Judges 16:6-8 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Bible Comments

Wherewith thou mightest be bound to afflict thee This seems rather to express the sum of what Delilah aimed at than her very words. For it is scarcely credible that she put this question so openly to Samson, which would have discovered that she had some design against him. But, rather, she wormed it out of him by degrees, and in such an artful manner as gave him no cause of suspicion. Samson said, &c. Samson was guilty both of the sin of lying, and of great folly, in encouraging her inquiries, which he should at first have checked: but as he had forsaken God, so God had now forsaken him, otherwise the frequent repetition and vehement urging of this question might easily have raised suspicion in him. With seven green withs Probably osiers. The lords of the Philistines brought Or rather sent; for it is not to be supposed they came themselves with these things.

Judges 16:6-8

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

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

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