When Samson fell for Delilah, a woman from the Valley of Sorek, it marked the beginning of his downfall and eventual demise. It didn’t take long for the rich and powerful Philistine rulers to learn of the affair and pay a visit to Delilah. Samson was judge over Israel at the time and had been taking out great vengeance on the Philistines. Hoping to capture him, the Philistine leaders offered Delilah a sum of money to collaborate with them in a scheme to uncover the secret of Samson’s great strength.
Samson and Delilah by Rubens
Sitting in her grand chaise, depicted here in Rubens painting of Samson and Delilah, with Samson at her feet, Delilah held his head in her hands. She stroked his dark hair, soft like a feathered dove, curls down to his shoulders.
“Samson, you ripped the lion apart with your bare hands.”
“Delilah, my love, is it better the lion rip me apart?”
“My sire, it is good. From where do you get your strength?” She asked in a soft whisper.
Thrice she asked Samson where his strength came from, and thrice he answered falsely.
Once more she asked, “From where do you get your strength?”
His vow to God was never to reveal the source of his strength. He gazed in her eyes and asked, “Why must you know this?”
“You have told me your strength is from your God. This God of yours, how has He done this for you?”
“Delilah, only for you will I divulge what God has given me.”
“Samson, I will love you with my life.”
“My hair must never be cut. My strength will leave me if a razor were to be used on my head.”
When Samson slept on her lap, Delilah summoned her servant to cut Samson’s hair.
Samson's locks shorn
With his locks shorn, Samson’s vow to God was broken.
Rather than killing him, the Philistines humiliated him. They bound him and gouged out his eyes. In the ultimate humiliation,
Samson in the Treadmill
Samson was put to work in prison pounding grain, the task of a woman. In time, his hair began to grow, but the careless Philistines paid no attention.
During a pagan sacrificial ritual, the philistines had gathered in Gaza to celebrate. As was their custom, they paraded their prized enemy prisoner into the temple to entertain the jeering crowds. Samson braced himself between the two central support pillars of the temple and pushed with all his might.
Samson destroys the Temple
Down came the temple, killing Samson, Delilah and 3,000 Philistines. Samson destroyed more of his enemies in this one sacrificial act, than he had previously killed in all the battles of his life.
Today’s blog began with the idea of sharing the Egyptian culture in art and architecture. I was going to describe the furnishings and architecture between the time of Samson and Delilah and King Tutankhamen. Rather, I got caught up in storytelling.
What do you think? Do you have a deep secret? How trusting are you? How deep is your love?
The link worked for me, Gail. Great post, Marian
Gail, great storytelling!! I have loads of secrets, but none of them are that interesting. My hubby knows all the important ones. The rest I save and give to my stories!
Hilarious, Rhonda! I love this story! And well told, Gail.
Secrets are always the undoing of any relationship. I love it that my husband knows every deep dark secret I have and still loves me anyway. It is the most blessed part of any relationship to be able to trust so completely.
Great post, Gail.
Hi, Gail. I’m checking out your comments functionality to see if I can figure out what the issue is.
Thank you Cathy.
These comments are showing up now, where they have not been here. All comments have been going into spam, and then I had to click “not spam” and then I had to go to “pending” to approve. Even my comments took that track. I will check last weeks.
Gail,
Marguerite is sitting on her grand Louis XV bergère chair wearing a peach colored silk tea dress. In her words, “Her secret passion for studying male nudes, albeit for purely artistic purposes, will most assuredly lead to disaster.”*
-Jillian
*For those who may not be aware, British Victorian morality prevented most female artists from studying or representing nudes. Many female artists went to Paris or America to study.
Hi Jillian, Marguerite looks gorgeous. Thanks for giving me heads up.
I think it’s time for a big budget action/adventure movie of the Samson-and-Delilah story. I see Angelina Jolie and maybe Jason Momoa (the new Conan the Barbarian/Khal Drogo of “Game of Thrones”)
I’m seeing beefcake, hot sex scenes (shot with a gold filter with lots of billowing gauze), a cast of thousands of extras, elaborate Philistine decor (that’s where you come in, Gail), Philistine orgies (not sure who’ll direct that unit – we may need volunteers), the torture of Samson, the guilt of Delilah (oh, yes – Hollywood will want Delilah to get her come-uppance), the triumph of Samson. Maybe he then finds true love with a nice girl – but he has memories of the carnival ride that was Delilah. 🙂
Have my people call your people. We’ll pitch this do this over lunch at Spago’s! Ciao! ::kiss, kiss!:: 🙂
Ha, ha, ha. that’s great Rhonda, I can’t wait to do the decor. Gold and billowing gauze, you are there honey,orgies, ah sigh, yes. I will get on it immediately. Who we getting to be the hero and heroine? Are we going to kill them at the end? It would be good to permit them to live on and produce more Samsons and Delilahs.
True. Thou shalt have sequels. 🙂
So funny, you guys!
Hi Gail. The link worked!
HI Jamie, which link, the first one or the second one? Thanks.
The second.
Thanks Jamie.