The Philistines ascribed their victory to their gods; and, 567 exulting, they defied the God of Israel. A feast was appointed in honor of Dagon, the fish god, "the protector of the sea." From town and country throughout the Philistine plain the people and their lords assembled. Throngs of worshipers filled the vast temple and crowded the galleries about the roof. It was a scene of festivity and rejoicing. There was the pomp of the sacrificial service, followed by music and feasting. Then, as the crowning trophy of Dagon's power, Samson was brought in. Shouts of exultation greeted his appearance. People and rulers mocked his misery and adored the god who had overthrown "the destroyer of their country." After a time, as if weary, Samson asked permission to rest against the two central pillars which supported the temple roof. Then he silently uttered the prayer, "O Lord God, remember me, I pray Thee, and strengthen me, I pray Thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines." With these words he encircled the pillars with his mighty arms; and crying, "Let me die with the Philistines!" he bowed himself, and the roof fell, destroying at one crash all that vast multitude. "So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life."

Filisterne gav deres guder æren for deres sejr, og i deres glæde hånede de Israels Gud. De besluttede at holde en fest til ære for Dagon, deres fiskegud, "havets beskytter". Folket og deres fyrster strømmede til fra land og by for at overvære festen. Store skarer af tilbedende fyldte det store tempel og trængtes på balkonerne under taget. Der var feststemning i den store bygning. Efter den pompøse offertjeneste var der musik og lystighed. Til sidst førtes Samson ind. Han blev betragtet som Dagons største bytte. Hans ankomst blev hilst med jubelråb. Både folket og fyrsterne spottede ham for hans elendighed og priste deres gud, som havde besejret hele nationens fjende. Da der var gået nogen tid, lod Samson, som om han var træt, og bad om at måtte læne sig op ad de to midtersøjler, som bar templets tag. Derefter opsendte han i stilhed denne bøn: "Herre, Herre, kom mig i hu og giv mig kraft, o Gud, kun denne ene gang, så jeg kan hævne mig på filisterne!" Med disse ord greb de vældige arme fat om de to midtersøjler, og med råbet: "Lad mig dø sammen med filisterne!" bøjede han sig med det resultat, at taget styrtede ned og dræbte den vældige menneskemængde. "Således dræbte han ved sin død flere, end han havde dræbt i levende live."