This is a simplified version of the Bible story found in Judges 16:1-22, written for children to understand. For the original version, please refer to the Bible passage.
Once there was a man named Samson. One day, he went to a city called Gaza and met a woman there. She was a prostitute. The people in the city found out that Samson was there and they planned to hurt him. They waited for him all night, but Samson tricked them. He took the doors of the city gate and carried them away to a hill.
Later, Samson met another woman named Delilah. She was from a place called the Valley of Sorek. Some of Delilah’s friends, who were leaders of a group called the Philistines, wanted to know the secret of Samson’s strength. They wanted to capture him and make him weak. They will pay Delilah 1,100 pieces of silver once she find out the secret.
Delilah asked Samson to tell her his secret. She said, “Samson, you are so strong! Please tell me what is the secret of your strength. How can I make you weak?”
Samson said to her, “If they bind me with seven fresh bowstrings that have not been dried, then I shall become weak and be like any other man.”
So, Delilah tied him up with seven fresh bowstrings that the Philistines gave to her. She called to Samson, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” But Samson was very strong and broke free.
Then Delilah said to Samson, “Samson, you have lied to me. Please tell me how you might be bound.” And Samson said to her, “If they bind me with new ropes that have not been used, then I shall become weak and be like any other man.”
So, Delilah tied him up with new ropes that the Philistines gave to her. She called to Samson, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” But Samson was very strong and broke free.
Then Delilah said to Samson, “Samson, you are still lying to me. Tell me how you might be bound.” And Samson said to her, “If you weave the seven locks of my head with the web and fasten it tight with the pin, then I shall become weak and be like any other man.”
So, Delilah wove Samson’s hair into the loom with the web that the Philistines gave to her. She fastened it tight with the pin and called to Samson, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” But Samson was very strong and broke free again.
Delilah was very persistent and kept asking Samson about his secret until he finally told her the truth. He said that he had never cut his hair because he was a Nazirite to God from birth. When he went to sleep, Delilah called some men who cut off Samson’s hair. Samson became very weak and the Philistines caught him. They put out his eyes and put him in jail to work. But over time, Samson’s hair grew back.
After Delilah told the Philistines Samson’s secret, they came to her and gave her the promised payment of 1,100 pieces of silver. Then they went to capture Samson.
Biblical Lessons
- It is important to keep your promises to God.
- We should not be tricked by money or temptation.
- Dishonesty can lead to trouble.