Strikingly, Delilah has told Samson what he may expect from the enemy if she should betray his secret to them. That should have put Samson on high alert, and his response should have been, How dare you ask! It is so obvious that your intentions are no good!
And he should have fled, if not at that moment then certainly after the Philistines came upon him the first time! Can he not see the danger he’s in? Can he not see the threat to his calling? Is he so dumb?
But Delilah’s request does not alarm him. It amuses him. He sees the question as an invitation to play a game with Delilah, and the Philistines and their leaders. But in the process, he again also plays with his calling from the Lord. He should have just said, My strength is for the glory of the Lord!
But he is compromised. So he looks to get his kicks from toying with his calling as a Nazirite.
7 Samson said to her, “If they bind me with seven fresh bowstrings that have not been dried, then I shall become weak and be like any other man.”