Delilah
DELILAH
A Philistine woman, whom Samson loved, and who betrayed him to the enemies of Israel, Jdg 16:1-31 .
Fuente: American Tract Society Bible Dictionary
Delilah
(Or Dalila).
Samson, sometime after his exploit at Gaza (Judges 16:1-3), “loved a woman, who dwelt in the valley of Sorec, and she was called Delilah” (verse 4). The village of Sorec was know to Eusebius and to St. Jerome (Onomast.), and rightly placed north of Eleutheropolis near Saraa, the home of Samson. It is now called Khan Sureq. The valley of that name, mentioned in the text, was probably a little lateral valley of the great Wadi Serar, or the Wadi Serar itself (Lagrange, “Le livre des Juges”, 247). The railway from Jaffa to Jerusalem passes through this region a little to the west of the station of Deir Aban. The district was on the borderland between the possessions of the Israelites and those of their principle enemies and oppressors at this period, the Philistines. Sorec may have been inhabited by the latter; and although it is not stated to which people Delilah belonged, the story told in this sixteenth chapter of Judges of her relations with the princes of the Philistines, makes it vary unlikely that she was an Israelite. It is not probable either that she became the wife of Samson. The expression above quoted with which Scripture introduces the narrative of her relations with him, and the facility with which the Philistines were brought into her house, not to speak of her readiness to betray the Israelite hero, suggest rather that she was a harlot, an opinion that is now more common among commentators.
The Philistines, thinking that the strength which had made Samson familiar to them must be due to some magical charm, seek to find out what it is. Their princes, probably the five mentioned in Judges, iii, 3, and elsewhere, coming to Delilah, to whose house Samson often resorted — if he did not live there — say: “Deceive him, and learn of him wherein his great strength lieth, and how we may be able to overcome him, to bind and afflict him: which if thou shalt do, we will give thee every one of us eleven hundred pieces of silver” (verse 5). This sum must have appeared enormous to Delilah. She undertakes to discover the secret of Samson’s strength and the means to overcome it. Four different times she asks him to tell her his secret, having each time a number of Philistines on hand to seize him if she can cajole him into betraying it. Samson at first indulges his humour in answers which allow him to laugh at her attempts to bind him; but finally her importunity prevails, and he tells her of his consecration as a Nazarite and of the necessity of keeping his long hair, the mark of the consecration. Delilah then causes this hair to be cut off while Samson sleeps, and hands him over to his enemies who bring him a prisoner to Gaza.
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W.S. REILLY Transcribed by David M. Cheney
The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume IVCopyright © 1908 by Robert Appleton CompanyOnline Edition Copyright © 2003 by K. KnightNihil Obstat. Remy Lafort, CensorImprimatur. +John M. Farley, Archbishop of New York
Fuente: Catholic Encyclopedia
Delilah
(Heb. Delilah’, , prob. languishing, sc. with lustful desire; Sept. , Josephus ), a woman who dwelt in the valley of Sorek, beloved by Samson, (Jdg 16:4-18). B.C. 1165. Her connection with Samson forms the third and last of those amatory adventures which in his history are so inextricably blended with the craft and prowess of a judge in Israel. She was bribed by the lords of the Philistines to win from Samson the secret of his strength, and the means of overcoming it. SEE SAMSON.
It is not stated, either in Judges or Josephus, whether she was an Israelite or a Philistine. Nor can this question be determined by reference to the geography of Sorek, since, in the time of the judges, the frontier was shifting and indefinite. The following considerations, however, supply presumptive evidence that she was a Philistine:
1. Her occupation, which seems to have been that of a courtesan of the higher class, a kind of political Hetaera. This view is still more decided in Josephus (who calls her , and associates her influence over Samson with and , Ant. v. 8, 11). He also states more clearly her relation as a political agent to the lords of the Philistines ( Joseph. , ; Sept. , ; magistrates, political lords, Milton, Sams. Ag. 850, 1195), employing under their directions liers in wait (, ; comp. Jos 8:14). On the other hand, Chrysostom and many of the fathers have maintained that Delilah was married to Samson (so Milton, 227), a natural but uncritical attempt to save the morality of the Jewish champion. See Jdg 16:9; Jdg 16:18, as showing an exclusive command of her establishment inconsistent with the idea of matrimonial connection (Patrick, ad loc.). There seems to be little doubt that she was a courtesan; and her employment as a political emissary, together with the large sum which was offered for her services (1100 pieces of silver from each lord = 5500 shekels; comp. Jdg 3:3), and the tact which is attributed to her in Judges, but more especially in Josephus, indicates a position not likely to be occupied by any Israelitish woman at that period of national depression. SEE PHILISTINES.
2. The general tendency of the Scripture narrative: the sexual temptation represented as acting upon the Israelites from without (Num 25:1; Num 25:6; Num 31:15-16). SEE HARLOT.
3. The special case of Samson (Jdg 14:1; Jdg 16:1).
In Milton Delilah appears as a Philistine, and justifies herself to Samson on the ground of patriotism (Sam. Ag. 850, 980).
Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
Delilah
languishing, a Philistine woman who dwelt in the valley of Sorek (Judg. 16:4-20). She was bribed by the “lords of the Philistines” to obtain from Samson the secret of his strength and the means of overcoming it (Judg. 16:4-18). She tried on three occasions to obtain from him this secret in vain. On the fourth occasion she wrung it from him. She made him sleep upon her knees, and then called the man who was waiting to help her; who “cut off the seven locks of his head,” and so his “strength went from him.” (See SAMSON)
Fuente: Easton’s Bible Dictionary
Delilah
(“the languishing one”.) A Philistine harlot, of the valley of Sorek, whom the five Philistine lords, when they found Samson loved her, bribed for 1,100 shekels each to be their political emissary, to find out from Samson the secret of his strength. On four different occasions she tempted him to tell the secret. On the third occasion Samson trifled so presumptuously with the divine gift committed to him as to suggest that his seven consecrated locks should be woven with the web; when we go to the edge of temptation our gall is near. This “languishing” prostitute, with her vile challenging of his “love,” “How canst thou say, I love thee, when thine heart is not with me?” and by daily vexing importunity, wrung the secret from him at the fourth time.
His strength lay in dedication to God, of which his Nazarite locks were the sign. Laying down his head in her lap he lost them, and with them lost God in him, the spring of a strength which was not his own. Lust, severing from God the source of strength, makes the strongest powerless; only by waiting on the Lord, we, like Samson, renew the strength which was lost by self-indulgence and self-reliance. Contrast Dan 1:8-16; Isa 40:30-31; Pro 7:6-27. So Israel, strong while faithful to Jehovah, incurs the curse which Balaam, however wishing it, could not inflict, the moment that the people commits whoredom with the daughters of Moab (Num 25:1; Num 25:6; Num 31:15-16).
Fuente: Fausset’s Bible Dictionary
Delilah
DELILAH.The Philistine woman who betrayed Samson into the hands of the Philistines. See Samson.
Fuente: Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible
Delilah
de-lla (, dellah, dainty one, perhaps; Septuagint , Daleida, , Dalida): The woman who betrayed Samson to the Philistines (Jdg 16). She was presumably a Philistine, though that is not expressly stated. She is not spoken of as Samson’s wife, though many have understood the account in that way. The Philistines paid her a tremendously high price for her services. The account indicates that for beauty, personal charm, mental ability, self-command, nerve, she was quite a wonderful woman, a woman to be admired for some qualities which she exhibits, even while she is to be utterly disapproved. See SAMSON.
Fuente: International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Delilah
Delilah, the woman whom Samson loved, and who betrayed him to his enemies (Judges 16) [SAMSON].
Fuente: Popular Cyclopedia Biblical Literature
Delilah
[Delil’ah]
A Philistine harlot, of the valley of Sorek, loved by Samson. She, being bribed by the Philistines, teased Samson till he told her wherein his great strength lay. Jdg 16:4-18. By the great reward offered her – 5,500 ‘shekels’ – it appears probable that she was a political courtesan. We wonder at the folly of Samson, for he had ample proofs of her design; but, alas, being away from God, the light had become darkness, and how great that darkness! The ‘lap of Delilah’ should be a signal warning to all.
Fuente: Concise Bible Dictionary
Delilah
H1807
Samson’s paramour.
Jdg 16:4-18
Fuente: Nave’s Topical Bible
Delilah
Delilah (de-l’lah, or dl’i-lah), pining with desire. A harlot of the valley of Sorek, in the tribe of Judah, and near the borders of the Philistines, with whom Samson associated and who betrayed him,. Jdg 16:4-18. See Samson.
Fuente: People’s Dictionary of the Bible
Delilah
Del’ilah or Deli’lah. (languishing). A woman who dwelt in the Valley of Sorek, beloved by Samson. Jdg 16:4-18. There seems to be little doubt that, she was a Philistine courtesan. See Samson. (B.C. 1141).