Richtere 16:4

4 En het geschiedde daarna, dat hij een vrouw lief kreeg, aan de beek Sorek, welker naam was Delila.

Richtere 16:4 Meaning and Commentary

Judges 16:4

And it came to pass afterwards, that he loved a woman in the
valley of Sorek
Which, according to Adrichomius ^F25 was but half a mile from the brook Eshcol, from whence the spies brought a bunch of grapes, as a specimen of the fruit of the land of Canaan; and this valley of Sorek seems to have been famous for the best wine, and hither Samson retired for refreshment and pleasure; but, according to Jerom {z}, it was on the north of Eleutheropolis, where, he says, was shown a village in his time called Capharsorech, near the village Zorah, from whence Samson was; and Bunting ^F1 makes it to be twelve miles from Hebron, and twelve from Jerusalem; where he met with a woman he loved; whether she was an Israelite, or one of the daughters of the Philistines, they now being the rulers of Israel, is not said; most likely the latter, as say Ben Gersom and Abarbinel, since the lords of the Philistines were so intimate with her, and were entertained in her house, and she showed more respect to them than to Samson. The Jews say she became a proselyte, but if she did, there is very little evidence of her being a sincere one: some have thought, that the courtship to her was a lawful conjugal love; that falling in love with her, he courted and married her; but this is not very likely, since no mention is made of his marriage to her, nor did he take her home, but dwelt in her house: it rather seems to be an impure and unlawful love he had to her, and that she was an harlot, as Josephus ^F2; and all her conduct and behaviour confirm the same:

whose name was Delilah;
the Jews say ^F3 she was so called because she weakened the heart and spirit of Samson, and weakened his strength, and weakened his works; and therefore, if this had not been her name, they say it was one very proper for her.

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FOOTNOTES:

F25 Ut supra, (Theatrum Terra Sanct.) p. 24.
F26 De loc. Heb. fol. 94. L.
F1 Travels, p. 116, 117.
F2 Ut supra, (Antiqu. l. 5. c. 8.) sect. 11.
F3 T. Bab. Sotah, fol. 9. 2.

Richtere 16:4 In-Context

2 Toen werd de Gazieten gezegd: Simson is hier in ingekomen; zo gingen zij rondom, en legden hem den gansen nacht lagen in de stadspoort; doch zij hielden zich den gansen nacht stil, zeggende: Tot aan het morgenlicht, dan zullen wij hem doden.

3 Maar Simson lag tot middernacht toe; toen stond hij op ter middernacht, en hij greep de deuren der stadspoort met de beide posten, en nam ze weg met den grendelboom, en legde ze op zijn schouderen, en droeg ze opwaarts op de hoogte des bergs, die in het gezicht van Hebron is.

4 En het geschiedde daarna, dat hij een vrouw lief kreeg, aan de beek Sorek, welker naam was Delila.

5 Toen kwamen de vorsten der Filistijnen tot haar op, en zeiden tot haar: Overreed hem, en zie, waarin zijn grote kracht zij, en waarmede wij hem zouden machtig worden, en hem binden, om hem te plagen; zo zullen wij u geven, een iegelijk, duizend en honderd zilverlingen.

6 Delila dan zeide tot Simson: Verklaar mij toch, waarin uw grote kracht zij, en waarmede gij zoudt kunnen gebonden worden, dat men u plage.