Delilah, << dih LY luh, >> in the Old Testament, was the Philistine mistress of Samson, the Israelite folk hero famed for his tremendous strength. The Philistines, who were enemies of the Israelites, bribed Delilah to find out the secret of Samson’s power so that they could take him prisoner. After much coaxing, Samson told Delilah that his strength lay in his long, thick hair which, because of a vow, he had never cut. Delilah had his head shaved while he was asleep. He became weak and helpless. The Philistines easily captured him, blinded him, and made him work as a slave. The story of Samson is told in Judges 16.
