delilah Summary and Overview

languishing, a Philistine woman who dwelt in the valley of Sorek (Judg. 16:4-20). She was bribed by the "lords of the Philistines" to obtain from Samson the secret of his strength and the means of overcoming it (Judg. 16:4-18). She tried on three occasions to obtain from him this secret in vain. On the fourth occasion she wrung it from him. She made him sleep upon her knees, and then called the man who was waiting to help her; who "cut off the seven locks of his head," and so his "strength went from him." (See SAMSON T0003208.)

(languishing) a woman who dwelt in the valley Of Sorek, beloved by Samson. #Jud 16:4-18| There seems to be little doubt that she was a Philistine courtesan. [SAMS0N] (B.C. 1141.)

DEL'ILAH (pining with desire), a harlot of the valley of Sorek, in the tribe of Judah, and near the borders of the Philistines, with whom Samson associated, and who was the instrument of betraying him to his enemies. Jud 16:4-18. See Samson.

("the languishing one".) A Philistine harlot, of the valley of Sorek, whom the five Philistine lords, when they found Samson loved her, bribed for 1,100 shekels each to be their political emissary, to find out from Samson the secret of his strength. On four different occasions she tempted him to tell the secret. On the third occasion Samson trifled so presumptuously with the divine gift committed to him as to suggest that his seven consecrated locks should be woven with the web; when we go to the edge of temptation our gall is near. This "languishing" prostitute, with her vile challenging of his "love," "How canst thou say, I love thee, when thine heart is not with me?" and by daily vexing importunity, wrung the secret from him at the fourth time. His strength lay in dedication to God, of which his Nazarite locks were the sign. Laying down his head in her lap he lost them, and with them lost God in him, the spring of a strength which was not his own. Lust, severing from God the source of strength, makes the strongest powerless; only by waiting on the Lord, we, like Samson, renew the strength which was lost by self-indulgence and self-reliance. Contrast Daniel 1:8-16; Isaiah 40:30-31; Proverbs 7:6-27. So Israel, strong while faithful to Jehovah, incurs the curse which Balaam, however wishing it, could not inflict, the moment that the people commits whoredom with the daughters of Moab (Numbers 25:1; Numbers 25:6; Numbers 31:15-16).