שופטים, פרק ט״ז, פסוק א׳

Samson travels straight into the heart of Gaza, a central Philistine stronghold [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This bold move highlights his absolute confidence and complete lack of fear. He steps right into a major enemy city, fully fortified with walls, heavy doors, and bars, simply to spend the night without the slightest concern for his safety [מלבי״ם].

Upon arriving, he visits a local woman, though her exact role is a matter of discussion. Some explain that she was simply an innkeeper, and Samson went to her home merely to find a place to rest for the night [רלב״ג, רד״ק]. Others take the account more literally, suggesting that he was driven by his physical desires [אברבנאל].

However, another perspective offers a hidden, strategic motive for his actions, questioning why a man filled with the spirit of God would engage in such behavior. According to this approach, Samson deliberately chose a woman who was involved with the men of the city, knowing perfectly well that she would immediately alert them to his presence. His true goal was to bait the Philistines into gathering and setting a trap. The Philistines took the bait, planning to wait quietly in ambush near the city gate until dawn. They assumed that after spending the entire night with the woman, Samson would be exhausted, weak, and fast asleep, making him an easy target to kill. Yet Samson outsmarted them. He rose at midnight while his enemies were still hiding and, with extraordinary strength, tore the heavy doors of the city gate right out of the ground [אלשיך].