Judges 16:8

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.

Judges 7:6

7:6 Three hundred men lapped; ¹  the rest of the men ²  kneeled to drink water.

Judges 16:7

16:7 Samson said to her, “If they tie me up with seven fresh ³  bowstrings ⁴  that have not been dried, I will become weak and be just like any other man.”

Judges 16:9

16:9 They hid ⁵  in the bedroom and then she said to him, “The Philistines are here, ⁶  Samson!” He snapped the bowstrings as easily as a thread of yarn snaps when it is put close to fire. ⁷  The secret of his strength was not discovered. ⁸ 

[7:6]  ¹ tc The Hebrew text adds, “with their hands to their mouths,” This makes no sense in light of v. 5, which distinguishes between dog-like lappers (who would not use their hands to drink) and those who kneel (who would use their hands). It seems likely that the words “with their hands to their mouths” have been misplaced from v. 6. They fit better at the end of v. 5 or v. 6. Perhaps these words were originally a marginal scribal note which was later accidentally inserted into the text in the wrong place.

[7:6]  ² tn Heb “the people.”

[16:7]  ¹ tn Or “moist.”

[16:7]  ² tn The word refers to a bowstring, probably made from animal tendons. See Ps 11:2; Job 30:11.

[16:9]  ¹ 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).

[16:9]  ² tn Heb “are upon you.”

[16:9]  ³ tn Heb “when it smells fire.”

[16:9]  ⁴ tn Heb “His strength was not known.”