So Delilah takes new ropes and binds him, and cries out: ``The Philistines are upon you!'' But he snaps the ropes as easily (וַתִּקְשֹׁר אוֹתוֹ בַחֲבָלִים חֲדָשִׁים וַיֹּאמֶר הַפְּלִשְׁתִּים עָלֶיךָ שִׁמְשׁוֹן וַיְנַתֶּק אוֹתָם מֵעַל־זְרֹעוֹתָיו כַּחוּט) — the test repeats with ropes instead of bowstrings, and Samson's escape is again effortless (``like a thread,'' כַּחוּט). The narrative's repetition creates a pattern of mounting foolishness on Samson's part: each false answer is immediately tested, revealing Delilah's deception, yet he remains with her. The ease of his escape demonstrates the inadequacy of the proposed bindings while also showing Samson's superiority of strength. Yet the reader discerns what Samson does not: that Delilah is systematically extracting information, narrowing the possibilities, and that his repeated false answers are teaching her to recognize the true answer when he finally reveals it.

COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS

Publish a note on this verse