Delilah agrees to help the Philistines uncover Samson’s secret.
In Judges 16:5, we read: “The lords of the Philistines came up to her and said to her, ‘Entice him, and see where his great strength lies and how we may overpower him that we may bind him to afflict him. Then we will each give you eleven hundred pieces of silver.’” (v.5). The “her” in this verse refers to Delilah, who lived in the Valley of Sorek, a region that lay between the territories of the Philistines and the land occupied by the Israelites around the 12th or 11th century BC. The Philistines themselves occupied a coastal area in the southwest of Canaan, famous for its five principal cities: Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Ekron, and Gath. By approaching Delilah with a bribe, the Philistine leaders hoped to discover the secret of Samson’s strength, reflecting a larger conflict between Israel and the Philistines during this period of the Judges.
The verse highlights a moment of treachery, as Delilah is tempted to betray Samson for a significant sum of money—“eleven hundred pieces of silver” (v.5). Samson, a judge of Israel who likely served around 1075-1055 BC, displayed extraordinary physical might that came from the LORD’s empowerment (Judges 13-16). When the Philistines promise a substantial reward, it reveals the lengths to which they would go to subvert Samson’s divinely granted power. This betrayal for silver may foreshadow similar acts of betrayal seen later in the New Testament, such as Judas receiving silver in return for handing over Jesus (Matthew 26:14-15), underscoring a recurring theme of human frailty and corruption when faced with earthly wealth.
Furthermore, this verse sets in motion one of the most well-known downfalls in biblical history. Delilah’s role here is not a mere bystander; she becomes an active participant who uses her proximity to Samson to fulfill the Philistines’ request. The text “see where his great strength lies” (v.5) underscores the Philistine perplexity about Samson’s power, blending physical conflict with spiritual implications, since Samson’s might came from his dedication to God. The arrangement with Delilah exemplifies the subtlety of sin and the vulnerability that comes when a person, especially one chosen by God, places trust in an unreliable confidant.
Set to dark mode
Judges 16:5 meaning
In Judges 16:5, we read: “The lords of the Philistines came up to her and said to her, ‘Entice him, and see where his great strength lies and how we may overpower him that we may bind him to afflict him. Then we will each give you eleven hundred pieces of silver.’” (v.5). The “her” in this verse refers to Delilah, who lived in the Valley of Sorek, a region that lay between the territories of the Philistines and the land occupied by the Israelites around the 12th or 11th century BC. The Philistines themselves occupied a coastal area in the southwest of Canaan, famous for its five principal cities: Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Ekron, and Gath. By approaching Delilah with a bribe, the Philistine leaders hoped to discover the secret of Samson’s strength, reflecting a larger conflict between Israel and the Philistines during this period of the Judges.
The verse highlights a moment of treachery, as Delilah is tempted to betray Samson for a significant sum of money—“eleven hundred pieces of silver” (v.5). Samson, a judge of Israel who likely served around 1075-1055 BC, displayed extraordinary physical might that came from the LORD’s empowerment (Judges 13-16). When the Philistines promise a substantial reward, it reveals the lengths to which they would go to subvert Samson’s divinely granted power. This betrayal for silver may foreshadow similar acts of betrayal seen later in the New Testament, such as Judas receiving silver in return for handing over Jesus (Matthew 26:14-15), underscoring a recurring theme of human frailty and corruption when faced with earthly wealth.
Furthermore, this verse sets in motion one of the most well-known downfalls in biblical history. Delilah’s role here is not a mere bystander; she becomes an active participant who uses her proximity to Samson to fulfill the Philistines’ request. The text “see where his great strength lies” (v.5) underscores the Philistine perplexity about Samson’s power, blending physical conflict with spiritual implications, since Samson’s might came from his dedication to God. The arrangement with Delilah exemplifies the subtlety of sin and the vulnerability that comes when a person, especially one chosen by God, places trust in an unreliable confidant.