Samson and Delilah

16 One day Samson^(A) went to Gaza,^(B) where he saw a prostitute.^(C) He went in to spend the night with her.

Ezra’s Prayer About Intermarriage

9 After these things had been done, the leaders came to me and said, “The people of Israel, including the priests and the Levites, have not kept themselves separate^(A) from the neighboring peoples with their detestable practices, like those of the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites,^(B) Ammonites,^(C) Moabites,^(D) Egyptians and Amorites.^{(E) 2} They have taken some of their daughters^(F) as wives for themselves and their sons, and have mingled^(G) the holy race^(H) with the peoples around them. And the leaders and officials have led the way in this unfaithfulness.”^(I)

¹⁶ Not realizing^(A) that she was his daughter-in-law,^(B) he went over to her by the roadside and said, “Come now, let me sleep with you.”^(C)

“And what will you give me to sleep with you?”^(D) she asked.

¹⁷ “I’ll send you a young goat^(E) from my flock,” he said.

“Will you give me something as a pledge^(F) until you send it?” she asked.

¹⁸ He said, “What pledge should I give you?”

“Your seal^(G) and its cord, and the staff^(H) in your hand,” she answered. So he gave them to her and slept with her, and she became pregnant by him.^(I)

¹⁹ and the borders of Canaan^(A) reached from Sidon^(B) toward Gerar^(C) as far as Gaza,^(D) and then toward Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboyim,^(E) as far as Lasha.