Bible Quiz: Samson and Delilah

1) Samson was a hero of Israel -- a "judge", or military leader, who served his country for 20 years. He lived around 1100 B.C., and was noted for both his great physical strength and moral weakness.

Samson became infatuated with a young Philistine woman, but his parents opposed the marriage because the Philistines were Israel's enemies. However, Samson persisted with the intention of using her to take revenge on the Philistines. As Samson was going to visit the woman he was attacked by a wild animal and used his great strength to kill it with his bare hands. What kind of animal was it?

A behemoth

A bull

A lion

A tiger

2) Samson eventually took the Philistine woman as his bride. He proposed a riddle at the wedding feast to entertain the guests and said he would give thirty sets of clothing to anyone who could solve it. What was the riddle?

"What man can live and not see death, or save himself from the power of the grave?"

"Out of the eater came something to eat, and out of the strong came something sweet."

"They eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence."

"A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest."

3) Samson had not been married to the Philistine woman for more than a few days when she betrayed him. What was her act of betrayal?

She bound him with ropes while he was sleeping and turned him over to his enemies.

She stole his amulet and gave it to his enemies while he was sleeping.

She gave away the answer to his riddle.

She had an affair with his brother.

4) Samson committed several acts of revenge for the betrayal until finally the Philistine army came to arrest him. How did they finally take Samson into custody?

A party of 400 men finally surrounded and subdued him.

His countrymen bound him and handed him over.

His countrymen talked him into surrendering so they wouldn't all be killed.

Samson fell into a deep pit they had dug in the road and covered with leaves.

5) Samson, using his great strength, escaped from custody and killed 1000 Philistines in another act of revenge. What implement did he use for this slaughter?

A stone hatchet

The jawbone of a donkey

A boomerang

The jawbone of a lion

6) Some time later Samson became infatuated with a woman named Delilah, but she too betrayed him. The lords of the Philistines offered her 1100 pieces of silver if she could tell them the secret to overcome Samson's great strength. So Delilah enticed Samson to tell her the source of his strength. But Samson didn't trust Delilah and gave her several false answers. What was one of the false answers he gave her?

He would lose his strength if bound with freshly harvested grape vines.

He would lose his strength if his sash were taken away.

He would lose his strength if bound with seven new leather thongs made for bowstrings.

He would lose his strength if he did not eat spinach every day.

7) What was another false answer he gave her?

He would lose his strength if bound with new, never used ropes.

He would lose his strength if his cloak were taken away.

He would lose his strength if taken to the pagan temple.

He would lose his strength if bound with ropes staked in the ground.

8) But Delilah, not wanting to forfeit her bribe, nagged and pestered Samson every day until he finally told her the truth. What was the real secret to his strength?

He would lose his strength if his hair were cut.

He would lose his strength if he were bound with twelve new bowstrings.

He would lose his strength if bound with new, never used chains.

He would lose his strength if his sword were broken in two.

9) So, when Delilah told the Philistines the real secret and collected her bribe. The Philistines captured Samson, blinded him, and made him a slave. What kind of work was Samson forced to do?

Cleaning stables

Cleaning outhouses

Carrying stones to build a pagan temple

Grinding meal

10) However, Samson regained his strength while in captivity and managed one grandiose final act of revenge against the Philistines. What was it?

He slew 5000 Philistines with his sword.

He slew 5000 Philistines with the jawbone of a lion.

He knocked down the temple of the pagan god Dagon, killing thousands of Philistines.

He knocked down the royal palace, killing the Philistine king and all his lords.