16:1 to Gaza One of the five Philistine cities on the coast of Canaan (Josh 13:3). Gaza was the furthest south of the Philistine cities.

16:2 The Gazites The men of Gaza, aware of what Samson had done to their Philistine kinsmen (Judg 14–15), want him dead. Since Gaza is a major Philistine stronghold deep in Philistine territory, it would be surprising if this incident follows soon after the events of 15:14–19.

all night The ambush is assigned to wait into the night.

They kept silent all night Presuming Samson was staying the night, the Gazites planned to guard the gate and not engage Samson until morning.

16:3 and took hold of the doors of Samson’s other great feats of strength happen when he is empowered by Yahweh (see 14:6 and note; compare 14:19; 15:14). Here there is no mention of God’s Spirit coming upon him; he simply picks up the gate.

carried them up to the top of the hill In another feat of supernatural strength, Samson carries the doors and doorposts of the city gate to the top of a hill nearly 40 miles away. The city of Hebron is about 40 miles east of Gaza.

16:4 the wadi of Sorek This valley, only named here, likely refers to the fertile valley that marked the border between the territories of Judah and Dan (Josh 15:9–10; 19:40–46). The valley was Samson’s home region where Zorah, Eshtaol, Timnah, and Ekron were located.

and her name was Delilah The name Delilah is likely derived from Aramaic d + layelah (“of the night”).

16:5 the rulers of the Philistines See Judg 3:3 and note.

his strength so great See 15:13 and note.

eleven hundred pieces of silver The amount here is uncertain, as it reads “1,100 silver,” indicating no specific unit of weight (e.g., a shekel). The amount is substantial—5,500 silver pieces in all, assuming one lord for each of the five cities of the Philistines. The number could apply to shekels, roughly 2/5 of an ounce.

16:6 with what can you be tied up to subdue you? Delilah asks the question openly. Samson fails to suspect her of treachery.

16:8 and she tied him up with them Delilah tests all of Samson’s answers, but the story is unclear whether she tries each method immediately after he gives the answer or some time later. In testing the bowstrings, she first has to notify the Philistines who provide the bowstrings and wait in ambush.

16:12 The ambush was sitting Delilah had Philistines waiting to overpower Samson when she tests the bowstrings (v. 9) and when she tests the new ropes. It is possible these incidents happened at the same time. The men lying in ambush are not mentioned in vv. 13–14, and the Philistines have to be summoned again in v. 18 because some days have passed (v. 16).

16:14 She fastened it with the pin The absurdity of this method—that Samson would be made helpless if seven locks of his hair were combined into fabric woven on a loom and then pinned—may have prompted Delilah to think that Samson had finally given her correct information.

16:16 his soul grew impatient to the point of death Delilah may have withheld sexual favors from Samson since he kept coming to her day after day.

16:17 God Samson uses the generic Hebrew word elohim instead of the divine name Yahweh, which Samson never utters until his death. This word choice highlights Samson’s spiritual detachment from Yahweh, who has guarded and empowered him through his life but whom he now betrays by revealing the secret.

my strength will leave me See 13:2–7; compare Num 6:1–21.

16:18 Delilah realized Something may have changed in Samson’s manner that causes Delilah to know he is telling the truth. Samson’s undoubtedly long hair may also have persuaded her.

the rulers of the Philistines Delilah wastes no time calling for the Philistines.

Philistines

16:19 she put him to sleep on her lap This may indicate that Delilah drugged Samson in some way to put him to sleep.

she began to subdue him Delilah is probably trying to awaken Samson from some sort of drug-induced stupor and, seeing him begin to stir, calls out as before.

16:20 but he did not know The narrative does not mention whether Samson knows that Delilah has shaved his head, though it would probably have been immediately apparent to him.

16:21 a grinder in the prison The Philistines easily capture the now-powerless Samson. After blinding him, they imprison him at Gaza, enslaving him and giving him what was considered a woman’s work: probably grinding corn with a hand mill.

16:23 to Dagon their god The Philistine god Dagon was most likely a corn or vegetation god. The noun dagan was a common Semitic word for “grain.” A temple to Dagon is known from Ugarit (ca. 14th century bc). Dagon was worshiped in Canaan during the reign of Saul (1 Sam 31:10; compare 1 Chr 10:10).

16:24 they praised their god Samson’s betrayal of Yahweh gives the Philistines occasion to praise their lesser, foreign deity Dagon.

into our hand those who hate us See Judg 14–15.

16:25 they made him stand between the pillars Assuming this temple’s structure is similar to that of several pagan temples discovered in the wider region, this temple would have been covered by a roof supported by a series of pillars.

16:27 were on the roof watching the performance of Samson The text does not indicate what Samson does to entertain the spectators, and feats of strength would be unlikely. Given Samson’s potential for destruction, it is doubtful that they would have brought him out or even kept him alive if they understood his power had returned.

16:28 And Samson called to Yahweh Samson calls to God with the divine name, Yahweh. Samson has apparently regained his faith, or he is at least repentant (see v. 17).

16:30 the house fell on the rulers Though it is unclear which two pillars the Philistines place Samson between (v. 26), it likely did not matter. The upper terrace or roof area of the structure, compromised by the collapse of two of its pillars, topples under the weight of the numerous spectators (v. 27).

whom he killed in his death The text does not note the exact number of dead.

he killed in his life See chs. 14–15.

16:31 between Zorah and Eshtaol Zorah was Samson’s hometown (see 13:2).

he judged Israel twenty years See 15:20.