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Glossary

Samson and Delilah

Samson was an Israelite hero who was a scourge of the Philistines. He was a man of enormous strength and all the attempts to capture him had failed. He loved 'a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah', and she was bribed to help the Philistines. She eventually succeeded in persuading Samson to tell her what was the source of his strength: it resided in his hair, which had never been cut. If it were cut, he would lose his strength.

While Samson slept with his head on Delilah's knee, the Philistines entered the room and shaved his head, depriving him of his strength. He was captured and blinded. (Judges 16: 4-21).