After his victory the Israelites made Samson judge, and he ruled Israel for twenty years. But one wrong step prepares the 565 way for another. Samson had transgressed the command of God by taking a wife from the Philistines, and again he ventured among them--now his deadly enemies--in the indulgence of unlawful passion. Trusting to his great strength, which had inspired the Philistines with such terror, he went boldly to Gaza, to visit a harlot of that place. The inhabitants of the city learned of his presence, and they were eager for revenge. Their enemy was shut safely within the walls of the most strongly fortified of all their cities; they felt sure of their prey, and only waited till the morning to complete their triumph. At midnight Samson was aroused. The accusing voice of conscience filled him with remorse, as he remembered that he had broken his vow as a Nazarite. But notwithstanding his sin, God's mercy had not forsaken him. His prodigious strength again served to deliver him. Going to the city gate, he wrenched it from its place and carried it, with its posts and bars, to the top of a hill on the way to Hebron.

Efter Samsons sejr gjorde israelitterne ham til dommer, og denne stilling havde han i 20 år. Men eet forkert skridt bereder vejen for det næste. Samson havde overtrådt Guds bud ved at ægte en filisterkvinde, og nu vovede han sig atter ned til dem - sine dødsfjender - opflammet af sine lidenskaber. Han stolede på sine vældige kræfter, som havde slået filisterne med rædsel, og nu drog han uforfærdet til Gaza og gik ind til en skøge, som boede der. Byens indbyggere fik at vide, at han var der, og de tørstede efter hævn. Deres fjende befandt sig inden for murene i deres stærkest befæstede by. De var sikre på deres bytte og ventede blot på, at det skulle blive lyst; så ville sejren være dem sikker. Ved midnatstide stod Samson op. Samvittighedens stemme anklagede ham, og det pinte ham, at han havde brudt sit nasiræerløfte. Men til trods for hans synd var Guds nåde ikke veget fra ham. Hans kolossale kræfter hjalp ham atter engang. Han gik hen til byporten, rev den løs og bar den med fløje og portstolper op på en bjergtop på vejen til Hebron.