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16 Simson ging hin gen Gaza und sah daselbst eine Hure und kam zu ihr.

Da ward den Gazitern gesagt: Simson ist hereingekommen. Und sie umgaben ihn und ließen auf ihn lauern die ganze Nacht in der Stadt Tor und waren die ganze Nacht still und sprachen: Harre; morgen, wenn's licht wird, wollen wir ihn erwürgen.

Simson aber lag bis Mitternacht. Da stand er auf zu Mitternacht und ergriff beide Türen an der Stadt Tor samt den Pfosten und hob sie aus mit den Riegeln und legte sie auf seine Schultern und trug sie hinauf auf die Höhe des Berges vor Hebron.

Darnach gewann er ein Weib lieb am Bach Sorek, die hieß Delila.

Zu der kamen der Philister Fürsten hinauf und sprachen zu ihr: Überrede ihn und siehe, worin er solche große Kraft hat und womit wir ihn übermögen, daß wir ihn binden und zwingen, so wollen wir dir geben ein jeglicher tausendundhundert Silberlinge.

Und Delila sprach zu Simson: Sage mir doch, worin deine große Kraft sei und womit man dich binden möge, daß man dich zwinge?

Simson sprach zu ihr: Wenn man mich bände mit sieben Seilen von frischem Bast, die noch nicht verdorrt sind, so würde ich schwach und wäre wie ein anderer Mensch.

Da brachten der Philister Fürsten zu ihr hinauf sieben Seile von frischem Bast, die noch nicht verdorrt waren; und sie band ihn damit.

(Man lauerte ihm aber auf bei ihr in der Kammer.) Und sie sprach zu ihm: Die Philister über dir, Simson! Er aber zerriß die Seile, wie eine flächsene Schnur zerreißt, wenn sie ans Feuer riecht; und es ward nicht kund, wo seine Kraft wäre.

10 Da sprach Delila zu Simson: Siehe, du hast mich getäuscht und mir gelogen; nun, so sage mir doch, womit kann man dich binden?

11 Er antwortete ihr: Wenn sie mich bänden mit neuen Stricken, damit nie eine Arbeit geschehen ist, so würde ich schwach und wie ein anderer Mensch.

12 Da nahm Delila neue Stricke und band ihn damit und sprach: Philister über dir, Simson! (Man lauerte ihm aber auf in der Kammer.) Und er zerriß sie von seinen Armen herab wie einen Faden.

13 Delila aber sprach zu ihm: Bisher hast du mich getäuscht und mir gelogen. Sage mir doch, womit kann man dich binden? Er antwortete ihr: Wenn du mir die sieben Locken meines Hauptes zusammenflöchtest mit einem Gewebe und heftetest sie mit dem Nagel ein.

14 Und sie sprach zu ihm: Philister über dir, Simson! Er aber wachte auf von seinem Schlaf und zog die geflochtenen Locken mit Nagel und Gewebe heraus.

15 Da sprach sie zu ihm: Wie kannst du sagen, du habest mich lieb, so dein Herz doch nicht mit mir ist? Dreimal hast du mich getäuscht und mir nicht gesagt, worin deine große Kraft sei.

16 Da sie ihn aber drängte mit ihren Worten alle Tage und ihn zerplagte, ward seine Seele matt bis an den Tod,

17 und er sagte ihr sein ganzes Herz und sprach zu ihr: Es ist nie ein Schermesser auf mein Haupt gekommen; denn ich bin ein Geweihter Gottes von Mutterleibe an. Wenn man mich schöre, so wiche meine Kraft von mir, daß ich schwach würde und wie alle anderen Menschen.

18 Da nun Delila sah, daß er ihr all sein Herz offenbart hatte, sandte sie hin und ließ der Philister Fürsten rufen und sagen: Kommt noch einmal herauf; denn er hat mir all sein Herz offenbart. Da kamen der Philister Fürsten zu ihr herauf und brachten das Geld mit sich in ihrer Hand.

19 Und sie ließ ihn entschlafen auf ihrem Schoß und rief einem, der ihm die sieben Locken seines Hauptes abschöre. Und sie fing an ihn zu zwingen; da war seine Kraft von ihm gewichen.

20 Und sie sprach zu ihm: Philister über dir, Simson! Da er nun aus seinem Schlaf erwachte, gedachte er: Ich will ausgehen, wie ich mehrmals getan habe, ich will mich losreißen; und wußte nicht, daß der HERR von ihm gewichen war.

21 Aber die Philister griffen ihn und stachen ihm die Augen aus und führten ihn hinab gen Gaza und banden ihn mit zwei ehernen Ketten, und er mußte mahlen im Gefängnis.

22 Aber das Haar seines Hauptes fing an, wieder zu wachsen, wo es geschoren war.

23 Da aber der Philister Fürsten sich versammelten, ihrem Gott Dagon ein großes Opfer zu tun und sich zu freuen, sprachen sie: Unser Gott hat uns unsern Feind Simson in unsre Hände gegeben.

24 Desgleichen, als ihn das Volk sah, lobten sie ihren Gott; denn sie sprachen: Unser Gott hat uns unsern Feind in unsre Hände gegeben, der unser Land verderbte und unsrer viele erschlug.

25 Da nun ihr Herz guter Dinge war, sprachen sie: Laßt Simson holen, daß er vor uns spiele. Da holten sie Simson aus dem Gefängnis, und er spielte vor ihnen, und sie stellten ihn zwischen die Säulen.

26 Simson aber sprach zu dem Knabe, der ihn bei der Hand leitete: Laß mich, das ich die Säulen taste, auf welchen das Haus steht, daß ich mich dranlehne.

27 Da Haus aber war voll Männer und Weiber. Es waren der Philister Fürsten alle da und auf dem Dach bei dreitausend, Mann und Weib, die zusahen, wie Simson spielte.

28 Simson aber rief den HERRN an und sprach: HERR HERR, gedenke mein und stärke mich doch, Gott, diesmal, daß ich für meine beiden Augen mich einmal räche an den Philistern!

29 Und er faßte die zwei Mittelsäulen, auf welche das Haus gesetzt war und darauf es sich hielt, eine in seine rechte und die andere in seine linke Hand,

30 und sprach: Meine Seele sterbe mit den Philistern! und neigte sich kräftig. Da fiel das Haus auf die Fürsten und auf alles Volk, das darin war, daß der Toten mehr waren, die in seinem Tod starben, denn die bei seinem Leben starben.

31 Da kamen sein Brüder hernieder und seines Vaters ganzes Haus und hoben ihn auf und trugen ihn hinauf und begruben ihn in seines Vaters Manoahs Grab, zwischen Zora und Esthaol. Er richtete aber Israel zwanzig Jahre.

参孙和大利拉

16 一天,参孙去迦萨,看见一个妓女,就与她亲近。 迦萨人得知参孙来了,便包围那地方,整夜埋伏在城门口,没有动手,心想:“等天一亮,我们就杀掉他。” 可是,参孙睡到半夜就起来,把城门的门扇连门框和门闩一同拆下,扛到希伯仑对面的山顶上。

后来,参孙在梭烈谷爱上一位名叫大利拉的女子。 非利士人的首领就上去见这女子,对她说:“请你哄参孙说出他为何有这么大力气,我们怎样才能制服他,把他绑起来。事后,我们每人会给你一千一百块银子。” 于是,大利拉问参孙:“求你告诉我,你为什么有这么大力气?用什么办法才能把你绑起来制服你?”

参孙说:“如果我被七根还没干的青绳子绑着,我的力气便会和普通人一样。” 非利士人的首领便把七根还没干的青绳子交给大利拉,她用那些绳子把参孙绑起来。 有人已预先埋伏在她的内室,于是她喊道:“参孙,非利士人来捉你了!”但参孙挣断了绳子,就像挣断火烧过的麻线一样。因此,仍然没有人知道他为何力气过人。

10 大利拉对参孙说:“你说谎捉弄我。现在请你告诉我,用什么方法才能绑住你?” 11 参孙回答说:“如果用从未用过的新绳子绑住我,我的力气就会和普通人一样。” 12 于是,大利拉让人埋伏在内室,她用七根新绳子绑住参孙,然后喊道:“参孙,非利士人来捉你了!”结果,参孙挣断了手臂上的绳子,就像挣断一根线一样。

13 大利拉对参孙说:“到现在你还是说谎捉弄我。请你告诉我,用什么方法才能绑住你?”参孙说:“你把我的七根发辨和织布机的线编在一起,用橛子钉牢就可以了。” 14 于是,大利拉把他的发辫和织布机的线编在一起,用橛子钉牢,然后喊道:“参孙,非利士人来捉你了!”参孙醒来,挣脱了织布机的橛子和线。

15 大利拉对参孙说:“你既然不跟我说真心话,还说什么爱我!你捉弄了我三次,没告诉我你为何力气过人。” 16 大利拉天天在他跟前唠叨不停,以致他烦得要死, 17 就把秘密告诉了她。他说:“我从不剃发,因为我一出生就献给上帝做拿细耳人了。如果剃掉我的头发,我的力气就会和普通人一样。”

18 大利拉见他说出了心中的秘密,就派人去通知非利士人的首领,说:“你们再来一次吧,他已经把秘密告诉我了。”于是,他们带着银子去了。 19 大利拉哄参孙枕着她的腿睡觉,然后叫人来剃掉他的七根发辫,使他力气尽失,无力反抗。 20 她喊道:“参孙,非利士人来捉你了!”参孙醒来,心想:“我要像前几次一样挣脱捆绑。”他却不知道耶和华已经离开他了。 21 非利士人拿住他,剜了他的眼睛,把他带到迦萨,用铜链锁住他,让他在监牢里推磨。 22 后来,他的头发又渐渐长出来了。

参孙之死

23 非利士人的首领聚在一起向他们的神明大衮献大祭,欢呼说:“我们的神把仇敌参孙交在我们手中了。” 24 众人看见参孙,就赞美他们的神明,说:“我们的神把仇敌交在我们手中了,他曾毁坏我们的田地,杀死我们许多人。” 25 他们都兴高采烈,并喊道:“把参孙带来让我们消遣消遣。”于是,有人把参孙从监牢里提出来供他们消遣,他们让他站在两根柱子中间。 26 参孙对拉着他手的童仆说:“带我到支撑这庙宇的柱子那里,我想靠一靠。” 27 那时,庙里挤满了男男女女,非利士人的首领们都在场,房顶上还有三千男女看参孙的热闹。

28 参孙向耶和华祷告说:“主耶和华啊,求你眷顾我!上帝啊,求你再次赐给我力量,使我向非利士人报剜眼之仇。” 29 参孙就抱住庙宇中央的两根柱子,一手抱一根, 30 然后喊道:“我要跟非利士人同归于尽!”于是,他一用力,庙宇倒塌,压住里面的首领和民众。参孙死时杀的人比他活着时杀的还多。 31 参孙的兄弟和家人取走他的尸体,葬在琐拉和以实陶之间他父亲玛挪亚的墓地里。参孙做以色列的士师二十年。

16 Then went Samson to Gaza, and saw there an harlot, and went in unto her.

And it was told the Gazites, saying, Samson is come hither. And they compassed him in, and laid wait for him all night in the gate of the city, and were quiet all the night, saying, In the morning, when it is day, we shall kill him.

And Samson lay till midnight, and arose at midnight, and took the doors of the gate of the city, and the two posts, and went away with them, bar and all, and put them upon his shoulders, and carried them up to the top of an hill that is before Hebron.

And it came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah.

And the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and said unto her, Entice him, and see wherein his great strength lieth, and by what means we may prevail against him, that we may bind him to afflict him; and we will give thee every one of us eleven hundred pieces of silver.

And Delilah said to Samson, Tell me, I pray thee, wherein thy great strength lieth, and wherewith thou mightest be bound to afflict thee.

And Samson said unto her, If they bind me with seven green withs that were never dried, then shall I be weak, and be as another man.

Then the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven green withs which had not been dried, and she bound him with them.

Now there were men lying in wait, abiding with her in the chamber. And she said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he brake the withs, as a thread of tow is broken when it toucheth the fire. So his strength was not known.

10 And Delilah said unto Samson, Behold, thou hast mocked me, and told me lies: now tell me, I pray thee, wherewith thou mightest be bound.

11 And he said unto her, If they bind me fast with new ropes that never were occupied, then shall I be weak, and be as another man.

12 Delilah therefore took new ropes, and bound him therewith, and said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And there were liers in wait abiding in the chamber. And he brake them from off his arms like a thread.

13 And Delilah said unto Samson, Hitherto thou hast mocked me, and told me lies: tell me wherewith thou mightest be bound. And he said unto her, If thou weavest the seven locks of my head with the web.

14 And she fastened it with the pin, and said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awaked out of his sleep, and went away with the pin of the beam, and with the web.

15 And she said unto him, How canst thou say, I love thee, when thine heart is not with me? thou hast mocked me these three times, and hast not told me wherein thy great strength lieth.

16 And it came to pass, when she pressed him daily with her words, and urged him, so that his soul was vexed unto death;

17 That he told her all his heart, and said unto her, There hath not come a razor upon mine head; for I have been a Nazarite unto God from my mother's womb: if I be shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man.

18 And when Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, Come up this once, for he hath shewed me all his heart. Then the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and brought money in their hand.

19 And she made him sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head; and she began to afflict him, and his strength went from him.

20 And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the Lord was departed from him.

21 But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison house.

22 Howbeit the hair of his head began to grow again after he was shaven.

23 Then the lords of the Philistines gathered them together for to offer a great sacrifice unto Dagon their god, and to rejoice: for they said, Our god hath delivered Samson our enemy into our hand.

24 And when the people saw him, they praised their god: for they said, Our god hath delivered into our hands our enemy, and the destroyer of our country, which slew many of us.

25 And it came to pass, when their hearts were merry, that they said, Call for Samson, that he may make us sport. And they called for Samson out of the prison house; and he made them sport: and they set him between the pillars.

26 And Samson said unto the lad that held him by the hand, Suffer me that I may feel the pillars whereupon the house standeth, that I may lean upon them.

27 Now the house was full of men and women; and all the lords of the Philistines were there; and there were upon the roof about three thousand men and women, that beheld while Samson made sport.

28 And Samson called unto the Lord, and said, O Lord God, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.

29 And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the house stood, and on which it was borne up, of the one with his right hand, and of the other with his left.

30 And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life.

31 Then his brethren and all the house of his father came down, and took him, and brought him up, and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the buryingplace of Manoah his father. And he judged Israel twenty years.

Samson and Delilah

16 Now Samson went to (A)Gaza and saw a harlot there, and went in to her. When the Gazites were told, “Samson has come here!” they (B)surrounded the place and lay in wait for him all night at the gate of the city. They were quiet all night, saying, “In the morning, when it is daylight, we will kill him.” And Samson lay low till midnight; then he arose at midnight, took hold of the doors of the gate of the city and the two gateposts, pulled them up, bar and all, put them on his shoulders, and carried them to the top of the hill that faces Hebron.

Afterward it happened that he loved a woman in the Valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah. And the (C)lords of the Philistines came up to her and said to her, (D)“Entice him, and find out where his great strength lies, and by what means we may overpower him, that we may bind him to afflict him; and every one of us will give you eleven hundred pieces of silver.”

So Delilah said to Samson, “Please tell me where your great strength lies, and with what you may be bound to afflict you.”

And Samson said to her, “If they bind me with seven fresh bowstrings, not yet dried, then I shall become weak, and be like any other man.”

So the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven fresh bowstrings, not yet dried, and she bound him with them. Now men were lying in wait, staying with her in the room. And she said to him, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” But he broke the bowstrings as a strand of yarn breaks when it touches fire. So the secret of his strength was not known.

10 Then Delilah said to Samson, “Look, you have mocked me and told me lies. Now, please tell me what you may be bound with.”

11 So he said to her, “If they bind me securely with (E)new ropes [a]that have never been used, then I shall become weak, and be like any other man.”

12 Therefore Delilah took new ropes and bound him with them, and said to him, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” And men were lying in wait, staying in the room. But he broke them off his arms like a thread.

13 Delilah said to Samson, “Until now you have mocked me and told me lies. Tell me what you may be bound with.”

And he said to her, “If you weave the seven locks of my head into the web of the loom”—

14 So she wove it tightly with the batten of the loom, and said to him, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” But he awoke from his sleep, and pulled out the batten and the web from the loom.

15 Then she said to him, (F)“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 where your great strength lies. 16 And it came to pass, when she pestered him daily with her words and pressed him, so that his soul was [b]vexed to death, 17 that he (G)told her all his heart, and said to her, (H)“No razor has ever come upon my head, for I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother’s womb. If I am shaven, then my strength will leave me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man.”

18 When Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, “Come up once more, for he has told me all his heart.” So the lords of the Philistines came up to her and brought the money in their hand. 19 (I)Then she lulled him to sleep on her knees, and called for a man and had him shave off the seven locks of his head. Then [c]she began to torment him, and his strength left him. 20 And she said, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” So he awoke from his sleep, and said, “I will go out as before, at other times, and shake myself free!” But he did not know that the Lord (J)had departed from him.

21 Then the Philistines took him and [d]put out his (K)eyes, and brought him down to Gaza. They bound him with bronze fetters, and he became a grinder in the prison. 22 However, the hair of his head began to grow again after it had been shaven.

Samson Dies with the Philistines

23 Now the lords of the Philistines gathered together to offer a great sacrifice to (L)Dagon their god, and to rejoice. And they said:

“Our god has delivered into our hands
Samson our enemy!”

24 When the people saw him, they (M)praised their god; for they said:

“Our god has delivered into our hands our enemy,
The destroyer of our land,
And the one who multiplied our dead.”

25 So it happened, when their hearts were (N)merry, that they said, “Call for Samson, that he may perform for us.” So they called for Samson from the prison, and he performed for them. And they stationed him between the pillars. 26 Then Samson said to the lad who held him by the hand, “Let me feel the pillars which support the temple, so that I can lean on them.” 27 Now the temple was full of men and women. All the lords of the Philistines were there—about three thousand men and women on the (O)roof watching while Samson performed.

28 Then Samson called to the Lord, saying, “O Lord God, (P)remember me, I pray! Strengthen me, I pray, just this once, O God, that I may with one blow take vengeance on the Philistines for my two eyes!” 29 And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars which supported the temple, and he braced himself against them, one on his right and the other on his left. 30 Then Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines!” And he pushed with all his might, and the temple fell on the lords and all the people who were in it. So the dead that he killed at his death were more than he had killed in his life.

31 And his brothers and all his father’s household came down and took him, and brought him up and (Q)buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of his father Manoah. He had judged Israel (R)twenty years.

Footnotes

  1. Judges 16:11 Lit. with which work has never been done
  2. Judges 16:16 Lit. impatient to the point of
  3. Judges 16:19 So with MT, Tg., Vg.; LXX he began to be weak,
  4. Judges 16:21 Lit. bored out

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. The people of Gaza were told, “Samson is here!” So they surrounded the place and lay in wait for him all night at the city gate.(D) They made no move during the night, saying, “At dawn(E) we’ll kill him.”

But Samson lay there only until the middle of the night. Then he got up and took hold of the doors of the city gate, together with the two posts, and tore them loose, bar and all. He lifted them to his shoulders and carried them to the top of the hill that faces Hebron.(F)

Some time later, he fell in love(G) with a woman in the Valley of Sorek whose name was Delilah.(H) The rulers of the Philistines(I) went to her and said, “See if you can lure(J) him into showing you the secret of his great strength(K) and how we can overpower him so we may tie him up and subdue him. Each one of us will give you eleven hundred shekels[a] of silver.”(L)

So Delilah(M) said to Samson, “Tell me the secret of your great strength and how you can be tied up and subdued.”

Samson answered her, “If anyone ties me with seven fresh bowstrings that have not been dried, I’ll become as weak as any other man.”

Then the rulers of the Philistines brought her seven fresh bowstrings that had not been dried, and she tied him with them. With men hidden in the room,(N) she called to him, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!”(O) But he snapped the bowstrings as easily as a piece of string snaps when it comes close to a flame. So the secret of his strength was not discovered.

10 Then Delilah said to Samson, “You have made a fool of me;(P) you lied to me. Come now, tell me how you can be tied.”

11 He said, “If anyone ties me securely with new ropes(Q) that have never been used, I’ll become as weak as any other man.”

12 So Delilah took new ropes and tied him with them. Then, with men hidden in the room, she called to him, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!”(R) But he snapped the ropes off his arms as if they were threads.

13 Delilah then said to Samson, “All this time you have been making a fool of me and lying to me. Tell me how you can be tied.”

He replied, “If you weave the seven braids of my head into the fabric on the loom and tighten it with the pin, I’ll become as weak as any other man.” So while he was sleeping, Delilah took the seven braids of his head, wove them into the fabric 14 and[b] tightened it with the pin.

Again she called to him, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!”(S) He awoke from his sleep and pulled up the pin and the loom, with the fabric.

15 Then she said to him, “How can you say, ‘I love you,’(T) when you won’t confide in me? This is the third time(U) you have made a fool of me and haven’t told me the secret of your great strength.(V) 16 With such nagging she prodded him day after day until he was sick to death of it.

17 So he told her everything.(W) “No razor has ever been used on my head,” he said, “because I have been a Nazirite(X) dedicated to God from my mother’s womb. If my head were shaved, my strength would leave me, and I would become as weak as any other man.”

18 When Delilah saw that he had told her everything, she sent word to the rulers of the Philistines(Y), “Come back once more; he has told me everything.” So the rulers of the Philistines returned with the silver in their hands.(Z) 19 After putting him to sleep on her lap, she called for someone to shave off the seven braids of his hair, and so began to subdue him.[c] And his strength left him.(AA)

20 Then she called, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!”(AB)

He awoke from his sleep and thought, “I’ll go out as before and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the Lord had left him.(AC)

21 Then the Philistines(AD) seized him, gouged out his eyes(AE) and took him down to Gaza.(AF) Binding him with bronze shackles, they set him to grinding grain(AG) in the prison. 22 But the hair on his head began to grow again after it had been shaved.

The Death of Samson

23 Now the rulers of the Philistines assembled to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon(AH) their god and to celebrate, saying, “Our god has delivered Samson, our enemy, into our hands.”

24 When the people saw him, they praised their god,(AI) saying,

“Our god has delivered our enemy
    into our hands,(AJ)
the one who laid waste our land
    and multiplied our slain.”

25 While they were in high spirits,(AK) they shouted, “Bring out Samson to entertain us.” So they called Samson out of the prison, and he performed for them.

When they stood him among the pillars, 26 Samson said to the servant who held his hand, “Put me where I can feel the pillars that support the temple, so that I may lean against them.” 27 Now the temple was crowded with men and women; all the rulers of the Philistines were there, and on the roof(AL) were about three thousand men and women watching Samson perform. 28 Then Samson prayed to the Lord,(AM) “Sovereign Lord, remember me. Please, God, strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge(AN) on the Philistines for my two eyes.” 29 Then Samson reached toward the two central pillars on which the temple stood. Bracing himself against them, his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other, 30 Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines!” Then he pushed with all his might, and down came the temple on the rulers and all the people in it. Thus he killed many more when he died than while he lived.

31 Then his brothers and his father’s whole family went down to get him. They brought him back and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of Manoah(AO) his father. He had led[d](AP) Israel twenty years.(AQ)

Footnotes

  1. Judges 16:5 That is, about 28 pounds or about 13 kilograms
  2. Judges 16:14 Some Septuagint manuscripts; Hebrew replied, “I can if you weave the seven braids of my head into the fabric on the loom.” 14 So she
  3. Judges 16:19 Hebrew; some Septuagint manuscripts and he began to weaken
  4. Judges 16:31 Traditionally judged