And Samson grasped the two middle pillars on which the house rested, and leaned his weight against them, one on his right and one on his left (וַיִּשְׁמֹט שִׁמְשׁוֹן אֶת־שְׁנֵי־עַמּוּדֵי הַתָּוֶךְ אֲשֶׁר־הַבַּיִת סָמוּךְ עֲלֵיהֶם וַיִּשְׁעַן עֲלֵיהֶם בְּאֶחָד בִּימִינוֹ וּבְאֶחָד בִּשְׂמֹאלוֹ) — Samson's action is decisive and deliberate: he grasps the two central pillars (עַמּוּדֵי הַתָּוֶךְ, literally ``pillars of the middle'') that support the structure. The architectural detail suggests that the building's entire weight rests on these two pillars; their removal or collapse would bring catastrophic failure. His positioning—one pillar to his right, one to his left—suggests that he pushes outward, applying leverage to separate the structural supports. The Hebrew שִׁמְשׁוֹט (shimshot, to grasp or seize) and יִשְׁעַן (yish'an, to lean or rest) indicate that he is using his body weight and strength against the structure. The narrative presents the action as technically feasible: a man of superhuman strength, positioned correctly, can destabilize a building by pushing its load-bearing supports.

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