In a public square in Gaza, after a group of Hebrews pray to God for relief from their bondage to the Philistines, Samson stands out from the crowd and rebukes them for lack of faith. When his people claim they only have despair, he reiterates his trust in God. Philistine commander Abimelech, surrounded by his men, hears Samson’s words and denounces the Hebrews and their God. Samson challenges him and exhorts his people to rise up and defeat their oppressors. When Abimelech attacks Samson, the young hero kills him with his own sword. The Philistines rush to Abimelech’s body, but Samson holds them off and triumphantly leads his people away. The High Priest of Dagon comes out of the temple, sees the disarray of the Philistines and orders them to kill the Jews. When they fearfully describe Samson’s power, he curses Samson, the Jews and their God and leaves with those bearing Abimelech’s body. The Hebrews and Samson enter again, to be hailed by an Old Hebrew. The Philistine priestess Delilah and her attendants appear, celebrating the coming of Spring. Delilah recalls how Samson once conquered her heart and invites him to come again to her dwelling near Gaza. Though Samson is aroused, the Old Hebrew implores him to ignore her wiles. The temptress’s words grow more passionate as she tells Samson her heart is frozen until his touch brings her to life.
At Delilah’s tent in the vale of Sorek, she calls on her gods to help her entrap Samson and render him powerless. As lightning fitfully brightens the scene, the High Priest stalks in, telling Delilah of Samson’s strength and his victories over the Philistines. Though she knows that Samson’s adherents caution him about her, she promises to defeat him that very night and refuses any reward, explaining that Samson’s unwillingness to reveal the secret of his strength drives her to destroy him. The two exult in their prospective revenge. As the priest rushes away, Delilah fears Samson will not come, but in the gathering storm he appears. Though ashamed, he tells Delilah his passion has driven him to her. When he describes how God calls him to lead Israel, Delilah entreats him to yield to the god of love. As soon as he seems in her power, she demands that he confide in her the secret of his strength. When he refuses, she weeps and threatens to deny herself to him. Samson hears thunder, God’s warning, but nevertheless follows Delilah into her dwelling. At Delilah’s summons, Philistine soldiers rush in to capture the hero, now shorn of the long hair that was the source of his strength.
In the temple of Dagon, Philistine women hail the dawn and join the men in a bacchanal. Samson, led in by a child, endures taunts from the High Priest and Delilah. When the Priest challenges the God of Israel to prove his might by restoring Samson’s sight, the hero prays for a return of his strength. With Delilah, the High Priest approaches the altar for the sacrifice. To humiliate Samson by forcing him to kneel to Dagon, the Priest commands the child to lead Samson to the altar between the main pillars of the temple. Samson sends the child away, again prays for strength and, with a mighty effort, pushes down the pillars of the temple, crushing everyone.