' Samson and Delilah ' Gerrit van Honthorst (Dutch 1590-1656) Oil on canvas , circa 1615. Museum of Art, Cleveland .

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Samson single-handedly crushed the Philistine army . In turn , the Philistines bribed his lover, Delilah , to reveal Samson's source of strength ; his hair, uncut since birth. While Samson was asleep , Delilah signaled a waiting Philistine , who sheared the hero, rendering him helpless. Honthorst intensified the narrative by having Delilah cut Samson's hair herself . An old woman also warns us against waking him , which implicates the viewer in Samson's emasculation.