This passage provides insight into Samson's character and his downfall. The Philistine lords want to find out the secret of Samson's strength so that they can defeat him. They offer Delilah a significant sum of money to find out this information. This indicates that Samson was already known as a powerful figure among the Philistines, and they saw him as a threat.
In Judges 16:6, we read that Delilah tries to find out the secret of Samson's strength. The text says, "Delilah said to Samson, 'Please tell me where your great strength lies, and what you might be bound to afflict you.'"
Delilah's question is the beginning of a series of attempts to discover Samson's secret. She tries various methods to get him to reveal it, including nagging him, seducing him, and even using other men to attack him. Through it all, Samson refuses to reveal his secret, claiming that it is something only God knows.
This passage reveals Samson's fatal flaw - his arrogance and pride. Samson was aware of his great strength and enjoyed the attention and admiration that came with it. However, he also believed that his strength was entirely his own and did not recognize that it came from God. This arrogance leads him to trust Delilah and reveal his secret, ultimately leading to his downfall.
Additionally, this passage sheds light on the nature of the relationship between Samson and Delilah. It is clear that Delilah is motivated by greed, and she is willing to betray Samson for money. However, it is also clear that Samson is attracted to her and trusts her, even though she has already shown herself to be untrustworthy.
Overall, Judges 16:4-6 is a cautionary tale about the dangers of arrogance and the importance of recognizing one's own limitations. It also demonstrates the consequences of trusting the wrong people and the importance of being discerning in one's relationships.
Judges 16:4-6. It came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah. The lords of the Philistines came up to her, and said to her, “Entice him, and see in which his great strength lies, and by what means we may prevail against him, that we may bind him to afflict him; and we will each give you eleven hundred pieces of silver.” Delilah said to Samson, “Please tell me where your great strength lies, and what you might be bound to afflict you.”