This was the southernmost of the Philistine cities and the largest of them. It was an important center because the caravan routes from the desert joined the highway from Egypt there. It was around 30 mi. (48 km.) from the region of Samson’s other adventures. Samson trusted in his great strength, which had inspired the Philistines with so much fear, and ventured into the very heart of enemy territory.

It seems that Samson had become almost completely devoid of moral principles. At least he continually allowed his impulsive desires to triumph over them. One wrong step led to the next. Samson had made his first mistake in the choice of wrong associations in his youth. His tragic marriage with the Philistine woman was the result.

Now he sank still lower in the moral scale.