Samson had been a bane to the Philistines for a long time. They wanted to know the secret of the great physical power that Samson used to defeat them. The lords of the Philistines approached Delilah, the woman Samson loved and said to her, “Entice him and see wherein his great strength lies, and by what means we may overpower him, that we may bind and subdue him; and we will give you eleven hundred pieces of silver. ”

Delilah went to Samson and asked him to reveal the secret to how we might be subdued. Samson told her 7 fresh bowstrings not dried would make him weak. The Philistines brought the bowstrings to Delilah, and she bound Samson with them as several men lay in wait.”The Philistines are upon you Samson!” she shouted, and Samson easily snapped the bowstrings.

“Behold, you have mocked me and told me lies; please tell me how you might be bound” Delilah said.

Samson fabricated two more lies that were unsuccessfully tested by Delilah. Then, she said to him, “How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when your heart is not with me? You have mocked me these three times, and you have not told me wherein your great strength lies.”

Samson finally told Delilah the truth: he would lose his strength if his hair was ever cut. She then lulled Samson to sleep on her lap, before the Philistines shaved his head. When he awoke, he had no strength, and he was seized by the Philistines. Samson then had his eyes gouged out and was taken away.

It was only when his hair grew back that Samson was able to get his revenge and bring down the temple on his enemies, and on himself.