SAM-SON CAR-RY-ING THE GATES OF GA-ZA.
Sam-son told her if he were bound with new ropes, which had not been used, that his strength would leave him, and he would be too weak to break them.
So she took new ropes and bound him. But ere the men who were hid in the room could spring out and take him, Sam-son broke the ropes from his arms as if they had been threads.
Then De-li-lah told Sam-son that he did but mock her and tell her lies, and she begged him to let her know how he might be bound.
And he said if she would weave his hair with the web in the loom his strength would go from him. And she wove his long hair in with the web, and made it fast with a large peg that was part of the loom.
Then she cried out, and Sam-son rose up and went off with the great peg, and the whole of the web that was in the loom.
Then she said he did not love her or he would not make sport of her in this way. And she teased him each day, and gave him no peace, so that at last he had to tell her the truth.
He said his hair had not been cut since he was born, and if it were shaved off he would lose all his strength.
It was wrong for Sam-son to tell her this, for she was bad at heart and not a true friend. But he did not know then how great was his sin.
De-li-lah knew that this time Sam-son had told her the truth; so she sent for the Phil-is-tines to come up to her house.