Judges 16
From Delilah's Journal
Everyone knew about Samson. He had the strength to lift a city gate from its hinge and carry it away. Most of the men stayed away from Samson, because of his strength yet none of them knew where Samson's strength came from.
One day Samson asked me to marry him. When other Philistines in my village heard the news they held a meeting and told me to come.
The men pounded their fists on a table and shook their heads. One said, "We can't let Samson marry her. That Hebrew will live right here in our village. No telling what he'll do to us."
Another stood. "We've all heard him say his God made him judge over Israel to conquer us. We Philistines aren't safe. I say let's capture him before he can capture us."
The rest of the men shouted, "Yeah. Tie him up and make him do our work!"
The leader turned to me. "Delilah, you must help us."
I laughed. "What do you expect me to do? I'm not stronger than any of you."
He shook his head. "No. But you can learn where he gets his strength. Once we know the source of his strength, we can take it away."
The other men laughed and raised their hands. "Can you imagine? Samson as weak as a little puppy? We'll tie him up and force him to do all our work!" They cheered together.
The leader turned to me again. "You must help us, Delilah. If you'll find the source of Samson's strength we'll each pay you eleven hundred pieces of silver."
They stared at me, waiting for my answer. I didn't know how I would get Samson to tell me the source of his strength, but for eleven hundred pieces of silver I was willing to try. "All right. I'll ask him. I won't promise you an answer--but I'll ask."
The men cheered. "Delilah. Delilah the one who will conquer Samson."
After supper I gave Samson a drink and pulled a stool close to him to rest his feet. He smiled and laid his head back to rest.
Now was my chance to ask. "Um, Samson. I have a question."
He took a sip of his drink. "Yes?"
"Samson, you're stronger than any other man I know. Please. Will you tell me where your great strength lies? What could possibly bind you to overpower your strength?"
He stroke his beard and thought for a moment. "Well, dear Delilah, if someone bound me with seven fresh bowstrings, not yet dried, then I would become weak like any other man." He took another sip of his drink. "But have no fear, I won't loose my strength."
The next day I reported Samson's answer to the leaders.
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Come back next week, Wednesday to read more of this story.
1. Was Delilah a Philistine or a Hebrew?
2. Why were the men of this Philistine village afraid of Samson?
3. What did they do when they heard Samson wanted to marry Delilah?
4. What was their plan?
5. How much did they offer to pay Delilah?
6. Did she agree?
7. Who gave Samson his strength?
8. Why--what was Samson's job?
9. What did you learn from this story?
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