Hakim-hakim 14:4

14:4 Now his father and mother did not realize this was the Lord’s doing, ¹  because he was looking for an opportunity to stir up trouble with the Philistines ²  (for at that time the Philistines were ruling Israel).

Hakim-hakim 16:6

16:6 So Delilah said to Samson, “Tell me what makes you so strong and how you can be subdued and humiliated.” ³ 

Hakim-hakim 16:19

16:19 She made him go to sleep on her lap ⁴  and then called a man in to shave off ⁵  the seven braids of his hair. ⁶  She made him vulnerable ⁷  and his strength left him.

Hakim-hakim 20:34

20:34 Ten thousand men, well-trained soldiers from all Israel, then made a frontal assault against Gibeah – the battle was fierce. ⁸  But the Benjaminites did not realize that disaster was at their doorstep. ⁹ 

[14:4]  ¹ tn Heb “this was from the LORD.”

[14:4]  ² tn Heb “for an opportunity he was seeking from the Philistines.”

[16:6]  ³ tn Heb “how you can be subdued in order to be humiliated.”

[16:19]  ⁴ tn Heb “on her knees.” The expression is probably euphemistic for sexual intercourse. See HALOT 160-61 s.v. בֶּרֶךְ.

[16:19]  ⁵ tn Heb “she called for a man and she shaved off.” The point seems to be that Delilah acted through the instrumentality of the man. See J. A. Soggin, Judges (OTL), 254.

[16:19]  ⁶ tn Heb “head.” By metonymy the hair of his head is meant.

[16:19]  ⁷ tn Heb “She began to humiliate him.” Rather than referring to some specific insulting action on Delilah’s part after Samson’s hair was shaved off, this statement probably means that she, through the devious actions just described, began the process of Samson’s humiliation which culminates in the following verses.

[20:34]  ⁸ tn Heb “heavy”; or “severe.”

[20:34]  ⁹ tn Heb “And they did not know that touching against them was disaster.”