Judges 16:4

4 (And) After these things Samson loved a woman that dwelled in the valley of Sorek, and she was called Delilah.

Judges 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.

Judges 16:4 In-Context

2 And when the Philistines had seen this, and it was published among them, that Samson had entered into the city, they compassed him (about), (and with) the keepers set in the gates of the city; and the Philistines (were) abiding there all that night privily, that in the morrowtide they should kill Samson going out. (And when the Philistines had seen this, and it was published among them, that Samson had come into the city, they surrounded him, and had guards set at the city gates; for the Philistines had decided to secretly wait there all that night, so that in the morning they could kill Samson when he came out.)

3 And Samson slept till to midnight (But Samson stayed only until midnight); and (then) he rose up to go (from) thence, and he took both the closings, or the leaves, of the (city) gate, with the posts and the lock; and he bare those gates upon his shoulders, to the top of the hill that beholdeth Hebron.

4 (And) After these things Samson loved a woman that dwelled in the valley of Sorek, and she was called Delilah.

5 And the princes of the Philistines came to her, and said, Deceive thou him, and learn thou of him, in what thing he hath so great strength, and how we may overcome him, and torment him when he is bound; the which thing if thou doest, we shall give to thee, each man, a thousand and an hundred pieces of silver. (And the rulers of the Philistines came to her, and said, Deceive thou him, and learn thou from him, by what thing he hath so great strength, and how we can overcome him, and torment him when he is bound; and if thou doest that, each one of us shall give thee a thousand and a hundred pieces of silver.)

6 Then Delilah spake to Samson, (and said,) I beseech thee, say thou to me, wherein is thy greatest strength, and what is that thing, with which if thou were bound, thou mayest not break (it)?