1And Shimshon went to Azatah, and saw there a harlot, and went in unto her. 2[And it was told] the Azatim, saying, “Shimshon is come here.” And they encompassed him in, and lay in wait for him all night in the gate of the city, and were quiet all the night, saying, “Let it be till morning light, then we will kill him.” 3And Shimshon lay till midnight, and arose at midnight, and laid hold of the doors of the gate of the city, and the two posts, and plucked them up, bar and all, and put them upon his shoulders, and carried them up to the top of the mountain that is before Khevron.
4And it came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah. 5And the lords of the P’lishtim came up unto her, and said unto her, “Entice him, and see wherein his great strength lies, and by what means we may prevail against him, that we may bind him to afflict him; and we will give you every one of us eleven hundred pieces of silver.” 6And Delilah said to Shimshon, “Tell me, I pray, wherein your great strength lies, and wherewith you might be bound to afflict you.” 7And Shimshon said unto her, “If they bind me with seven fresh bowstrings that were never dried, then shall I become weak, and be as any other man.” 8Then the lords of the P’lishtim brought up to her seven fresh bowstrings which had not been dried, and she bound him with them. 9Now she had liers-in-wait abiding in the inner chamber. And she said unto him, “The P’lishtim are upon you, Shimshon.” And he broke the bowstrings as a string of tow is broken when it touches the fire. So his strength was not known. 10And Delilah said unto Shimshon, “Behold, you have mocked me, and told me lies; now tell me, I pray, wherewith you might be bound.” 11And he said unto her, “If they only bind me with new ropes wherewith no work has been done, then shall I become weak, and be as any other man.” 12So Delilah took new ropes, and bound him therewith, and said unto him, “The P’lishtim are upon you, Shimshon.” And the liers-in-wait were abiding in the inner chamber. And he broke them from off his arms like a thread. 13And Delilah said unto Shimshon, “Hitherto you have mocked me, and told me lies; tell me wherewith you might be bound.” And he said unto her, “If you weave the seven locks of my head with the web.” 14And she fastened it with the pin, and said unto him, “The P’lishtim are upon you, Shimshon.” And he awoke out of his sleep, and plucked away the pin of the beam, and the web. 15And she said unto him, “How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when your heart is not with me? You have mocked me these three times, and have not told me wherein your great strength lies.” 16And it came to pass, when she pressed him daily with her words, and urged him, that his soul was vexed unto death. 17And he told her all his heart, and said unto her, “There has not come a razor upon my head; for I have been a Nazir unto Elohim from my mother’s womb; if I am shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man.” 18And when Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called for the lords of the P’lishtim, saying, “Come up this once, for he has told me all his heart.” Then the lords of the P’lishtim came up unto her, and brought the money in their hand. 19And she made him sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and had the seven locks of his head shaven off; and she began to afflict him, and his strength went from him. 20And she said, “The P’lishtim are upon you, Shimshon.” And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, “I will go out as at other times, and shake myself.’ But he knew not that יהוה was departed from him. 21And the P’lishtim laid hold on him, and put out his eyes; and they brought him down to Azatah, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison-house. 22But the hair of his head began to grow again after he was shaven.
23And the lords of the P’lishtim gathered them together to offer a great sacrifice unto Dagon their god, and to rejoice; for they said, “Our god has delivered Shimshon our enemy into our hand.” 24And when the people saw him, they praised their god; for they said, “Our god has delivered into our hand our enemy, and the destroyer of our country, who has slain many of us.” 25And it came to pass, when their hearts were merry, that they said, “Call for Shimshon, that he may make us sport.” And they called for Shimshon out of the prison-house; and he made sport before them; and they set him between the pillars. 26And Shimshon said unto the lad that held him by the hand, “Suffer me that I may feel the pillars whereupon the house rests, that I may lean upon them.” 27Now the house was full of men and women; and all the lords of the P’lishtim were there; and there were upon the roof about three thousand men and women, that beheld while Shimshon made sport. 28And Shimshon called unto יהוה , and said, “O Adonai יהוה , remember me, I pray, and strengthen me, I pray, only this once, O Elohim, that I may be this once avenged of the P’lishtim for my two eyes.” 29And Shimshon took fast hold of the two middle pillars upon which the house rested, and leaned upon them, the one with his right hand, and the other with his left. 30And Shimshon said, “Let me die with the P’lishtim.” And he bent with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead that he slew at his death were more than they that he slew in his life. 31Then his brethren and all the house of his father came down, and took him, and brought him up, and buried him between Tzorah and Eshta’ol in the burying-place of MaNo’akh his father. And he judged Yisra’el twenty years.
אוַיֵּלֶךְ שִׁמְשׁוֹן עַזָּתָה; וַיַּרְא שָׁם אִשָּׁה זוֹנָה וַיָּבֹא אֵלֶיהָ. בלַעַזָּתִים לֵאמֹר בָּא שִׁמְשׁוֹן הֵנָּה וַיָּסֹבּוּ וַיֶּאֶרְבוּ לוֹ כָל הַלַּיְלָה בְּשַׁעַר הָעִיר; וַיִּתְחָרְשׁוּ כָל הַלַּיְלָה לֵאמֹר עַד אוֹר הַבֹּקֶר וַהֲרַגְנֻהוּ. גוַיִּשְׁכַּב שִׁמְשׁוֹן עַד חֲצִי הַלַּיְלָה וַיָּקָם בַּחֲצִי הַלַּיְלָה וַיֶּאֱחֹז בְּדַלְתוֹת שַׁעַר הָעִיר וּבִשְׁתֵּי הַמְּזֻזוֹת וַיִּסָּעֵם עִם הַבְּרִיחַ וַיָּשֶׂם עַל כְּתֵפָיו; וַיַּעֲלֵם אֶל רֹאשׁ הָהָר אֲשֶׁר עַל פְּנֵי חֶבְרוֹן.
דוַיְהִי אַחֲרֵי כֵן וַיֶּאֱהַב אִשָּׁה בְּנַחַל שֹׂרֵק; וּשְׁמָהּ דְּלִילָה. הוַיַּעֲלוּ אֵלֶיהָ סַרְנֵי פְלִשְׁתִּים וַיֹּאמְרוּ לָהּ פַּתִּי אוֹתוֹ וּרְאִי בַּמֶּה כֹּחוֹ גָדוֹל וּבַמֶּה נוּכַל לוֹ וַאֲסַרְנוּהוּ לְעַנּוֹתוֹ; וַאֲנַחְנוּ נִתַּן לָךְ אִישׁ אֶלֶף וּמֵאָה כָּסֶף. ווַתֹּאמֶר דְּלִילָה אֶל שִׁמְשׁוֹן הַגִּידָה נָּא לִי בַּמֶּה כֹּחֲךָ גָדוֹל; וּבַמֶּה תֵאָסֵר לְעַנּוֹתֶךָ. זוַיֹּאמֶר אֵלֶיהָ שִׁמְשׁוֹן אִם יַאַסְרֻנִי בְּשִׁבְעָה יְתָרִים לַחִים אֲשֶׁר לֹא חֹרָבוּ וְחָלִיתִי וְהָיִיתִי כְּאַחַד הָאָדָם. חוַיַּעֲלוּ לָהּ סַרְנֵי פְלִשְׁתִּים שִׁבְעָה יְתָרִים לַחִים אֲשֶׁר לֹא חֹרָבוּ; וַתַּאַסְרֵהוּ בָּהֶם. טוְהָאֹרֵב יֹשֵׁב לָהּ בַּחֶדֶר וַתֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו פְּלִשְׁתִּים עָלֶיךָ שִׁמְשׁוֹן; וַיְנַתֵּק אֶת הַיְתָרִים כַּאֲשֶׁר יִנָּתֵק פְּתִיל הַנְּעֹרֶת בַּהֲרִיחוֹ אֵשׁ וְלֹא נוֹדַע כֹּחוֹ. יוַתֹּאמֶר דְּלִילָה אֶל שִׁמְשׁוֹן הִנֵּה הֵתַלְתָּ בִּי וַתְּדַבֵּר אֵלַי כְּזָבִים; עַתָּה הַגִּידָה נָּא לִי בַּמֶּה תֵּאָסֵר. יאוַיֹּאמֶר אֵלֶיהָ אִם אָסוֹר יַאַסְרוּנִי בַּעֲבֹתִים חֲדָשִׁים אֲשֶׁר לֹא נַעֲשָׂה בָהֶם מְלָאכָה: וְחָלִיתִי וְהָיִיתִי כְּאַחַד הָאָדָם. יבוַתִּקַּח דְּלִילָה עֲבֹתִים חֲדָשִׁים וַתַּאַסְרֵהוּ בָהֶם וַתֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו פְּלִשְׁתִּים עָלֶיךָ שִׁמְשׁוֹן וְהָאֹרֵב יֹשֵׁב בֶּחָדֶר; וַיְנַתְּקֵם מֵעַל זְרֹעֹתָיו כַּחוּט. יגוַתֹּאמֶר דְּלִילָה אֶל שִׁמְשׁוֹן עַד הֵנָּה הֵתַלְתָּ בִּי וַתְּדַבֵּר אֵלַי כְּזָבִים הַגִּידָה לִּי בַּמֶּה תֵּאָסֵר; וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלֶיהָ אִם תַּאַרְגִי אֶת שֶׁבַע מַחְלְפוֹת רֹאשִׁי עִם הַמַּסָּכֶת. ידוַתִּתְקַע בַּיָּתֵד וַתֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו פְּלִשְׁתִּים עָלֶיךָ שִׁמְשׁוֹן; וַיִּיקַץ מִשְּׁנָתוֹ וַיִּסַּע אֶת הַיְתַד הָאֶרֶג וְאֶת הַמַּסָּכֶת. טווַתֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו אֵיךְ תֹּאמַר אֲהַבְתִּיךְ וְלִבְּךָ אֵין אִתִּי: זֶה שָׁלֹשׁ פְּעָמִים הֵתַלְתָּ בִּי וְלֹא הִגַּדְתָּ לִּי בַּמֶּה כֹּחֲךָ גָדוֹל. טזוַיְהִי כִּי הֵצִיקָה לּוֹ בִדְבָרֶיהָ כָּל הַיָּמִים וַתְּאַלְצֵהוּ; וַתִּקְצַר נַפְשׁוֹ לָמוּת. יזוַיַּגֶּד לָהּ אֶת כָּל לִבּוֹ וַיֹּאמֶר לָהּ מוֹרָה לֹא עָלָה עַל רֹאשִׁי כִּי נְזִיר אֱלֹהִים אֲנִי מִבֶּטֶן אִמִּי; אִם גֻּלַּחְתִּי וְסָר מִמֶּנִּי כֹחִי וְחָלִיתִי וְהָיִיתִי כְּכָל הָאָדָם. יחוַתֵּרֶא דְלִילָה כִּי הִגִּיד לָהּ אֶת כָּל לִבּוֹ וַתִּשְׁלַח וַתִּקְרָא לְסַרְנֵי פְלִשְׁתִּים לֵאמֹר עֲלוּ הַפַּעַם כִּי הִגִּיד לה (לִי) אֶת כָּל לִבּוֹ; וְעָלוּ אֵלֶיהָ סַרְנֵי פְלִשְׁתִּים וַיַּעֲלוּ הַכֶּסֶף בְּיָדָם. יטוַתְּיַשְּׁנֵהוּ עַל בִּרְכֶּיהָ וַתִּקְרָא לָאִישׁ וַתְּגַלַּח אֶת שֶׁבַע מַחְלְפוֹת רֹאשׁוֹ; וַתָּחֶל לְעַנּוֹתוֹ וַיָּסַר כֹּחוֹ מֵעָלָיו. כוַתֹּאמֶר פְּלִשְׁתִּים עָלֶיךָ שִׁמְשׁוֹן; וַיִּקַץ מִשְּׁנָתוֹ וַיֹּאמֶר אֵצֵא כְּפַעַם בְּפַעַם וְאִנָּעֵר וְהוּא לֹא יָדַע כִּי יהוה סָר מֵעָלָיו. כאוַיֹּאחֲזוּהוּ פְלִשְׁתִּים וַיְנַקְּרוּ אֶת עֵינָיו; וַיּוֹרִידוּ אוֹתוֹ עַזָּתָה וַיַּאַסְרוּהוּ בַּנְחֻשְׁתַּיִם וַיְהִי טוֹחֵן בְּבֵית האסירים (הָאֲסוּרִים). כבוַיָּחֶל שְׂעַר רֹאשׁוֹ לְצַמֵּחַ כַּאֲשֶׁר גֻּלָּח.
כגוְסַרְנֵי פְלִשְׁתִּים נֶאֶסְפוּ לִזְבֹּחַ זֶבַח גָּדוֹל לְדָגוֹן אֱלֹהֵיהֶם וּלְשִׂמְחָה; וַיֹּאמְרוּ נָתַן אֱלֹהֵינוּ בְּיָדֵנוּ אֵת שִׁמְשׁוֹן אוֹיְבֵנוּ. כדוַיִּרְאוּ אֹתוֹ הָעָם וַיְהַלְלוּ אֶת אֱלֹהֵיהֶם: כִּי אָמְרוּ נָתַן אֱלֹהֵינוּ בְיָדֵנוּ אֶת אוֹיְבֵנוּ וְאֵת מַחֲרִיב אַרְצֵנוּ וַאֲשֶׁר הִרְבָּה אֶת חֲלָלֵינוּ. כהוַיְהִי כי טוב (כְּטוֹב) לִבָּם וַיֹּאמְרוּ קִרְאוּ לְשִׁמְשׁוֹן וִישַׂחֶק לָנוּ; וַיִּקְרְאוּ לְשִׁמְשׁוֹן מִבֵּית האסירים (הָאֲסוּרִים) וַיְצַחֵק לִפְנֵיהֶם וַיַּעֲמִידוּ אוֹתוֹ בֵּין הָעַמּוּדִים. כווַיֹּאמֶר שִׁמְשׁוֹן אֶל הַנַּעַר הַמַּחֲזִיק בְּיָדוֹ הַנִּיחָה אוֹתִי והימשני (וַהֲמִישֵׁנִי) אֶת הָעַמֻּדִים אֲשֶׁר הַבַּיִת נָכוֹן עֲלֵיהֶם; וְאֶשָּׁעֵן עֲלֵיהֶם. כזוְהַבַּיִת מָלֵא הָאֲנָשִׁים וְהַנָּשִׁים וְשָׁמָּה כֹּל סַרְנֵי פְלִשְׁתִּים; וְעַל הַגָּג כִּשְׁלֹשֶׁת אֲלָפִים אִישׁ וְאִשָּׁה הָרֹאִים בִּשְׂחוֹק שִׁמְשׁוֹן. כחוַיִּקְרָא שִׁמְשׁוֹן אֶל יהוה וַיֹּאמַר: אֲדֹנָי יהוה זָכְרֵנִי נָא וְחַזְּקֵנִי נָא אַךְ הַפַּעַם הַזֶּה הָאֱלֹהִים וְאִנָּקְמָה נְקַם אַחַת מִשְּׁתֵי עֵינַי מִפְּלִשְׁתִּים. כטוַיִּלְפֹּת שִׁמְשׁוֹן אֶת שְׁנֵי עַמּוּדֵי הַתָּוֶךְ אֲשֶׁר הַבַּיִת נָכוֹן עֲלֵיהֶם וַיִּסָּמֵךְ עֲלֵיהֶם אֶחָד בִּימִינוֹ וְאֶחָד בִּשְׂמֹאלוֹ. לוַיֹּאמֶר שִׁמְשׁוֹן תָּמוֹת נַפְשִׁי עִם פְּלִשְׁתִּים וַיֵּט בְּכֹחַ וַיִּפֹּל הַבַּיִת עַל הַסְּרָנִים וְעַל כָּל הָעָם אֲשֶׁר בּוֹ; וַיִּהְיוּ הַמֵּתִים אֲשֶׁר הֵמִית בְּמוֹתוֹ רַבִּים מֵאֲשֶׁר הֵמִית בְּחַיָּיו. לאוַיֵּרְדוּ אֶחָיו וְכָל בֵּית אָבִיהוּ וַיִּשְׂאוּ אֹתוֹ וַיַּעֲלוּ וַיִּקְבְּרוּ אוֹתוֹ בֵּין צָרְעָה וּבֵין אֶשְׁתָּאֹל בְּקֶבֶר מָנוֹחַ אָבִיו; וְהוּא שָׁפַט אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה.
D'var יהוה , The Word of יהוה 