²³ The rulers of the Philistines had gathered to sacrifice a great sacrifice to Dagon their god and to rejoice. And they said, “Our god has given Samson our enemy into our hand.” ²⁴ And the people saw him, and they praised their god, for they said, “Our god has given into our hand those who hate us, devastate our land, and have killed many of us.”^{[a] 25} After awhile, when their hearts^[b] were merry, they said, “Call Samson and let him entertain us.” And they called Samson from the prison,^[c] and he entertained them.^[d] And they made him stand between the pillars. ²⁶ Then Samson said to the servant who was holding him by his hand, “Position me so that I can touch the pillars on which the house^[e] rests, so I can lean on them.” ²⁷ And the house^[f] was full of men and women, and all of the rulers of the Philistines were there—about three thousand men and women were on the roof watching the performance of Samson.

Samson’s Revenge

²⁸ And Samson called to Yahweh and said, “My Lord Yahweh, remember me! Please give me strength this one time, O God, so that I can repay with one act of revenge to the Philistines for my eyes.” ²⁹ And Samson reached out and held two of the middle pillars on which the house^[g] was resting, and he leaned on them, one on his right and one on his left. ³⁰ And Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines.” And he pushed^[h] with all his strength, and the house^[i] fell on the rulers and all of the people who were with him. And the dead whom he killed in his death were more than those he killed in his life.

³¹ His brothers and his whole family^[j] came down and picked him up; and they brought him up and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of Manoah his father; he judged Israel twenty years.