She made him sleep on her knees; and she called for a man and shaved off the seven locks of his head; and she began to afflict him, and his strength went from him.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 19. Knees, by some soporiferous draught, as on the other occasions. Menochius.—Barber. He only produced the razor, or rather a pair of scissors, such as were used to shear sheep. Barbers were unknown at Rome for 454 years; and the ancient Greeks looked with indignation upon those who introduced the custom of shaving among them. Plin. vii. 59. The Hebrews did not cut all their beard, and generally let the hair of their head grow long. Samson wore his curled, which is still the fashion among some people.—And began. Septuagint “he began to be humbled, ( Calmet.) or rendered abject, and his strength,” and so forth Hebrew “she began to render him contemptible” Bible.
“But what is strength without a double share
Of wisdom? vast, unwieldy, burdensome.”—Milton’s Samson.