This verse describes a scene of betrayal and vulnerability in the story of Samson and Delilah. Let's break it down:
"She fastened it with the pin...": Delilah has just tricked Samson into revealing another aspect of his strength. She has woven his hair into a loom and secured it with a pin (a large peg or stake). This is meant to incapacitate him while he sleeps.
"...and said to him, “The Philistines are on you, Samson!”": Delilah has previously been paid by the Philistines to discover the secret of Samson's strength. Her warning is a signal to the Philistine men she has hidden in the room to attack and subdue Samson. This is a repeated pattern in their interactions: Delilah attempts to weaken Samson, then alerts the Philistines, hoping they can capture him.
"He awakened out of his sleep...": Samson is jolted awake by Delilah's cry.
"...and plucked away the pin of the beam, and the web.": Despite being caught in this trap, Samson still possesses extraordinary strength. He easily pulls out the pin that was holding his hair to the loom, tearing through the woven fabric ("the web") in the process. This shows that he is still not fully weakened, as Delilah's attempt to bind him in this way has failed.
Meaning and Significance:
Continued Betrayal: This verse highlights Delilah's ongoing treachery. She is relentless in her pursuit of the secret to Samson's strength, motivated by greed and her loyalty to the Philistines.
Samson's Partial Strength: While Samson is still strong enough to break free, the verse hints at a gradual erosion of his power due to his repeated compromises with Delilah. Each time he reveals a "secret," he seems to lose a piece of himself.
Foreshadowing: This scene prepares the reader for the ultimate betrayal and downfall of Samson in the following verses. Delilah's persistence will eventually lead to her discovering the true source of his strength: his uncut hair, dedicated to God. Once she cuts his hair, Samson will lose his strength completely and be captured by the Philistines.
Moral of Obedience: The story as a whole warns against disobedience to God and the dangers of temptation. Samson's weakness for Delilah ultimately leads to his demise.
In essence, this verse is a critical turning point in the narrative, showing the escalating tension and the inevitable consequences of Samson's choices.
This verse describes a scene of betrayal and vulnerability in the story of Samson and Delilah. Let's break it down:
"She fastened it with the pin...": Delilah has just tricked Samson into revealing another aspect of his strength. She has woven his hair into a loom and secured it with a pin (a large peg or stake). This is meant to incapacitate him while he sleeps.
"...and said to him, “The Philistines are on you, Samson!”": Delilah has previously been paid by the Philistines to discover the secret of Samson's strength. Her warning is a signal to the Philistine men she has hidden in the room to attack and subdue Samson. This is a repeated pattern in their interactions: Delilah attempts to weaken Samson, then alerts the Philistines, hoping they can capture him.
"He awakened out of his sleep...": Samson is jolted awake by Delilah's cry.
"...and plucked away the pin of the beam, and the web.": Despite being caught in this trap, Samson still possesses extraordinary strength. He easily pulls out the pin that was holding his hair to the loom, tearing through the woven fabric ("the web") in the process. This shows that he is still not fully weakened, as Delilah's attempt to bind him in this way has failed.
Meaning and Significance:
Continued Betrayal: This verse highlights Delilah's ongoing treachery. She is relentless in her pursuit of the secret to Samson's strength, motivated by greed and her loyalty to the Philistines.
Samson's Partial Strength: While Samson is still strong enough to break free, the verse hints at a gradual erosion of his power due to his repeated compromises with Delilah. Each time he reveals a "secret," he seems to lose a piece of himself.
Foreshadowing: This scene prepares the reader for the ultimate betrayal and downfall of Samson in the following verses. Delilah's persistence will eventually lead to her discovering the true source of his strength: his uncut hair, dedicated to God. Once she cuts his hair, Samson will lose his strength completely and be captured by the Philistines.
Moral of Obedience: The story as a whole warns against disobedience to God and the dangers of temptation. Samson's weakness for Delilah ultimately leads to his demise.
In essence, this verse is a critical turning point in the narrative, showing the escalating tension and the inevitable consequences of Samson's choices.