"...and he did not know the Lord had left him."

Samson's great strength wasn't "magic": It didn't originate from his long hair and it wasn't automatically weakened by violating his Nazirite vows. Indeed, Samson had no control over his incredible strength: the great miracles Samson performed came from God...and God alone.

Samson was an incredibly flawed man who God repeatedly chose to bless with great strength so that God's plans would be fulfilled (and Israel's enemies defeated). But Samson's most egregious sin occurred when he abandoned God and took credit for his own successes. He thought HE was in control of his miraculous strength, that all of his powers came from his OWN body and that the source of those powers laid in his "magic hair". Indeed, Samson became so disconnected from God that God finally removed his Spirit (and thus Samson's mighty strength) resulting in Samson's capture and mutilation.

The final chapters of Judges focus on Israel's apostacy, the establishment of house-hold idols and breaking of the Levitical laws set-down by Moses. The seeds of this apostacy came to full fruition (possible in the author's lifetime) when the united monarchy splits just a few years later after Solomon's reign.