A Story of God and All of Us Young Reade - By Roma Downey Page 0,19

is with me, Delilah," he finally answers. "He makes me strong."

"But how? How does he make you strong?"

"My hair. I have never cut my hair. I'm forbidden. It's my sign of devotion. If I cut my hair, my God will take away my strength."

Samson can't help but smile.

"You don't believe me, do you?" he says.

Delilah smiles back.

"I do, Samson," she replies. "I believe you completely."

73

Samson stirs but doesn't awaken at the first snip as Delilah takes shears to his hair. She is cautious, starting at the longest end, far away from his head.

But his hair is so long that it is as if she has cut nothing at all. Another snip.

And then another. Soon it is gone--all of it. And still, he sleeps. The final lock falls to the floor just as Philistine soldiers rush into the room.

"Take him!" Abimilech orders.

In that instant Samson is up on his feet and ready to fight. He touches a hand to his head and feels the stubble. He sees a pile of dark hair and looks at Delilah, only to have her turn away. His heart sinks. The Philistine soldiers easily hold him down. Samson fights back, but he has no strength at all. For the first time in his life, Samson is weak and afraid. "What have you done?"

he yells to Delilah.

Abimilech empties the box of silver coins onto the bed, where they mingle with the coils of hair like exotic jewelry.

Samson's eyes dart to Delilah. He is dumbfounded by her betrayal and curses his own foolishness.

74

Samson has been chained up in prison for months and has gone blind. His hair has grown longer and longer.

Samson presses his forehead against the cool stone. He is alone, his eyes covered in bandages. Darkness is his world. But it is in this darkness that he finally begins to see that his destiny will be fulfilled. Behind him, the door creaks as it swings open.

Two Philistine soldiers pummel him with fists and clubs, taking great delight in their work. Samson roars in pain as the blows rain against his body, and his chains make a great clanking noise as he waves his arms in a futile attempt to protect himself. But with his strength and sight gone, there is nothing Samson can do.

Only when Samson sags forward against the chains, unable to support his own body weight, do the soldiers unchain him, continuing their kicks and punches as the key turns in the locked manacles around his wrists and ankles.

When Samson collapses, they drag him from the cell into the temple of the Philistine god Dagon. The room is packed with hundreds of people. Incense smoke wafts over their faces, and their eyes are watery and bloodshot. Pigs are being roasted. Goblets of wine are filled and refilled. Dogs are allowed inside this great pagan assembly, and their barks and howls ricochet off the tall stone pillars supporting the roof.

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"Samson, Samson, Samson," they chant as his body is dragged through their throng.

When the Philistine soldiers release Samson, he rises to his feet, confused.

Samson hears the ridicule, yet he cannot see who is showering him with oaths and profanities. He senses Delilah's presence in the room and turns in her direction.

Samson falters, on the verge of passing out once more. "I'm weak," he cries.

"Stand me up against something."

The guards lead Samson to the building's central pillars.

"Lord God," he whispers, "if I am yours, remember me and strengthen me once more so that I may have my revenge."

Abimilech overhears Samson's prayer and leans his face close to Samson's.

"Haven't you forgotten, Samson? You have broken your pact with your God, and now he has abandoned you."

Samson leans hard into the pillar, suddenly pushing on it with all his might.

He closes his eyes and prays a last prayer to God. "Lord, remember me.

Please, God, strengthen me."

Abimilech shakes his head as he watches Samson pray. "It's over, Samson.

Don't you see that?"

But then something hard slaps Abimilech's hand.

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He looks down and sees shards of fine stone. Then a cloud of dust seems to lower itself from the ceiling. A disbelieving Abimilech swivels his view back to Samson leaning against the pillar. His muscles ripple with their former strength.

Then Abimilech realizes the truth: Samson's hair has grown back, but it was never the entire source of his power. It comes from God. Those great locks were just a reminder of Samson's pact.

The power comes from God. The God of the Israelites. And it always has.

Screams echo through the chamber. Philistine guards throw