Balek (died 1117 BC) was the Saran of Gaza and King of the Philistine Pentapolis during the 12th century BC. His conquests were said to have extended from the Nile to Babylon, and his armies scattered the Hittites, swept the Amorites before them, conquered Canaan, and oppressed the Israelites from 1157 BC to 1117 BC. After Samson -- whose betrothal to the Philistine Semadar had been ruined by Saran's military governor Ahtur - rebelled against the Philistine occupiers in 1136 BC, the Saran levied unpopular taxes on the Tribe of Dan and persuaded them to betray Samson to his men, only for Samson to escape after killing several of his soldiers with a donkey's jawbone. The Philistine noblewoman Delilah, whom Saran had taken as a concubine, proposed seducing Samson and cutting his hair - the source of his strength - in order to deliver him to the Philistines, succeeding in doing so. However, Delilah felt remorse and helped Samson push down the pillars of the Temple of Dagon as the Philistine leaders watched him be tortured, and Samson killed himself, Delilah, the Saran, and the whole Philistine court. Saran was said to have toasted Delilah with a cup of wine before being crushed by falling masonry.
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