That the lords of the Philistines approach Delilah indicates an escalating of the conflict between the Philistines and Samson. This is no longer just some clan of Philistines that is trying to pay back Samson for some incident. These are now the leaders of the Philistine nation. This suggests that Samson has been elevated to the status of a national menace. Therefore, if Delilah could turn him over to them, she would be a national heroine.1
5 And the lords of the Philistines came up to her and said to her, “Seduce him, and see where his great strength lies, and by what means we may overpower him, that we may bind him to humble him. And we will each give you 1,100 pieces of silver.”