Discovery BoxJudges 16:7-9 
Context16:7 Samson said to her, “If they tie me up with seven fresh 1 bowstrings 2 that have not been dried, I will become weak and be just like any other man.” 16:8 So the rulers of the Philistines brought her seven fresh bowstrings which had not been dried and they tied him up with them. 16:9 They hid 3 in the bedroom and then she said to him, “The Philistines are here, 4 Samson!” He snapped the bowstrings as easily as a thread of yarn snaps when it is put close to fire. 5 The secret of his strength was not discovered. 6
1 tn Or “moist.”
2 tn The word refers to a bowstring, probably made from animal tendons. See Ps 11:2; Job 30:11.
3 tn Heb “And the ones lying in wait were sitting for her.” The grammatically singular form וְהָאֹרֵב (vÿha’orev) is collective here, referring to the rulers as a group (so also in v. 16).
4 tn Heb “are upon you.”
5 tn Heb “when it smells fire.”
6 tn Heb “His strength was not known.”
