MPV Commentary

Delilah Corrupted by the Philistines.

4 The location of Delilah's home in the valley of Sorek is unknown, and her character cannot be clearly defined. However, it is evident that she was a woman who lived off her relationships with men and used her charm to manipulate them.

5 The five rulers of the Philistines were determined to capture Samson and devised a plan to entice him into revealing his secret strength. They likely believed he possessed some sort of magical amulet or had discovered a hidden secret that gave him his incredible power.

6 Delilah was bribed by the Philistines with a large reward to discover Samson's secret, which she undertook with several attempts to extract it from him using her charms and persuasion. She waited for moments when he was in a more relaxed state, hoping to catch him off guard.

7 In one of these attempts, Samson said that if they bound him with seven green twigs or vine tendrils, he would be powerless. These types of ropes were commonly used in the East as makeshift bindings.

8 Delilah bound him with the twigs, likely in a playful manner to test whether he was joking or serious. However, unbeknownst to her, there were men lying in wait in the inner chamber of the house, ready to pounce on Samson if he failed to resist.

9 After this attempt, Delilah waited for some time before making another move, trying not to arouse suspicion from Samson or anyone else. She was determined to uncover his secret and collect her reward.

10 In a subsequent attempt, Delilah bound Samson with new ropes that were thicker and stronger than the previous ones. The exact material used is unknown, but it's likely they were made of twigs like the first set.

11 Samson said that if she wove his seven locks of hair into a rope, he would be powerless. This was a common practice in the East where women would weave their husbands' or lovers' hair into braids as a sign of affection and loyalty.

12 Delilah sat at her loom, weaving the locks of Samson's hair into a rope while he lay on the floor with his head reclining on her lap. This was a common position in the East where people would sit and work together.

13 As she worked, Delilah secretly removed the pin that held the beam of the loom in place, taking it along with the entire weaving apparatus.