth</U></A>   |   <A HREF="tower_of_babel.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Tower of Babel the Ancient Babyloni"><U>The Tower of Babel & the Ancient Babylonian Mystery Religion </U></A>   |   <A HREF="genesis_chapter_12.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Blessing of Abram Gods Promised Lan"><U>The Blessing of Abram & God’s Promised Land to His Offspring</U></A>   |   <A HREF="genesis_chapter_13.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Genesis Chapter 13 Abram Called on the "><U>Genesis Chapter 13 - "Abram Called on the Name of the LORD"</U></A>   |   <A HREF="genesis_14.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Genesis 14 Abram Rescues Lot Pays a Ti"><U>Genesis 14 - Abram Rescues Lot & Pays a Tithe to Melchizedek </U></A>   |   <A HREF="genesis_15.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Genesis 15: Gods Covenant with Abram Who"><U>Genesis 15: God’s Covenant with Abram Who Believed the LORD</U></A>   |   <A HREF="genesis_chapter_16.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Hagar Will Bear Abram a Son and the LORD"><U>Hagar Will Bear Abram a Son and the LORD Named Him Ishmael</U></A>   |   <A HREF="genesis_17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Covenant of Circumcision between El "><U>The Covenant of Circumcision between El Shaddai and Abraham</U></A>   |   <A HREF="genesis_chapter_18_.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The LORD Appeared to Abraham and Abraham"><U>The LORD Appeared to Abraham and Abraham Pleaded for Sodom</U></A>   |   <A HREF="genesis_chapter_19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Genesis Chapter 19 Sodom and Gomorrah D"><U>Genesis Chapter 19 - Sodom and Gomorrah Destroyed by Angels!</U></A>   |   <A HREF="genesis_chapter_20.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Genesis Chapter 20 Abraham and Sarah De"><U>Genesis Chapter 20 - Abraham and Sarah Deceive Abimelech</U></A>   |   <A HREF="genesis_chapter_21.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Genesis Ch. 21 Sarah Bore Isaac to Abra"><U>Genesis Ch. 21 - Sarah Bore Isaac to Abraham in Her Old Age </U></A>   |   <A HREF="abraham_offers_isaac_a_burnt_offering.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Genesis Ch.22 Abraham is Told to Sacrif"><U>Genesis Ch.22 - Abraham is Told to Sacrifice Isaac as a Burnt Offering</U></A>   |   <A HREF="genesis_chapter_23.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sarah Dies so Abraham Purchases a Field "><U>Sarah Dies so Abraham Purchases a Field & a Cave in Hebron </U></A>   |   <A HREF="genesis_24.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Servant of Abraham Was Sent Back to "><U>The Servant of Abraham Was Sent Back to Get a Wife for Isaac (Genesis 24)</U></A>   |   <A HREF="genesis_25.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Genesis 25 Abraham Left Everything that"><U>Genesis 25 – Abraham Left Everything that He Owned to Isaac! </U></A>   |   <A HREF="genesis_26.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Genesis 26 Isaac Settles in Gerar He D"><U>Genesis 26 - Isaac Settles in Gerar & He Deceives Abimelech!</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id125.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Genesis 27 Jacob Deceives Isaac and Ste"><U>Genesis 27 – Jacob Deceives Isaac and Steals Esau’s Blessing  </U></A>   |   <A HREF="genesis_28_.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Traveling to Get a Wife, Jacob Dreams of"><U>Traveling to Get a Wife, Jacob Dreams of a Stairway to Heaven</U></A>   |   <A HREF="genesis_29.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Genesis 29: Jacob is Deceived by Laban s"><U>Genesis 29: Jacob is Deceived by Laban so He Will Marry Leah</U></A>   |   <A HREF="genesis_30.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Genesis 30 Jacob is Blessed with Many C"><U>Genesis 30 - Jacob is Blessed with Many Children and Flocks!</U></A>   |   <A HREF="genesis_31.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Genesis 31 Jacob Flees from Laban then "><U>Genesis 31 - Jacob Flees from Laban then Laban Pursues Jacob</U></A>   |   <A HREF="genesis_32.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Genesis 32 Jacob Prepares for Esau then"><U>Genesis 32 - Jacob Prepares for Esau; then Wrestles with God </U></A>   |   <A HREF="genesis_33.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Genesis 33 After Twenty Years, Jacob Re"><U>Genesis 33 - After Twenty Years, Jacob Reconciles with Esau</U></A>   |   <A HREF="genesis_34.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Simeon and Levi, Dinahs Brothers, take V"><U>Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s Brothers, take Vengeance on Shechem</U></A>   |   <A HREF="genesis_35.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Genesis 35 Jacob Builds an Altar to God"><U>Genesis 35 - Jacob Builds an Altar to God Almighty at Bethel</U></A>   |   <A HREF="genesis_36_1_8_and_genesis_37_.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Rejected by His Own Brothers, Joseph is "><U>Rejected by His Own Brothers, Joseph is a Type of the Messiah</U></A>   |   <A HREF="genesis_38.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Judah, his Daughterinlaw Tamar, and the "><U>Judah, his Daughter-in-law Tamar, and the Levirate Marriage</U></A>   |   <A HREF="genesis_39.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Joseph and the Wife of Potiphar, Captain"><U>Joseph and the Wife of Potiphar, Captain of Pharaoh’s Guard</U></A>   |   <A HREF="genesis_40.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Joseph Interprets the Dreams of Pharaohs"><U>Joseph Interprets the Dreams of Pharaoh’s Cupbearer and Baker</U></A>   |   <A HREF="genesis_41.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Genesis 41 Pharaoh Sends for Joseph to "><U>Genesis 41 - Pharaoh Sends for Joseph to Interpret His Dreams</U></A>   |   <A HREF="genesis_42.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Genesis 42 Josephs Brothers Went Down t"><U>Genesis 42 - Joseph’s Brothers Went Down to Egypt to Buy Grain</U></A>   |   <A HREF="genesis_43___44.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Genesis 43 44 Josephs Brothers Bring B"><U>Genesis 43 & 44 - Joseph’s Brothers Bring Benjamin to Egypt</U></A>   |   <A HREF="genesis_45.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Genesis 45 When Joseph Made Himself Kno"><U>Genesis 45 - When Joseph Made Himself Known to His Brothers!</U></A>   |   <A HREF="genesis_46.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Genesis 46 Jacob and the Sons of Israel"><U>Genesis 46 - Jacob and the Sons of Israel Go Down to Egypt</U></A>   |   <A HREF="genesis_47.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Genesis 47 Josephs Father and Brothers "><U>Genesis 47 - Joseph’s Father and Brothers Now Dwell in Goshen</U></A>   |   <A HREF="genesis_48.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Genesis 48: Jacob Blesses Manasseh and E"><U>Genesis 48: Jacob Blesses Manasseh and Ephraim Joseph’s Sons</U></A>   |   <A HREF="genesis_49.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Genesis 49 Jacob Calls for His Sons to "><U>Genesis 49 - Jacob Calls for His Sons to Assemble Before Him</U></A>   |   <A HREF="genesis_50.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Genesis 50 The Egyptians and Jacobs Fam"><U>Genesis 50 - The Egyptians and Jacob’s Family Mourn for Jacob</U></A>   |   <A HREF="intro_to_daniel.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Introduction to the Book of Daniel"><U>Introduction to the Book of Daniel</U></A>   |   <A HREF="daniel_chapter_1.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah ar"><U>Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah are Captive in Babylon</U></A>   |   <A HREF="daniel_2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Daniel Interprets Nebuchadnezzars Dream "><U>Daniel Interprets Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream of a Dazzling Statue</U></A>   |   <A HREF="daniel_chapter_3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="King Nebuchadnezzar Made an Image of Gol"><U>King Nebuchadnezzar Made an Image of Gold Sixty Cubits High!</U></A>   |   <A HREF="daniel__chapter_4.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Daniel Chapter 4 King Nebuchadnezzar Ha"><U>Daniel Chapter 4 - King Nebuchadnezzar Has a Fearful Dream! </U></A>   |   <A HREF="daniel_5.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Daniel 5 King Belshazzar Quakes at the "><U>Daniel 5 - King Belshazzar Quakes at the Writing on the Wall</U></A>   |   <A HREF="daniel_6.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Daniel 6 The Scheme of the Administrato"><U>Daniel 6 - The Scheme of the Administrators and the Satraps </U></A>   |   <A HREF="daniel_7.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Daniel 7 Daniel Had a Dream and Saw Vis"><U>Daniel 7 - Daniel Had a Dream and Saw Visions of Four Beasts</U></A>   |   <A HREF="daniel_8.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Daniel 8 Daniel Has a Vision of a Ram w"><U>Daniel 8 - Daniel Has a Vision of a Ram with Two Long Horns</U></A>   |   <A HREF="daniel_9.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Daniel 9 The Desolation of Jerusalem Wou"><U>Daniel 9 -The Desolation of Jerusalem Would Last Seventy Years</U></A>   |   <A HREF="daniel_10.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Daniel 10 A Revelation Was Revealed to "><U>Daniel 10 - A Revelation Was Revealed to Daniel in a Vision</U></A>   |   <A HREF="daniel_11.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Daniel 11 The Kings of the North and So"><U>Daniel 11 - The Kings of the North and South and the Antichrist</U></A>   |   <A HREF="daniel_12.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Daniel 12Michael Will Arise and There Wi"><U>Daniel 12-Michael Will Arise and There Will Be Great Distress</U></A>   |   <A HREF="introduction_to_judges.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="An Introduction to the Book of Judges wh"><U>An Introduction to the Book of Judges when Israel had no King</U></A>   |   <A HREF="judges_chapter_1.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="After Joshua Died, Israelites Fight the "><U>After Joshua Died, Israelites Fight the Remaining Canaanites</U></A>   |   <A HREF="judges_2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Judges 2 The Israelites Disobeyed the A"><U>Judges 2 - The Israelites Disobeyed the Angel of the LORD! </U></A>   |   <A HREF="judges_chapter_3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Judges Chapter 3 The Israelites Lived A"><U>Judges Chapter 3 - The Israelites Lived Among the Canaanites </U></A>   |   <A HREF="judges_chapter_4.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Judges Chapter 4 Deborah led Israel now"><U>Judges Chapter 4 - Deborah led Israel now that Ehud was Dead </U></A>   |   <A HREF="judges_chapter_6.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Israelites were given into the Hands"><U>The Israelites were given into the Hands of the Midianites!</U></A>   |   <A HREF="judges_chapter_7.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Judges 7 The LORD said to Gideon, You H"><U>Judges 7 - The LORD said to Gideon, "You Have too Many Men."</U></A>   |   <A HREF="judges_chapter_8.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Judges Chapter 8 Gideon Captures the Tw"><U>Judges Chapter 8 - Gideon Captures the Two Kings of Midian </U></A>   |   <A HREF="judges_chapter_9.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Judges Chapter 9 Abimelech Murdered His"><U>Judges Chapter 9 - Abimelech Murdered His Seventy Brothers!   </U></A>   |   <A HREF="judges_chapter_10_and_chaapter_11.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Judges Chapter 10 and Chapter 11 Tola, "><U>Judges Chapter 10 and Chapter 11 - Tola, Jair and Jephthah </U></A>   |   <A HREF="judges_chapter_12.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Judges Chapter 12 Jephthah defeats the "><U>Judges Chapter 12 - Jephthah defeats the Ephraimites</U></A>   |   <A HREF="judges_chapter_13.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Judges Chapter 13 The Birth of Samson W"><U>Judges Chapter 13 - The Birth of Samson Who was a Nazarite</U></A>   |   <A HREF="judges_chapter_14.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Judges Chapter 14 Samson Wants a Philis"><U>Judges Chapter 14 - Samson Wants a Philistine Woman as a Wife</U></A>   |   <A HREF="judges_chapter_15.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Judges Chapter 15 Samson Takes Vengeanc"><U>Judges Chapter 15 - Samson Takes Vengeance on the Philistines</U></A>   |   <B>Judges Chapter 16 - The Secret of Samson’s Strength Revealed</b>   |   <A HREF="judges_chapter_17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Judges Chapter 17 Micah from the Hill C"><U>Judges Chapter 17 - Micah from the Hill Country of Ephraim </U></A>   |   <A HREF="judges_chapter_18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Judges Chapter 18 In Those Days the Dan"><U>Judges Chapter 18 - In Those Days the Danites Had No King</U></A>   |   <A HREF="hebrews_chapter_1.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Hebrews Chapter 1 These Days He Has Spo"><U>Hebrews Chapter 1 - These Days He Has Spoken to Us by His Son</U></A>   |   <A HREF="hebrews_chapter_2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Hebrews Chapter 2 How Shall We Ignore s"><U>Hebrews Chapter 2 - How Shall We Ignore so Great a Salvation?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="hebrews_chapter_3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Hebrews Chapter 3 Jesus is Worthy of Gr"><U>Hebrews Chapter 3 - Jesus is Worthy of Greater Honor than Moses</U></A>   |   <A HREF="hebrews_chapter_4.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Hebrews Chapter 4 A Sabbath Rest for th"><U>Hebrews Chapter 4 - A Sabbath Rest for the People of God</U></A>   |   <A HREF="hebrews_chapter_5.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Hebrews Chapter 5 A High Priest in the "><U>Hebrews Chapter 5 - A High Priest in the Order of Melchizedek</U></A>   |   <A HREF="hebrews_chapter_6_.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Hebrews Chapter 6 The Things that Have t"><U>Hebrews Chapter 6 -The Things that Have to Do with Salvation</U></A>   |   <A HREF="hebrews_chapter_7.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Hebrews Ch.7 Jesus is a Priest in the O"><U>Hebrews Ch.7 - Jesus is a Priest in the Order of Melchizedek</U></A>   |   <A HREF="hebrews_chapter_8.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Hebrews Chapter 8 Jesus the High Priest"><U>Hebrews Chapter 8 - Jesus the High Priest of the New Covenant </U></A>   |   <A HREF="hebrews_chapter_9.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Hebrews Chapter 9 Regulations for Worsh"><U>Hebrews Chapter 9 - Regulations for Worship in the Tabernacle</U></A>   |   <A HREF="hebrews_chapter_10.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Hebrews Chapter 10 Christs Ultimate Sac"><U>Hebrews Chapter 10 - Christ’s Ultimate Sacrifice Once for All</U></A>   |   <A HREF="hebrews_11.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Hebrews Chapter 11 Great Men and Women "><U>Hebrews Chapter 11 - Great Men and Women Who Lived By Faith!</U></A>   |   <A HREF="hebrews_chapter_12.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Hebrews Chapter 12 Run the Race Fixing "><U>Hebrews Chapter 12 - Run the Race Fixing Ours Eyes on Jesus </U></A>   |   <A HREF="hebrews_chapter_11.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Hebrews Chapter 13 Keep On Loving, Be P"><U>Hebrews Chapter 13 - Keep On Loving, Be Pure, and Be Content</U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFCC66" TEXT="#080000" background="02ad2c00dkelyh.png"> <div> <IMG SRC="17674af0.jpg" border=0 width="116" height="175" ALT="last days,prophecy,end times,rapture,bible,scriptures,bible prophecies,endtimes,hebrew calendar,jewish culture,bible studies,messiah,festivals,revelation" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> THE LAST DAYS CALENDAR:</div> <div> Understanding God's</div> <div> Appointed Times</div> <div> USE LINK TO ORDER ON LINE</div> <div> <A HREF="https://www.redemption-press.com/shop/the-last-days-calendar/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="https://www.redemption-press.com/shop/th"><U>Redemption Press</U></A></div> <div> or Call<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#003399" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> 1-360-226-3488</div> <bR> <div> THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST: </div> <div> Understanding the Apocalypse </div> <div> <IMG SRC="37e98b90.jpg" border=0 width="152" height="185" ALT="revelation,apocalypse,Jesus, Christ,Jesus Christ,last days,prophecy,end times,rapture,Hebrew calendar,jewish culture,bible studies,messiah,festivals" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> USE LINK TO ORDER ON LINE</div> <div> <A HREF="https://www.redemption-press.com/shop/the-revelation-of-jesus-christ/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="https://www.redemption-press.com/shop/th"><U>Redemption Press</U></A></div> <div> or Call<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#003399" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> 1-360-226-3488</div> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I>Judges Chapter 16 - The Secret of Samson’s Strength Revealed</I></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Judges Chapter 16 – The Secret of Samson’s Strength Revealed</div> <bR> <div> <B>Each of five Philistine rulers promises to pay Delilah eleven hundred shekels of silver to lure Samson into revealing the secret of his great strength</b></div> <bR> <div> <I>One day Samson went to Gaza, where he saw a prostitute. He went in to spend the night with her.</I> Judges 16:1</div> <bR> <div> Samson had “seen” a woman in Timnah, and although he was an Israelite and she was a Philistine, he told his parents to obtain this woman as his bride. Samson’s disregard of the LORD’s prohibition against intermarriage with the inhabitants of Canaan ended in disaster. His wife and her family were burned to death.</div> <bR> <div> Sometime later, Samson is travelling in Philistine territory where he “saw” a prostitute and spent the night with her.</div> <bR> <div> <I>For everything in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--comes not from the Father but from the world.</I> 1 John 2:16</div> <bR> <div> In both instances, Samson first lusted with his eyes before he committed these sinful acts of intermarriage and fornication.</div> <bR> <div> He, who could strangle a lion and kill a thousand men single-handedly, could not conquer his own passion and lust. The man whom God had blessed with supernatural strength again showed himself to be morally and spiritually weak.</div> <bR> <div> Samson who also defiled himself by reaching into the carcass of a dead lion to scoop out honey and defiled himself by using a “fresh jawbone” of a donkey as a weapon, seems to have little or no regard to his calling as a Nazarite.</div> <bR> <div> <I>The people of Gaza were told, “Samson is here!” So they surrounded the place and lay in wait for him all night at the city gate. They made no move during the night, saying, “At dawn we’ll kill him.”</I> Judges 16:2</div> <bR> <div> The men of Gaza heard that Samson was in their city. They may not have known exactly where he was staying, so they set an ambush for him in the city gates. Many men probably hid in the guard-room by the side of the gate. Their intention was to launch a surprise attack against Samson at the time in the morning when the gates were to be opened and kill him.</div> <bR> <div> <I>But Samson lay there only until the middle of the night. Then he got up and took hold of the doors of the city gate, together with the two posts, and tore them loose, bar and all. He lifted them to his shoulders and carried them to the top of the hill that faces Hebron. </I>Judges 16:3</div> <bR> <div> Samson arose at midnight. Possibly the woman had learned of the plot, and gave Samson warning, after the manner of Rahab; or she may have been his betrayer, and planned on keeping him bedded until morning. In any case, Samson arose in the middle of the night. The watchmen were not expecting him until morning. They most probably went into the upper part of the gate-house to rest up in preparation for their morning attack.</div> <bR> <div> Samson took hold of the doors of the gate. The city’s gate was in two sections. It rotated upon pins in sockets, and was secured by a bar which slid into the posts on either side. Instead of forcing the doors open, he tore the posts up with the barred doors attached to them. Samson pulled up the whole framework of the gate, doors, posts and bar, and carried it off in one piece. He carried it to the top of a high hill not far from Gaza, which looked towards Hebron. Although Hebron was several miles from Gaza, Hebron stood upon a mountain and could be seen from the hill facing it.</div> <bR> <div> Samson’s act of supernatural strength sent a message to the men of Gaza. He did it with contempt for their attempt to confine him with gates and bars, and in order to show himself more formidable to the Philistines and more acceptable to his own people.</div> <bR> <div> <I>Some time later, he fell in love with a woman in the Valley of Sorek whose name was 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.”</I> Judges 16:4-5</div> <bR> <div> Sorek was not in the Philistine district, but was near Samson's native town of Zorah. This valley’s name means, “Choice Vine.” Sorek was noted for its fine wine.</div> <bR> <div> <I>The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘If a man or woman wants to make a special vow, a vow of dedication to the Lord as a Nazirite, they must abstain from wine and other fermented drink and must not drink vinegar made from wine or other fermented drink. They must not drink grape juice or eat grapes or raisins. As long as they remain under their Nazirite vow, they must not eat anything that comes from the grapevine, not even the seeds or skins.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I> “‘During the entire period of their Nazirite vow, no razor may be used on their head. They must be holy until the period of their dedication to the Lord is over; they must let their hair grow long.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I> “‘Throughout the period of their dedication to the Lord, the Nazirite must not go near a dead body. </I> Numbers 6:1-6</div> <bR> <div> Samson had already disrespected his Nazarite vow not to go near a dead body by thrusting his bare hands into a lion’s carcass and wielding a fresh jawbone of a donkey as a weapon. Now Samson, dedicated to God with a lifelong vow that he would have nothing to do with grape products or fermented drinks, goes into a valley known for its choice vines and fine wine. There he fell in love with a woman named Delilah.</div> <bR> <div> The only stipulation of Samson’s Nazarite vow that he had not yet broken was that a razor was never used on his head.  </div> <bR> <div> The Philistines occupied the five cities of Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Ekron, and Gath. Their rulers each promised Delilah eleven hundred shekels of silver if she could discover the secret of Samson’s strength.</div> <bR> <div> The meaning of Delilah’s name is, “seductive” (tempting and attractive; enticing) or “languishing” (growing weak or feeble). The attractive Delilah was promised fifty five hundred shekels of silver if she could seduce Samson into revealing his secret so that he would grow week and feeble.</div> <bR> <div> <I>So Delilah said to Samson, “Tell me the secret of your great strength and how you can be tied up and subdued.”</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>Samson answered her, “If anyone ties me with seven fresh bowstrings that have not been dried, I’ll become as weak as any other man.”</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>Then the rulers of the Philistines brought her seven fresh bowstrings that had not been dried, and she tied him with them. With men hidden in the room, she called to him, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!” But he snapped the bowstrings as easily as a piece of string snaps when it comes close to a flame. So the secret of his strength was not discovered.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>Then Delilah said to Samson, “You have made a fool of me; you lied to me. Come now, tell me how you can be tied.”</I></div> <bR> <div> <I> He said, “If anyone ties me securely with new ropes that have never been used, I’ll become as weak as any other man.”</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>So Delilah took new ropes and tied him with them. Then, with men hidden in the room, she called to him, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!” But he snapped the ropes off his arms as if they were threads.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>Delilah then said to Samson, “All this time you have been making a fool of me and lying to me. Tell me how you can be tied.”</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>He replied, “If you weave the seven braids of my head into the fabric on the loom and tighten it with the pin, I’ll become as weak as any other man.” So while he was sleeping, Delilah took the seven braids of his head, wove them into the fabric and tightened it with the pin.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>Again she called to him, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!” He awoke from his sleep and pulled up the pin and the loom, with the fabric.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I> Then she said to him, “How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when you won’t confide in me? This is the third time you have made a fool of me and haven’t told me the secret of your great strength.”</I> Judges 16:6-15</div> <bR> <div> Delilah claimed that Samson repeatedly made a fool of her by being dishonest and lying about the secret of his great strength. But in reality, Samson was a fool to believe that Delilah loved him. Delilah not only approached Samson and asked him directly for the source of his great strength, but also stated that the purpose of knowing his secret was to bind him up to capture him.</div> <bR> <div> With such nagging she prodded him day after day until he was sick to death of it.</div> <bR> <div> <I>So he told her everything. “No razor has ever been used on my head,” he said, “because I have been a Nazirite dedicated to God from my mother’s womb. If my head were shaved, my strength would leave me, and I would become as weak as any other man.” </I>Judges 16:16-17</div> <bR> <div> “Chinese water torture” is also known as "Spanish water torture" in Europe, because this term often refers to a type of torture used during the Spanish Inquisition. Victims would be strapped down so that they could not move, and cold or warm water would then be dripped slowly onto a small area of their body—usually the forehead. The forehead was found to be the most suitable point for this form of torture because of its sensitivity, and because of its ominous proximity to the brain and facial features.</div> <bR> <div> The victims could see each drop coming and, after a long duration of time, were gradually driven frantic to the point of insanity.</div> <bR> <div> Although Samson was physically strong, he was so tormented by Delilah’s incessant nagging that he finally broke down mentally and emotionally and yielded to her request.</div> <bR> <div> <I>When Delilah saw that he had told her everything, she sent word to the rulers of the Philistines, “Come back once more; he has told me everything.” So the rulers of the Philistines returned with the silver in their hands.  After putting him to sleep on her lap, she called for someone to shave off the seven braids of his hair, and so began to subdue him. And his strength left him.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>Then she called, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!”</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>He awoke from his sleep and thought, “I’ll go out as before and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the Lord had left him.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>Then the Philistines seized him, gouged out his eyes and took him down to Gaza. Binding him with bronze shackles, they set him to grinding grain in the prison. </I>Judges 16:18-21</div> <bR> <div> Samson, who had lusted with his eyes before he committed sinful acts of intermarriage and fornication, now had his eyes gouged out.</div> <bR> <div> Samson’s life is a portrait of unfaithful Israel during the times of the Judges. Like him, the nation was strong so long as its people kept the covenant of their God. Like him, Israel was prone to follow after strange loves. Its Delilahs were the gods of the heathen, in whose laps it laid its anointed head, and at whose hands it suffered the loss of its God-given strength. Like him, the nation was blinded, bound, and reduced to slavery until the people cried out and another judge arose to deliver them.</div> <bR> <div> <I>But the hair on his head began to grow again after it had been shaved.</I> Judges 16:22</div> <bR> <div> Samson's afflictions were the means of bringing him to deep repentance. By the loss of his natural sight, the eyes of his understanding were opened. Being convicted of his sin, and repenting of it, letting his hair grow was a sign that he renewed his Nazarite vow.</div> <bR> <div> <I>Now the rulers of the Philistines assembled to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god and to celebrate, saying, “Our god has delivered Samson, our enemy, into our hands.”</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>When the people saw him, they praised their god, saying, “Our god has delivered our enemy into our hands, the one who laid waste our land and multiplied our slain.”</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>While they were in high spirits, they shouted, “Bring out Samson to entertain us.” So they called Samson out of the prison, and he performed for them. </I>Judges 16:23-25a</div> <bR> <div> When the Philistines rulers were high on wine, they sought to ridicule Samson by having him perform for them. Little did they realize that his act would literally bring the house down.</div> <bR> <div> <I>When they stood him among the pillars, Samson said to the servant who held his hand, “Put me where I can feel the pillars that support the temple, so that I may lean against them.” Now the temple was crowded with men and women; all the rulers of the Philistines were there, and on the roof were about three thousand men and women watching Samson perform. Then Samson prayed to the Lord, “Sovereign Lord, remember me. Please, God, strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes.” </I>Judges 16:25b-28</div> <bR> <div> Samson’s successful and desired human vengeance required divine authorization or permission. One of the major aspects of vengeance is “the rendering of a just punishment upon a wrongdoer or the recompense given to the victim of the wrongdoing.” In Samson’s case, the gouging out of his eyes would be the wrongful act which would deserve recompense. This is not to be seen as malicious or vindictive retaliation by the wronged person, but rather as a just recompense for a crime. Divine vengeance is often invoked upon “external enemies” who oppress Israel and should be understood as an appeal for justice.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="39c4cba0.jpg" border=0 width="588" height="442" ALT="Samson ready to die with the Philistines" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <I>Then Samson reached toward the two central pillars on which the temple stood. Bracing himself against them, his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other,  Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines!” Then he pushed with all his might, and down came the temple on the rulers and all the people in it. Thus he killed many more when he died than while he lived.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>Then his brothers and his father’s whole family went down to get him. They brought him back and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of Manoah his father. He had led Israel twenty years.</I> Judges 16:29-31</div> <bR> <div> Despite all of Samson’s moral weaknesses and his disregard for the restrictions of a Nazarite, Samson turned back to God before he died. God in His sovereignty used Samson to fulfill His purpose. Samson’s death did much to impede the oppressive actions of the Philistines against the Israelites by killing all five Philistine rulers in his final act of supernatural strength.</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="judges_chapter_15.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Judges Chapter 15 Samson Takes Vengeanc"><U><B>Judges Chapter 15 - Samson Takes Vengeance on the Philistines</b></U></A><B> </b></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="judges_chapter_17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Judges Chapter 17 Micah from the Hill C"><U><B>Judges Chapter 17 - Micah from the Hill Country of Ephraim </b></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="jewish_festivals.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Festivals of the LORD reveal Bible Proph"><U><B>Festivals of the LORD reveal Bible Prophecy about End Times. </b></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Last Days Calendar:Bible Prophecy,La"><U><B>The Last Days Calendar:Bible Prophecy,Last Days,The Rapture</b></U></A><B> (Home)</b></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>