Tales of Light

THE MIGHTY

Samson was carrying out his routine surveillance check around the borders. As the current judge of Israel, he detested the Philistines-well, except for their alluring ladies-and wished YHWH would grant him strength to wipe them all out at once.

Samson was still boiling in anger at the stunt they'd played on him. How could those snivelling rats give his wife, who he'd paid an outrageous bride price for, to his best man?

His parents had warned him before the whole saga began.
"Aren't there no beautiful maidens in Israel that catch your fancy? Why do you insist on having one of the daughters of our sworn enemy? Do you wish to incur YHWH's wrath upon yourself?" Manoah, his father, had asked him the eveni he'd announced that he wanted to marry a woman of Timnah.

All Samson knew was that ever since his childhood, because of his superhuman strength and ruddy appearance, ladies flocked around him like bees to honey.
Israeli girls were too naive and boring, prattling on and on about the sacrament of virginity as outlined in the Torah.
The adventurous spirit in Samson made him crave for the brazen beauties of Philistia, much to the dismay of his parents.

Samson remembered his rage when he saw that what was rightfully his was given to another. He'd gone out captured three hundred foxes, set their tails two by two on fire and set them loose in the Philistine grain fields. When they retaliated, he killed a thousand men with the jaw bone of an ass.

Today, he was passing through the Valley of Sorek when he sighted a stunningly beautiful woman. Her eyes were like a doe's, her honey-coloured skin was flawless and glistened in the sun.

He was smitten by her appearance. Judging from her poise and flamboyant dressing, Samson guessed she was a daughter of a Philistines Lord, a high-class independent woman, nothing like the harlots of Gaza he frequented.

He watched her fluid, seductive movements unabashed. When her eyes caught his, she smiled slowly and winked.
Something stirred in his chest. He was determined to have her by all means, as his next conquest.

After flirting back and forth, she discreetly beckoned on him to follow her. Samson sheepishly followed her into her chambers.

~~~

A Week Before

"Delilah, you have guests," her mother called from the door. Her mother's tone implied urgency.

Delilah rose from the massage table, dismissed her maids and got dressed.

When she came to the outer chamber, she saw her father seated, and mother standing by his side.
The five Philistine lords, acquaintances of her father, were also seated in a semi-circle.

"My, my, the damsel is now a woman," the lord of Gath said as his leering gaze greedily roamed her body. The others nodded and muttered their agreement.

Her father cleared his throat, a sharp signal for her to show some respect.
Stiffly, she bowed her head, hating the fact that she had to.

"My lords, you are most welcome to my humble abode. How may I be of service?" she purred in her sweetest voice.

"We'll cut to the chase as everyone of us here have important things to do," her father, chosen as the spokesman, said.
"We have a thorn we'd like to get rid of. Do you know the one called Samson?"

Delilah raised her eyebrow. "Samson, the mighty? I've heard some tales about him, though I have never met him."

"He is our arch enemy. Killing our men like ants. We've noticed his love for our women and would like to hire your expertise to get rid of him."

"What can I possibly do?"

"She could poison him," the lord of Ashkelon suggested.

"I doubt that would work. I've heard legends from the mouth of those who have encountered him of how he has the endorsement of Israel's God. And I'm sure you all have heard stories of how He dealt with Egypt and all the opposing nations on this side of Jordan?"