Judges 16:7-12

Judges 16:7

And Samson said unto her, If they bind me with seven green withs that were never dried, then shall I be weak, and be as another man.

Since Samson was one for riddles, he now toys with Delilah and gives her a method which would bring him into submission.  Delilah had no idea that he was giving her a false response and would not have any effect on his strength.  The green withs are moist cords which were undried.  The withs were used for binding and tying. The moistness would give the cords more strength.  Withs is plural for the word “withe.”

Judges 16:8

Then the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven green withs which had not been dried, and she bound him with them.

She then tells the Philistine lords what would reduce his strength and so they went and brought her the seven withs which were still moist and she then began to bind his hands with them and maybe she also bound his feet so he could not run away. 

Judges 16:9

Now there were men lying in wait, abiding with her in the chamber. And she said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he brake the withs, as a thread of tow is broken when it toucheth the fire. So his strength was not known.

All the time that she was tying up Samson there were men waiting to take him into custody as soon as she finished tying him up.  Once she finished tying him up, she then called in the men and yelled that the Philistines are upon him.  Once the men entered he broke the withs as if it was a thread of tow which is a single strand of flax which could in no way resist even the smallest flame.  They were still befuddled concerning his great strength and was not yet subdued.

Judges 16:10

And Delilah said unto Samson, Behold, thou hast mocked me, and told me lies: now tell me, I pray thee, wherewith thou mightest be bound.

You would think that Samson would begin to realize that she wasn’t in love with him because she was a paid operative who was determined to find the source of his strength.  Then Delilah starts playing the victim in trying to gain his sympathy.  She tells him that he mocked her.  The word “mock” may also be understood as “deal deceitfully or deride.”  Then she insists on Samson telling her the truth about the source of his strength.

Judges 16:11

And he said unto her, If they bind me fast with new ropes that never were occupied, then shall I be weak, and be as another man.

Then Samson once again gives her false information that this time instead of the withs, they are to bind him with new ropes that had never been used.  Prior usage could have caused them to be weakened based on what they were used for.  He tells her that once he is tied with those ropes, then he will be as any other man unable to escape.  He may also have been telling her these things so he could show off his immense strength to her.  The typical male trying to impress the female routine.

Judges 16:12

Delilah therefore took new ropes, and bound him therewith, and said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And there were liers in wait abiding in the chamber. And he brake them from off his arms like a thread.