Editor says, what if Samson had anticipated Delilah's trickery? Please note that the opinions expressed in this post do not necessarily reflect the views of the author(s). This story was published in the July 2010 edition of Changing the Times Magazine.

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Editor says, in the Book of Judges we learn that the Philistines approach Delilah and induce her (with 1100 silver coins each) to try to find the secret of Samson's strength. Samson, not wanting to reveal the secret, teases her, telling her that he will lose his strength should he be bound with fresh bowstrings. She does so while he sleeps, but when he wakes up he snaps the strings. She persists, and he tells her he can be bound with new ropes. She ties him up with new ropes while he sleeps, and he snaps them, too. She asks again, and he says he can be bound if his locks are woven together. She weaves them together, but he undoes them when he wakes. Eventually Samson tells Delilah that he will lose his strength with the loss of his hair. Delilah calls for a servant to shave Samson's seven locks. Since that breaks the Nazarite oath, God leaves him, and Samson is captured by the Philistines,who stab out his eyes with their swords.

Eric Oppen commented on 2011-06-20 05:44:15 ~ Hearing him called "Judge Samson" gives me a vision of him in a black uniform and helmet, intoning "The Law of Israel is the law...and I AM the Law!" Seriously, though, I always thought Samson was dumber than Groo the Wanderer, and a lot less desirable to have around...Groo often doesn't mean to cause trouble, while Samson was often actively malicious. If I'd been Delilah's spymaster, instead of trying to find the secret of his strength, I'd have paid her to put something lethal into his winecup.

Jeff Provine commented on 2011-06-20 16:47:57 ~ Solomon won't be born for another hundred years or so, but pulling down the Tabernacle would besmirch the public image of the Jews in a horrid fashion. Fixed - thanks. Ed