I was once considered to be the strongest man alive. But even the strong have a weakness. My weakness was women. Those Philistine women were just absolutely gorgeous to me. I actually fell in love with two of them. Sadly, they both proved to be my weakness.

The first was a pretty lady in Timnah. While we were celebrating our wedding I gave a riddle to the groomsmen, and made a very with them. Nobody knew the answer, except me. The riddle was “Out of the one who eats came something to eat; out of the strong cane something sweet.” You see, I had killed a lion and then a bit later, as I passed by the carcass I noticed that bees had made a hive in it, and I scooped out some honey and ate it. I never even told my parents the answer. But when these men could not answer they began to prayer my new bride for the answer.

This woman nagged me for the answer. But when I still refused, she got downright dirty about it and cheated. She turned on the tears, and began crying about how I didn’t love her. She said if I really loved her I would tell her the answer. Between the nagging and crying I caved (as most men do). I told her the answer. And just before the celebration ended, the groomsmen gave me the answer. I told them that the only reason they knew the answer to my riddle was because they had been plowing with my heifer. By the way, guys, I really don’t recommend using this analogy today. It might get you seriously hurt. Of coarse, I was angry that she had betrayed me. After killing 30 Philistine men to pay my gambling debt I went back to my parents home.

Then when I went back to her, I took a gift, only to find out that her father had given her to my best man to marry. Well, I got my revenge for that. I took 300 foxes, tied their trails together in pairs along with tying torches to each pair of tails them released them to run through their fields of grain.

After some time, another pretty Philistine woman caught my eye. Delilah was her name. Well, the Philistines pretty much hated me, so they asked Delilah to find out why I was so strong. And in exchange, they would give her a large sum of money. At first I refused to tell her. I made up some things. First I told her that if I was tied up with 7 new, bowstrings that I would be just like any other man. And while I was asleep, she had men hiding in the house and she tied me up, then yelled that the Philistines were here to take me away. Well, I awoke and snapped the bowstring with ease.

She accused me of making fun of her, and insisted on knowing how I could be easily tied up. This time, I told her that seven brand new ropes must be used. That night she again tied me up as I slept, using brand new ropes, and then yelled that the Philistines had come to capture me. Of course I woke up and shook off the ropes with ease.

Then I slipped just a little when she stated crying about me making fun of her, lying to her. I actually mentioned that it had something to do with my hair. This time I told her that if she was to weave my hair into the fabric on her loom, and tighten it, then I would be as weak as the next man. Yep, you guessed it; while I was sound asleep, she snuck Philistines into her house and wove the seven braids of my hair into the fabric of the loom, tight, then yelled that the Philistines had come to capture me. As before, I awoke, and quickly freed myself.

Now an intelligent man, who was thinking with his brain, would have surely realized by now that this woman was trying to help the Philistines capture me. But I obviously was not using my brain. Because this time, as she cried and nagged I caved in and told her the real secret to my strength. I told her that my hair had never been cut. That my parents dedicated me as a Nazirite from birth, and that if my hair is cut, I will be left powerless. A normal, intelligent man, thinking with his brain would have known by now that falling asleep around this woman is dangerous! Especially with such an important piece of information! But, I was not using my brain at all. I fell asleep in her lap. And as I slept she had someone come in and shave my head. My strength vanished. This time, when she called out, I awoke, thinking it was no big deal, I was captured. And when the Philistines captured me, they gouged my eyes out, blinding me. Then they bound me with chains, and I was forced to grind the grain in their prison.

My hair did begin to grow again. And as it did, my strength returned. I got my revenge one last time, and while the Philistines were having a party, celebrating my capture, the people insisted that I be brought out to entertain and amuse then. Their temple was full of people, as well as the leaders, and the thousands of people on the roof, all celebrating and half drunk. I had the servant who brought me out to help me place my hands on the pillars that held up their temple. I told him I needed to rest on them. I prayed that God would give me strength one last time, so that I might bring down those two supporting pillars, and crush my enemies. He answered my prayer as I asked.

I lost my eyes, and my freedom because I refused to acknowledge my weakness. Yet, in spite of my weakness, God used me against the enemies of Israel.