Samson’s hair had grown long again. One day the Philistines decided to have a big party to give praise to their god.

He had governed Israel for 20 years. Samson killed many more Philistines that day than he had ever killed before. He finally fell victim to his foes through love of Delilah, who beguiled him into revealing the secret of his strength: his long Nazirite hair. Judges 16:31 does mention that he led Israel for twenty years. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. He asks for the strength that could only come from the Lord. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. And please strengthen me this one time, God, so that I can repay the Philistines right now for my two eyes.” 29 Then Samson grabbed the two middle pillars upon which the house rested and braced himself against them with one pillar in his right hand and the other in his left. Now Samson could not brag about his strength. 30 Then Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines!” He strained with all his strength until the building collapsed on the officials and every person in it. They worshipped a false god named Dagon. As time passed, his hair grew longer and longer. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Samson, Christian Classics Ethereal Library - Samson, Samson - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). The Philistines captured him and made him blind. He began to realize that he had not been strong because he was so good. That’s because he used to think that he was strong and better than anyone else. The link is http://www.squidoo.com/, A good selection of both online and printable puzzles, activities and story words covering the Judges: Gideon and Samson at http://gardenofpraise.com/, 25 Ways to Teach Children About the Resurrection of Jesus, Colouring Pages: Christian (Bible) Colouring Pages, Visual Aids: Free Christian Illustrations, Mission Bible Class Copyrights and Permissions Page, What did Samson do in prison?

For example, he decimated the Philistines in a private war. After Samson was blind he began to think about the things that had happened in his life. He instructed her that the boy is to be consecrated to God as N… He first broke his religious obligation by feasting with a woman from the neighbouring town of Timnah, who was also a Philistine, one of Israel’s mortal enemies. Someone rotated the top stone, grinding the grain into flour. He was captured, blinded, and enslaved by the Philistines, but in the end God granted Samson his revenge; through the return of his old strength, he demolished the great Philistine temple of the god Dagon, at Gaza, destroying his captors and himself (Judges 16:4–30). He is portrayed in the biblical Book of Judges (chapters 13–16). According to the Bible, Samson died when he caused the temple of Dagon to collapse, killing himself and a very large number of his enemies. The Philistines made Samson a slave in their town of Gaza. Back then he had been strong. They laughed because Samson used to be strong. These pillars held up the roof of the temple.

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Now he knew that he had only ever had strength because God gave it to him. Samson was brought from the prison to amuse the crowd. Three thousand Philistines were there that day. He is portrayed in the biblical Book of Judges (chapters 13–16). 31 Afterwards, his brothers and his father’s household servants came down, took him, brought him back, and buried him in his father Manoah’s tomb between Zorah and Eshtaol.