2-720-276 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

'The Philistines took him, and put out his eyes', mid 19th century. Biblical scene, from Judges 16: 21: 'But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison house'. Samson, having been weakened after Delilah cut off his strength-giving hair as he slept, is captured by the Philistines who blind him by gouging out his eyes. He is then put to work turning a large millstone and grinding grain in prison in Gaza. Here Delilah appears to express remorse for her cruel act. Samson's captors have brought him out of prison to make sport of him during the feast in the Temple of Dagon. Engraving.