Samsonשִׁמְשׁוֹןwentוַיֵּלֶךְto Gaza,עַזָּתָהand sawוַיַּרְאthereשָׁםa woman,אִשָּׁהa prostitute,זוֹנָהand he went inוַיָּבֹאto her.אֵלֶיהָ
It was toldto the Gazites,לַעַזָּתִים“Samsonשִׁמְשׁוֹןhas comeבָּאhere.”הֵנָּהAnd they surrounded the placeוַיָּסֹבּוּand lay in waitוַיֶּאֶרְבוּfor himלוֹallכָלnightהַלַּיְלָהat the gateבְּשַׁעַרof the city,הָעִירand kept quietוַיִּתְחָרְשׁוּallכָלnight,הַלַּיְלָהsaying,לֵאמֹר“Untilעַדthe lightאוֹרof morning;הַבֹּקֶרthen we will kill him.”וַהֲרְגְנֻהוּ
And Samsonוַ שִׁמְשׁוֹןlayיִּשְׁכַּבuntilעַדmidnight;חֲצִי הַלַּיְלָהthen at midnightבַּחֲצִי הַלַּיְלָהhe aroseוַיָּקָםand took holdוַיֶּאֱחֹזof the doorsבְּדַלְתוֹתof the gateשַׁעַרof the cityהָעִירand of the twoוּבִשְׁתֵּיdoorposts,הַמְּזוּזוֹתand pulled them upוַיִּסָּעֵםwithעִםthe bar,הַבְּרִיחַand put themוַיָּשֶׂםonעַלhis shoulders,כְּתֵפָיוand carried them upוַיַּעֲלֵםtoאֶלthe topרֹאשׁof the hillהָהָרthat isאֲשֶׁרin front ofעַל פְּנֵיHebron.חֶבְרוֹן
And it happenedוַיְהִיafterאַחֲרֵיthisכֵןthat he lovedוַיֶּאֱהַבa womanאִשָּׁהin the valleyבְּנַחַלof Sorek,שֹׂרֵקand her nameוּשְׁמָהּwasDelilah.דְּלִילָה
And the lordsסַרְנֵיof the Philistinesפְלִשְׁתִּיםcame upוַיַּעֲלוּto herאֵלֶיהָand saidוַיֹּאמְרוּto her,לָהּ“Seduceפַּתִּיhim,אוֹתוֹand seeוּרְאִיin whatבַּמֶּהhis greatגָדוֹלstrengthכֹּחוֹlies,and by what meansוּבַמֶּהwe may prevailנוּכַלagainst him,לוֹso that we may bind himוַאֲסַרְנֻהוּto afflict him;לְעַנֹּתוֹand weוַאֲנַחְנוּwill giveנִתַּןyou,לָךְeach one,אִישׁeleven hundredאֶלֶף וּמֵאָהpieces of silver.”כָּסֶף
So Delilahוַ דְּלִילָהsaidתֹּאמֶרtoאֶלSamson,שִׁמְשׁוֹן“Tellהַגִּידָהme,לִיplease,נָּאin whatבַּמֶּהyour greatגָדוֹלstrengthכֹּחֲךָlies,and with whatוּבַמֶּהyou could be boundתֵאָסֵרto afflict you.”לְעַנּוֹתֶךָ
And Samsonוַ שִׁמְשׁוֹןsaidיֹּאמֶרto her,אֵלֶיהָ“Ifאִםthey bind meיַאַסְרֻנִיwith sevenבְּשִׁבְעָהfreshלַחִיםbowstringsיְתָרִיםthatאֲשֶׁרhave notלֹאbeen dried,חֹרָבוּthen I will become weakוְחָלִיתִיand beוְהָיִיתִיlike anyכְּאַחַדhuman being.”הָאָדָם
And the lordsסַרְנֵיof the Philistinesפְלִשְׁתִּיםbrought upוַיַּעֲלוּto herלָהּsevenשִׁבְעָהfreshלַחִיםbowstringsיְתָרִיםthatאֲשֶׁרhad notלֹאbeen dried,חֹרָבוּand she bound himוַתַּאַסְרֵהוּwith them.בָּהֶם
Now the ambushוְהָאֹרֵבwas waitingיֹשֵׁבfor herלָהּin the room.בַּחֶדֶרAnd she saidוַתֹּאמֶרto him,אֵלָיו“The Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּיםare upon you,עָלֶיךָSamson!”שִׁמְשׁוֹןBut he snappedוַיְנַתֵּקthe bowstringsאֶת הַיְתָרִיםasכַּאֲשֶׁרa strandפְּתִילof towהַנְּעֹרֶתsnapsיִנָּתֵקwhen it smellsבַּהֲרִיחוֹfire.אֵשׁSoוְhis strengthכֹּחוֹwas notלֹאknown.נוֹדַע
And Delilahוַ דְּלִילָהsaidתֹּאמֶרtoאֶלSamson,שִׁמְשׁוֹן“Look,הִנֵּהyou have deceivedהֵתַלְתָּmeבִּיand toldוַתְּדַבֵּרmeאֵלַיlies.כְּזָבִיםNowעַתָּהtellהַגִּידָהme,לִיplease,נָּאwith whatבַּמֶּהyou could be bound.”תֵּאָסֵר
And he saidוַיֹּאמֶרto her,אֵלֶיהָ“Ifאִםthey bind me tightlyאָסוֹר יַאַסְרוּנִיwith newבַּ חֲדָשִׁיםropesעֲבֹתִיםwith whichאֲשֶׁר בָהֶםnoלֹאworkמְלָאכָהhas been done,נַעֲשָׂהthen I will become weakוְחָלִיתִיand beוְהָיִיתִיlike anyכְּאַחַדhuman being.”הָאָדָם
So Delilahוַ דְּלִילָהtookתִּקַּחnewחֲדָשִׁיםropesעֲבֹתִיםand bound himוַתַּאַסְרֵהוּwith them,בָהֶםand saidוַתֹּאמֶרto him,אֵלָיו“The Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּיםare upon you,עָלֶיךָSamson!”שִׁמְשׁוֹןAnd the ambushוְהָאֹרֵבwas waitingיֹשֵׁבin the room.בֶּחָדֶרBut he snapped themוַיְנַתְּקֵםfrom offמֵעַלhis armsזְרֹעֹתָיוlike a thread.כַּחוּט
And Delilahוַ דְּלִילָהsaidתֹּאמֶרtoאֶלSamson,שִׁמְשׁוֹן“Untilעַדnowהֵנָּהyou have deceivedהֵתַלְתָּmeבִּיand toldוַתְּדַבֵּרmeאֵלַיlies.כְּזָבִיםTellהַגִּידָהmeלִּיwith whatבַּמֶּהyou could be bound.”תֵּאָסֵרAnd he saidוַיֹּאמֶרto her,אֵלֶיהָ“Ifאִםyou weaveתַּאַרְגִיthe sevenאֶת שֶׁבַעlocksמַחְלְפוֹתof my headרֹאשִׁיwithעִםthe warp…”הַמַּסָּכֶת
And she fastened itוַתִּתְקַעwith the pinבַּיָּתֵדand saidוַתֹּאמֶרto him,אֵלָיו“The Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּיםare upon you,עָלֶיךָSamson!”שִׁמְשׁוֹןAnd he awokeוַיִּיקַץfrom his sleepמִשְּׁנָתוֹand pulled outוַיִּסַּעthe pinאֶת הַיְתַדof the loomהָאֶרֶגand the warp.וְאֶת הַמַּסָּכֶת
And she saidוַתֹּאמֶרto him,אֵלָיו“Howאֵיךְcan you say,תֹּאמַר‘I love you,’אֲהַבְתִּיךְwhen your heartוְלִבְּךָis notאֵיןwith me?אִתִּיTheseזֶהthreeשָׁלֹשׁtimesפְּעָמִיםyou have deceivedהֵתַלְתָּmeבִּיand have notוְלֹאtoldהִגַּדְתָּmeלִּיin whatבַּמֶּהyour greatגָדוֹלstrengthכֹּחֲךָlies.”
And it happened,וַיְהִיwhenכִּיshe pressedהֵצִיקָהhimלּוֹwith her wordsבִדְבָרֶיהָeveryכָּלdayהַיָּמִיםand urged him,וַתְּאַלֲצֵהוּthat his soulוַ נַפְשׁוֹgrew impatientתִּקְצַרto the point of death.לָמוּת
So he openedוַיַּגֶּדto herלָהּallאֶת כָּלhis heartלִבּוֹand saidוַיֹּאמֶרto her,לָהּ“A razorמוֹרָהhas neverלֹאcome upעָלָהonעַלmy head,רֹאשִׁיforכִּיIאֲנִיhave beena Naziriteנְזִירof Elohimאֱלֹהִיםfrom the wombמִבֶּטֶןof my mother.אִמִּיIfאִםI am shaved,גֻּלַּחְתִּיthenוְmy strengthכֹחִיwill leaveסָרme,מִמֶּנִּיand I will become weakוְחָלִיתִיand beוְהָיִיתִיlike anyכְּכָלhuman being.”הָאָדָם
When Delilahוַ דְלִילָהsawתֵּרֶאthatכִּיhe had openedהִגִּידto herלָהּallאֶת כָּלhis heart,לִבּוֹshe sentוַתִּשְׁלַחand calledוַתִּקְרָאthe lordsלְסַרְנֵיof the Philistines,פְלִשְׁתִּים“Come upעֲלוּthis time,הַפַּעַםforכִּיhe has openedהִגִּידto meלִיallאֶת כָּלhis heart.”לִבּוֹAnd the lordsוְ סַרְנֵיof the Philistinesפְלִשְׁתִּיםcame upעָלוּto herאֵלֶיהָand brought upוַיַּעֲלוּthe silverהַכֶּסֶףin their hand.בְּיָדָם
She made him sleepוַתְּיַשְּׁנֵהוּonעַלher knees,בִּרְכֶּיהָand she calledוַתִּקְרָאfor a manלָאִישׁand she shavedוַתְּגַלַּחthe sevenאֶת שֶׁבַעlocksמַחְלְפוֹתof his head;רֹאשׁוֹand she beganוַתָּחֶלto afflict him,לְעַנּוֹתוֹand his strengthוַ כֹּחוֹleftיָּסַרhim.מֵעָלָיו
And she said,וַתֹּאמֶר“The Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּיםare upon you,עָלֶיךָSamson!”שִׁמְשׁוֹןAnd he awokeוַיִּקַץfrom his sleepמִשְּׁנָתוֹand said,וַיֹּאמֶר“I will go outאֵצֵאasכְּat other timesפַעַם בְּפַעַםand shake myself free.”וְאִנָּעֵרBut heוְהוּאdid notלֹאknowיָדַעthatכִּיYHWHיְהוָהhad leftסָרhim.מֵעָלָיו
And the Philistinesוַ פְלִשְׁתִּיםseized himיֹּאחֲזוּהוּand gouged outוַיְנַקְּרוּhis eyes,אֶת עֵינָיוand broughtוַיּוֹרִידוּhimאוֹתוֹdown to Gazaעַזָּתָהand bound himוַיַּאַסְרוּהוּwith bronze fetters;בַּנְחֻשְׁתַּיִםand he wasוַיְהִיgrindingטוֹחֵןin the houseבְּבֵיתof the prisoners.הָאֲסוּרִים
But the hairוַ שְׂעַרof his headרֹאשׁוֹbeganיָּחֶלto growלְצַמֵּחַafterכַּאֲשֶׁרhe had been shaved.גֻּלָּח
Now the lordsוְסַרְנֵיof the Philistinesפְלִשְׁתִּיםgatheredנֶאֱסְפוּto sacrificeלִזְבֹּחַa greatגָּדוֹלsacrificeזֶבַחto Dagonלְדָגוֹןtheir godאֱלֹהֵיהֶםand to rejoice,וּלְשִׂמְחָהand they said,וַיֹּאמְרוּ“Our godאֱלֹהֵינוּhas givenנָתַןinto our handבְּיָדֵנוּSamsonאֵת שִׁמְשׁוֹןour enemy.”אוֹיְבֵינוּ
And the peopleוַ הָעָםsawיִּרְאוּhimאֹתוֹand praisedוַיְהַלְלוּtheir god,אֶת אֱלֹהֵיהֶםforכִּיthey said,אָמְרוּ“Our godאֱלֹהֵינוּhas givenנָתַןinto our handבְיָדֵנוּour enemy,אֶת אוֹיְבֵנוּandוְthe one who laid wasteאֵת מַחֲרִיבour landאַרְצֵנוּandוַwhoאֲשֶׁרmultipliedהִרְבָּהour dead.”אֶת חֲלָלֵינוּ
And it happened,וַיְהִיwhen their heartכְּ לִבָּםwas merry,טוֹבthat they said,וַיֹּאמְרוּ“CallקִרְאוּSamson,לְשִׁמְשׁוֹןthat he may entertainוִישַׂחֶקus.”לָנוּSo they calledוַיִּקְרְאוּSamsonלְשִׁמְשׁוֹןfrom the houseמִבֵּיתof the prisoners,הָאֲסוּרִיםand he made them laughוַיְצַחֵקin their presence;לִפְנֵיהֶםand they stoodוַיַּעֲמִידוּhimאוֹתוֹbetweenבֵּיןthe pillars.הָעַמּוּדִים
And Samsonוַ שִׁמְשׁוֹןsaidיֹּאמֶרtoאֶלthe boyהַנַּעַרwho was holdingהַמַּחֲזִיקhim by his hand,בְּיָדוֹ“Letהַנִּיחָהmeאוֹתִיfeelוַהֲמִשֵׁנִיthe pillarsאֶת הָעַמֻּדִיםon whichאֲשֶׁר עֲלֵיהֶםthe houseהַבַּיִתrests,נָכוֹןso that I may leanוְאֶשָּׁעֵןon them.”עֲלֵיהֶם
Now the houseוְהַבַּיִתwas fullמָלֵאof menהָאֲנָשִׁיםand women,וְהַנָּשִׁיםand thereוְשָׁמָּהwere allכֹּלthe lordsסַרְנֵיof the Philistines;פְלִשְׁתִּיםand onוְעַלthe roofהַגָּגwere aboutכִּthreeשְׁלֹשֶׁתthousandאֲלָפִיםmenאִישׁand womenוְאִשָּׁהwho were watchingהָרֹאִיםSamsonשִׁמְשׁוֹןentertain them.בִּשְׂחוֹק
And Samsonוַ שִׁמְשׁוֹןcalledיִּקְרָאtoאֶלYHWHיְהוָהand said,וַיֹּאמַר“AdonaiאֲדֹנָיYHWH,יֱהֹוִהremember me,זָכְרֵנִיplease,נָאand strengthen me,וְחַזְּקֵנִיplease,נָאonlyאַךְthisהַזֶּהtime,הַפַּעַםO Elohim,הָאֱלֹהִיםthat I may takeוְאִנָּקְמָהoneאַחַתvengeanceנְקַםon the Philistinesמִפְּלִשְׁתִּיםfor my twoמִשְּׁתֵיeyes.”עֵינַי
And Samsonוַ שִׁמְשׁוֹןgraspedיִּלְפֹּתthe twoאֶת שְׁנֵיmiddleהַתָּוֶךְpillarsעַמּוּדֵיon whichאֲשֶׁר עֲלֵיהֶםthe houseהַבַּיִתrested,נָכוֹןand he braced himselfוַיִּסָּמֵךְagainst them,עֲלֵיהֶםoneאֶחָדwith his right handבִּימִינוֹand oneוְאֶחָדwith his left.בִּשְׂמֹאלוֹ
And Samsonוַ שִׁמְשׁוֹןsaid,יֹּאמֶר“Let my soulנַפְשִׁיdieתָּמוֹתwith the Philistines!”עִם פְּלִשְׁתִּיםAnd he pushedוַיֵּטwith force,בְּכֹחַand the houseוַ הַבַּיִתfellיִּפֹּלonעַלthe lordsהַסְּרָנִיםand onוְעַלallכָּלthe peopleהָעָםwhoאֲשֶׁרwere in it.בּוֹSo the deadוַ הַמֵּתִיםwhomאֲשֶׁרhe put to deathהֵמִיתat his deathבְּמוֹתוֹwereיִּהְיוּmoreרַבִּיםthan thoseמֵאֲשֶׁרhe had put to deathהֵמִיתin his life.בְּחַיָּיו
Then his brothersאֶחָיוand allוְכָלthe houseבֵּיתof his fatherאָבִיהוּcame downוַיֵּרְדוּand tookוַיִּשְׂאוּhimאֹתוֹand brought him upוַיַּעֲלוּand buriedוַיִּקְבְּרוּhimאוֹתוֹbetweenבֵּיןZorahצָרְעָהandוּבֵיןEshtaolאֶשְׁתָּאֹלin the tombבְּקֶבֶרof Manoahמָנוֹחַhis father.אָבִיוHeוְהוּאhad judgedשָׁפַטIsraelאֶת יִשְׂרָאֵלtwentyעֶשְׂרִיםyears.שָׁנָה