Judges 16 Study Notes

16:15-17 Finally Samson told Delilah the whole truth (lit “everything of his heart”), that his strength came from his Nazirite vow, symbolized by his uncut hair. In fact, this was the only part of his Nazirite vow that he had not yet broken, and this revelation shows how lightly he took it.

16:18-20 Delilah realized that this time she had the secret, so rather than just saying, “Samson, the Philistines are here!” (vv. 9,12,14), she actually summoned the Philistine leaders, and a man shaved Samson’s head. With the final element of his Nazirite vow gone, his power was lost. The final statement of v. 20 is a tragic warning to anyone who tries to continue doing the Lord’s work when the Lord’s power and blessing have left.

16:21-22 Samson was carried off to exile in Gaza, the city of his earlier exploits in vv. 1-3. His eyes, which had caused so many of his problems, were removed by the Philistines, and his reduced strength was put to work in their service, grinding grain. In the midst of his hopeless situation, there was a ray of hope: his hair began to grow back.

16:23-27 The name Dagon is related to the word for “grain,” which suggests an agricultural role for this deity to which the Philistines also ascribed a role in capturing their tormentor, Samson. In fact, Samson’s capture was possible only because the Lord had left him (v. 20). As the party progressed, they summoned Samson to entertain them, presumably by being the butt of their mocking humor. In the process, they brought him to the center of the temple, whose roof was probably supported by cedar pillars.

16:28-31 Samson called out to the Lord, just as he had in 15:18, asking the Lord to remember him. In the OT, to “remember” means not simply to think about someone but to act on their behalf (see note at Gn 8:1). His motivation was still self-centered: he wanted to pay them back for the loss of his eyes. In the process of destroying the building, he fulfilled his destiny: he began “to save Israel from the power of the Philistines” (Jdg 13:5). Yet the task was left unfinished at his death. His body was retrieved to be buried with his family, but his period of leadership achieved no rest for the people.