The Book of Judges, Chapter 16שפטים 16

וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ שִׁמְשׁ֖וֹן עַזָּ֑תָה וַיַּרְא שָׁם֙ אִשָּׁ֣ה זוֹנָ֔ה וַיָּבֹ֖א אֵלֶֽיהָ

And Samson went to Gaza and saw a prostitute there, and he went in to her.

לַֽעַזָּתִ֣ים לֵאמֹ֗ר בָּ֤א שִׁמְשׁוֹן֙ הֵ֔נָּה וַיָּסֹ֛בּוּ וַיֶּאֶרְבוּ ל֥וֹ כָל הַלַּ֖יְלָה בְּשַׁ֣עַר הָעִ֑יר וַיִּתְחָרְשׁ֤וּ כָל הַלַּ֨יְלָה֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר עַד א֥וֹר הַבֹּ֖קֶר וַהֲרְגְנֻֽהוּ

To the Gazites, saying, Samson has come here. And they surrounded and lay in wait for him all night at the city gate, and they kept quiet all night, saying, Until the morning light, and we will kill him.

וַיִּשְׁכַּ֣ב שִׁמְשׁוֹן֮ עַד חֲצִ֣י הַלַּיְלָה֒ וַיָּ֣קָם בַּחֲצִ֣י הַלַּ֗יְלָה וַיֶּאֱחֹ֞ז בְּדַלְת֤וֹת שַֽׁעַר הָעִיר֙ וּבִשְׁתֵּ֣י הַמְּזוּז֔וֹת וַיִּסָּעֵם֙ עִֽם הַבְּרִ֔יחַ וַיָּ֖שֶׂם עַל כְּתֵפָ֑יו וַֽיַּעֲלֵם֙ אֶל רֹ֣אשׁ הָהָ֔ר אֲשֶׁ֖ר עַל פְּנֵ֥י חֶבְרֽוֹן

And Samson lay until midnight, and he arose at midnight and seized the doors of the city gate and the two doorposts and pulled them up with the bar, and he put them on his shoulders and brought them up to the top of the mountain that faces Hebron.

וַֽיְהִי֙ אַחֲרֵי כֵ֔ן וַיֶּאֱהַ֥ב אִשָּׁ֖ה בְּנַ֣חַל שֹׂרֵ֑ק וּשְׁמָ֖הּ דְּלִילָֽה

And after this he loved a woman in the Valley of Sorek, and her name was Delilah.

וַיַּעֲל֨וּ אֵלֶ֜יהָ סַרְנֵ֣י פְלִשְׁתִּ֗ים וַיֹּ֨אמְרוּ לָ֜הּ פַּתִּ֣י אוֹת֗וֹ וּרְאִי֙ בַּמֶּה֙ כֹּח֣וֹ גָד֔וֹל וּבַמֶּה֙ נ֣וּכַל ל֔וֹ וַאֲסַרְנֻ֖הוּ לְעַנֹּת֑וֹ וַאֲנַ֨חְנוּ֙ נִתַּן לָ֔ךְ אִ֕ישׁ אֶ֥לֶף וּמֵאָ֖ה כָּֽסֶף

And the lords of the Philistines went up to her and said to her, Entice him and see in what his great strength lies, and with what we may prevail over him, and we will bind him to afflict him; and we, each man, will give you eleven hundred of silver.

וַתֹּ֤אמֶר דְּלִילָה֙ אֶל שִׁמְשׁ֔וֹן הַגִּֽידָה נָּ֣א לִ֔י בַּמֶּ֖ה כֹּחֲךָ֣ גָד֑וֹל וּבַמֶּ֥ה תֵאָסֵ֖ר לְעַנּוֹתֶֽךָ

And Delilah said to Samson, Please tell me in what your great strength lies, and with what you may be bound to afflict you.

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלֶ֨יהָ֙ שִׁמְשׁ֔וֹן אִם יַאַסְרֻ֗נִי בְּשִׁבְעָ֛ה יְתָרִ֥ים לַחִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹא חֹרָ֑בוּ וְחָלִ֥יתִי וְהָיִ֖יתִי כְּאַחַ֥ד הָאָדָֽם

And Samson said to her, If they bind me with seven fresh cords that have not been dried, I shall become weak and be like any other man.

וַיַּעֲלוּ לָ֞הּ סַרְנֵ֣י פְלִשְׁתִּ֗ים שִׁבְעָ֛ה יְתָרִ֥ים לַחִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹא חֹרָ֑בוּ וַתַּאַסְרֵ֖הוּ בָּהֶֽם

And the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven fresh cords that had not been dried, and she bound him with them.

וְהָאֹרֵ֗ב יֹשֵׁ֥ב לָהּ֙ בַּחֶ֔דֶר וַתֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלָ֔יו פְּלִשְׁתִּ֥ים עָלֶ֖יךָ שִׁמְשׁ֑וֹן וַיְנַתֵּק֙ אֶת הַיְתָרִ֔ים כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר יִנָּתֵ֤ק פְּתִֽיל הַנְּעֹ֨רֶת֙ בַּהֲרִיח֣וֹ אֵ֔שׁ וְלֹ֥א נוֹדַ֖ע כֹּחֽוֹ

And the ambush was sitting for her in the inner room, and she said to him, Philistines are upon you, Samson! And he snapped the cords as a strand of tow snaps when it smells fire. And his strength was not known.

וַתֹּ֤אמֶר דְּלִילָה֙ אֶל שִׁמְשׁ֔וֹן הִנֵּה֙ הֵתַ֣לְתָּ בִּ֔י וַתְּדַבֵּ֥ר אֵלַ֖י כְּזָבִ֑ים עַתָּה֙ הַגִּֽידָה נָּ֣א לִ֔י בַּמֶּ֖ה תֵּאָסֵֽר

And Delilah said to Samson, Behold, you have mocked me and spoken lies to me. Now please tell me with what you may be bound.

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלֶ֔יהָ אִם אָס֤וֹר יַאַסְר֨וּנִי֙ בַּעֲבֹתִ֣ים חֲדָשִׁ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֛ר לֹֽא נַעֲשָׂ֥ה בָהֶ֖ם מְלָאכָ֑ה וְחָלִ֥יתִי וְהָיִ֖יתִי כְּאַחַ֥ד הָאָדָֽם

And he said to her, If they bind me indeed with new ropes with which no work has been done, I shall become weak and be like any other man.

וַתִּקַּ֣ח דְּלִילָה֩ עֲבֹתִ֨ים חֲדָשִׁ֜ים וַתַּאַסְרֵ֣הוּ בָהֶ֗ם וַתֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלָיו֙ פְּלִשְׁתִּ֤ים עָלֶ֨יךָ֙ שִׁמְשׁ֔וֹן וְהָאֹרֵ֖ב יֹשֵׁ֣ב בֶּחָ֑דֶר וַֽיְנַתְּקֵ֛ם מֵעַ֥ל זְרֹעֹתָ֖יו כַּחֽוּט

And Delilah took new ropes and bound him with them and said to him, Philistines are upon you, Samson! And the ambush was sitting in the inner room. And he snapped them from off his arms like a thread.

וַתֹּ֨אמֶר דְּלִילָ֜ה אֶל שִׁמְשׁ֗וֹן עַד הֵ֜נָּה הֵתַ֤לְתָּ בִּי֙ וַתְּדַבֵּ֤ר אֵלַי֙ כְּזָבִ֔ים הַגִּ֣ידָה לִּ֔י בַּמֶּ֖ה תֵּאָסֵ֑ר וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלֶ֔יהָ אִם תַּאַרְגִ֗י אֶת שֶׁ֛בַע מַחְלְפ֥וֹת רֹאשִׁ֖י עִם הַמַּסָּֽכֶת

And Delilah said to Samson, Until now you have mocked me and spoken lies to me. Tell me with what you may be bound. And he said to her, If you weave the seven locks of my head with the web.

וַתִּתְקַע֙ בַּיָּתֵ֔ד וַתֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלָ֔יו פְּלִשְׁתִּ֥ים עָלֶ֖יךָ שִׁמְשׁ֑וֹן וַיִּיקַץ֙ מִשְּׁנָת֔וֹ וַיִּסַּ֛ע אֶת הַיְתַ֥ד הָאֶ֖רֶג וְאֶת הַמַּסָּֽכֶת

And she fastened it with the pin and said to him, Philistines are upon you, Samson! And he awoke from his sleep and pulled up the pin of the loom and the web.

וַתֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלָ֗יו אֵ֚יךְ תֹּאמַ֣ר אֲהַבְתִּ֔יךְ וְלִבְּךָ֖ אֵ֣ין אִתִּ֑י זֶ֣ה שָׁלֹ֤שׁ פְּעָמִים֙ הֵתַ֣לְתָּ בִּ֔י וְלֹא הִגַּ֣דְתָּ לִּ֔י בַּמֶּ֖ה כֹּחֲךָ֥ גָדֽוֹל

And she said to him, How can you say, I love you, when your heart is not with me? These three times you have mocked me and have not told me in what your great strength lies.

וַ֠יְהִי כִּֽי הֵצִ֨יקָה לּ֧וֹ בִדְבָרֶ֛יהָ כָּל הַיָּמִ֖ים וַתְּאַֽלֲצֵ֑הוּ וַתִּקְצַ֥ר נַפְשׁ֖וֹ לָמֽוּת

And when she pressed him with her words all the days and urged him, his soul was shortened to death.

וַיַּגֶּד לָ֣הּ אֶת כָּל לִבּ֗וֹ וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לָהּ֙ מוֹרָה֙ לֹֽא עָלָ֣ה עַל רֹאשִׁ֔י כִּֽי נְזִ֧יר אֱלֹהִ֛ים אֲנִ֖י מִבֶּ֣טֶן אִמִּ֑י אִם גֻּלַּ֨חְתִּי֙ וְסָ֣ר מִמֶּ֣נִּי כֹחִ֔י וְחָלִ֥יתִי וְהָיִ֖יתִי כְּכָל הָאָדָֽם

And he told her all his heart, and he said to her, A razor has not gone up on my head, for I am a Nazirite of God from my mother's womb. If I am shaved, then my strength will turn from me, and I shall become weak and be like all men.

וַתֵּ֣רֶא דְלִילָ֗ה כִּֽי הִגִּ֣יד לָהּ֮ אֶת כָּל לִבּוֹ֒ וַתִּשְׁלַ֡ח וַתִּקְרָא֩ לְסַרְנֵ֨י פְלִשְׁתִּ֤ים לֵאמֹר֙ עֲל֣וּ הַפַּ֔עַם כִּֽי הִגִּ֥יד לה לִ֖י אֶת כָּל לִבּ֑וֹ וְעָל֤וּ אֵלֶ֨יהָ֙ סַרְנֵ֣י פְלִשְׁתִּ֔ים וַיַּעֲל֥וּ הַכֶּ֖סֶף בְּיָדָֽם

And Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, and she sent and called the lords of the Philistines, saying, Come up this time, for he has told me all his heart. And the lords of the Philistines came up to her and brought the silver in their hand.

וַתְּיַשְּׁנֵ֨הוּ֙ עַל בִּרְכֶּ֔יהָ וַתִּקְרָ֣א לָאִ֔ישׁ וַתְּגַלַּ֕ח אֶת שֶׁ֖בַע מַחְלְפ֣וֹת רֹאשׁ֑וֹ וַתָּ֨חֶל֙ לְעַנּוֹת֔וֹ וַיָּ֥סַר כֹּח֖וֹ מֵעָלָֽיו

And she made him sleep on her knees, and she called to the man and shaved the seven locks of his head, and she began to afflict him, and his strength turned from him.

וַתֹּ֕אמֶר פְּלִשְׁתִּ֥ים עָלֶ֖יךָ שִׁמְשׁ֑וֹן וַיִּקַ֣ץ מִשְּׁנָת֗וֹ וַיֹּ֨אמֶר֙ אֵצֵ֞א כְּפַ֤עַם בְּפַ֨עַם֙ וְאִנָּעֵ֔ר וְהוּא֙ לֹ֣א יָדַ֔ע כִּ֥י יְהוָ֖ה סָ֥ר מֵעָלָֽיו

And she said, Philistines are upon you, Samson! And he awoke from his sleep and said, I will go out as at other times and shake myself free. And he did not know that YHWH had turned from him.

וַיֹּאחֲז֣וּהוּ פְלִשְׁתִּ֔ים וַֽיְנַקְּר֖וּ אֶת עֵינָ֑יו וַיּוֹרִ֨ידוּ אוֹת֜וֹ עַזָּ֗תָה וַיַּאַסְר֨וּהוּ֙ בַּֽנְחֻשְׁתַּ֔יִם וַיְהִ֥י טוֹחֵ֖ן בְּבֵ֥ית האסירים הָאֲסוּרִֽים

And the Philistines seized him and gouged out his eyes and brought him down to Gaza and bound him with bronze, and he became a grinder in the prison house.

וַיָּ֧חֶל שְׂעַר רֹאשׁ֛וֹ לְצַמֵּ֖חַ כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר גֻּלָּֽח

And the hair of his head began to grow again after it had been shaved.

וְסַרְנֵ֣י פְלִשְׁתִּ֗ים נֶֽאֱסְפוּ֙ לִזְבֹּ֧חַ זֶֽבַח גָּד֛וֹל לְדָג֥וֹן אֱלֹהֵיהֶ֖ם וּלְשִׂמְחָ֑ה וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ נָתַ֤ן אֱלֹהֵ֨ינוּ֙ בְּיָדֵ֔נוּ אֵ֖ת שִׁמְשׁ֥וֹן אוֹיְבֵֽינוּ

And the lords of the Philistines gathered to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god and for joy, and they said, Our god has given into our hand Samson our enemy.

וַיִּרְא֤וּ אֹתוֹ֙ הָעָ֔ם וַֽיְהַלְל֖וּ אֶת אֱלֹהֵיהֶ֑ם כִּ֣י אָמְר֗וּ נָתַ֨ן אֱלֹהֵ֤ינוּ בְיָדֵ֨נוּ֙ אֶת א֣וֹיְבֵ֔נוּ וְאֵת֙ מַחֲרִ֣יב אַרְצֵ֔נוּ וַאֲשֶׁ֥ר הִרְבָּ֖ה אֶת חֲלָלֵֽינוּ

And the people saw him and praised their god, for they said, Our god has given into our hand our enemy and the ravager of our land, who multiplied our slain.

וַֽיְהִי֙ כי טוב כְּט֣וֹב לִבָּ֔ם וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ קִרְא֥וּ לְשִׁמְשׁ֖וֹן וִישַֽׂחֶק לָ֑נוּ וַיִּקְרְא֨וּ לְשִׁמְשׁ֜וֹן מִבֵּ֣ית האסירים הָאֲסוּרִ֗ים וַיְצַחֵק֙ לִפְנֵיהֶ֔ם וַיַּעֲמִ֥ידוּ אוֹת֖וֹ בֵּ֥ין הָעַמּוּדִֽים

And when their heart was merry they said, Call Samson, that he may play for us. And they called Samson from the prison house, and he played before them, and they stood him between the pillars.

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר שִׁמְשׁ֜וֹן אֶל הַנַּ֨עַר הַמַּחֲזִ֣יק בְּיָדוֹ֮ הַנִּ֣יחָה אוֹתִי֒ והימשני וַהֲמִשֵׁ֨נִי֙ אֶת הָֽעַמֻּדִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר הַבַּ֖יִת נָכ֣וֹן עֲלֵיהֶ֑ם וְאֶשָּׁעֵ֖ן עֲלֵיהֶֽם

And Samson said to the boy who held him by the hand, Let me rest, and let me feel the pillars on which the house is established, that I may lean on them.

וְהַבַּ֗יִת מָלֵ֤א הָֽאֲנָשִׁים֙ וְהַנָּשִׁ֔ים וְשָׁ֕מָּה כֹּ֖ל סַרְנֵ֣י פְלִשְׁתִּ֑ים וְעַל הַגָּ֗ג כִּשְׁלֹ֤שֶׁת אֲלָפִים֙ אִ֣ישׁ וְאִשָּׁ֔ה הָרֹאִ֖ים בִּשְׂח֥וֹק שִׁמְשֽׁוֹן

And the house was full of the men and the women, and there were all the lords of the Philistines, and on the roof about three thousand men and women looking on while Samson played.

וַיִּקְרָ֥א שִׁמְשׁ֛וֹן אֶל יְהוָ֖ה וַיֹּאמַ֑ר אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֡ה זָכְרֵ֣נִי נָא֩ וְחַזְּקֵ֨נִי נָ֜א אַ֣ךְ הַפַּ֤עַם הַזֶּה֙ הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים וְאִנָּקְמָ֧ה נְקַם אַחַ֛ת מִשְּׁתֵ֥י עֵינַ֖י מִפְּלִשְׁתִּֽים

And Samson called to YHWH and said, Lord YHWH, remember me, please, and strengthen me, please, only this once, O God, that I may be avenged the revenge of one of my two eyes from the Philistines.

וַיִּלְפֹּ֨ת שִׁמְשׁ֜וֹן אֶת שְׁנֵ֣י עַמּוּדֵ֣י הַתָּ֗וֶךְ אֲשֶׁ֤ר הַבַּ֨יִת֙ נָכ֣וֹן עֲלֵיהֶ֔ם וַיִּסָּמֵ֖ךְ עֲלֵיהֶ֑ם אֶחָ֥ד בִּימִינ֖וֹ וְאֶחָ֥ד בִּשְׂמֹאלֽוֹ

And Samson grasped the two middle pillars on which the house was established, and he leaned on them, one with his right and one with his left.

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר שִׁמְשׁ֗וֹן תָּמ֣וֹת נַפְשִׁי֮ עִם פְּלִשְׁתִּים֒ וַיֵּ֣ט בְּכֹ֔חַ וַיִּפֹּ֤ל הַבַּ֨יִת֙ עַל הַסְּרָנִ֔ים וְעַל כָּל הָעָ֖ם אֲשֶׁר בּ֑וֹ וַיִּהְי֤וּ הַמֵּתִים֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הֵמִ֣ית בְּמוֹת֔וֹ רַבִּ֕ים מֵאֲשֶׁ֥ר הֵמִ֖ית בְּחַיָּֽיו

And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he stretched with strength, and the house fell on the lords and on all the people who were in it. And the dead whom he killed in his death were more than those he had killed in his life.

וַיֵּרְד֨וּ אֶחָ֜יו וְכָל בֵּ֣ית אָבִיהוּ֮ וַיִּשְׂא֣וּ אֹתוֹ֒ וַֽיַּעֲל֣וּ וַיִּקְבְּר֣וּ אוֹת֗וֹ בֵּ֤ין צָרְעָה֙ וּבֵ֣ין אֶשְׁתָּאֹ֔ל בְּקֶ֖בֶר מָנ֣וֹחַ אָבִ֑יו וְה֛וּא שָׁפַ֥ט אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל עֶשְׂרִ֥ים שָׁנָֽה

And his brothers and all his father's house went down and took him and brought him up and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of Manoah his father. And he had judged Israel twenty years.