Something like 40 or 50 years ago I was in church and we had a guest preacher. He was in his 60s, possibly 70s. He gave an interesting little story— probably not true, but perhaps it was. It was something like this…

“When I was a young boy in church, our pastor was preaching, and he was preaching on Samson and Delilah. In the story, Samson reveals to Delilah that if the seven braids are removed, he would lose his strength. The men of Gaza shaved off the seven braids of his head and Samson is conquered. The preacher explained what each of those braids represented. I was enthralled. I was so amazed at the knowledge of our pastor. I thought to myself, ‘If only I could go to Bible School someday, I may learn such wondrous secret things about the Bible.’ Years later I went to Bible School and was surprised to learn that the seven braids did not mean anything at all— it was just how many braids he had..”

For decades this little story reminds me of the temptation toward secret knowledge. I got lured by the enticements of aggressive typology, numerology, and eschatology. I think the story kept a skeptical edge in me. I appreciate that.

But lately I have done some thinking. Judges 16 is where the story of Samson and his seven braids is included. The story mentions his seven braids twice.

Why did it mention seven braids. I really don’t think each braid represented something. The story is whole without that detail. In fact, the story has lots of details missing and the braid thing could have been left out.

But while the number of braids is not necessary to the story… it is beneficial.

In telling the story, the fall is too quick. Samson gave his strength over to the enemy, and the enemy struck. But as a storyteller, the fall can be driven home in stages. He rejected his role as judge— snip and shave off the first braid. He took God’s empowerment and used it for drunken fights— snip and shave off the second braid. He rejected his people as he cavorted with the enemy— snip and shave off the third braid. The story could continue perhaps getting to the dramatic moment. Samson rejected the Torah and in so doing rejected his God— snip and shave of the final braid. Perhaps seven was the number of his braids— I tend to presume historicity. But if it was added for the purpose of the story, then it seems reasonable to assume that seven suggests a total fall.

The braids, then, don’t have actual meaning, but the preacher who used the braids as a framework for his sermon most likely was drawing from the oral roots of the story. Perhaps the only error of the preacher was to share this sermon with some who would confuse fact with rhetorical device.