Strength Lost and Renewed

Samson's weakness for wrong choices continued. In Gaza, enemies waited to kill him at dawn, but he rose at midnight and carried away the city gate. Then he loved Delilah, and the Philistine lords promised her eleven hundred pieces of silver each if she discovered his secret.

Three times Delilah tied Samson, called out that the Philistines were on him, and three times he broke free. She accused him of mocking her and pressed him daily until his soul was troubled to death. He finally told her all his heart: he was a Nazirite, and if shaved he would become weak. She had his seven locks shaved, and he did not know Yahweh had departed from him. The Philistines put out his eyes and made him grind at the mill in prison.

However, his hair began to grow again. The Philistines praised Dagon for delivering Samson to them and brought him out to entertain them. Samson asked the boy leading him to let him feel the pillars. He prayed, Lord Yahweh, remember me, please, and strengthen me, please, only this once. He pushed the two middle pillars, and the house fell on the lords and the people, and Samson died with them.