Map of the Philistine Valley of Sorek

Map of the Valley of Sorek in Ancient Philistia

The Bible says that Samson fell in love with a woman named Delilah in the Valley of "Sorek" a Hebrew word which means "Vine." It is not clear exactly where this valley was located but we know it was a valley which separated the Land of Judah from the Philistines.

Judges 16:4 - And it came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name [was] Delilah.

Valley of Sorek in the Bible Encyclopedia - ISBE

SOREK, VALLEY OF

so'-rek (nachal soreq, "the valley of the choice (soreq) vine" (see VINE); sorech): "(Samson) loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah" (Jdg 16:4). Jerome (OS, 153 f, 6) mentions a Capharsorec which was near Saraa (ancient ZORAH (which see); this latter is undoubtedly the village of Sura`h, high up upon the northern slopes of the great Wady es Surar. About 3/4 of a mile West of this is Khurbet Surik, which is certainly the site referred to by Jerome, and possibly marks that of a more ancient town which gave its name to the whole valley. This valley is of importance in the historical geography of Palestine out of all proportion to its scanty mention in the Old Testament (HGHL, 218 ff). The Wady es Surar is an expansion of the ravine Wady Isma`in (which itself is formed by the junction of the great Wady Beit Chanineh, which rises near Bereh, and the Wady es Sikkeh, which drains the "Plain of Rephaim" near Jerusalem). The Jerus-Jaffa Railway traverses successively the Wady es Surar, the Wady Ismai`n and the Wady es Sikkeh to reach the Jerusalem plateau. The Valley of Sorek is a name which probably belonged only to the open, fertile valley, well suited for vineyards, which traverses the Shephelah. It is now given over almost entirely to the cultivation of wheat, barley and maize (durra). The valley passes between the lofty hill of Sara`h (Zorah) to the North and `Ain Shems (Beth-shemesh) and Tibneh (Timnah) on the South. Standing on the ruins of Beth-shemesh, one can watch the modern railway train winding for miles up the valley along almost the very road from Ekron (now `Akiv), upon which came the strange sight of the milch kine dragging the ark (1 Sam 6:12). Very probably it was in this valley that the Philistines were defeated (1 Sam 7:5-14) (PEF, III, 53, Sh XVII).
E. W. G. Masterman Full Article

Smith's Bible Dictionary Topics

Samson
(like the sun), son of Manoah, a man of the town of Zorah in the tribe of Dan, on the border of Judah. #Jos 15:33; 19:41| (B.C. 1161). The miraculous circumstances of his birth are recorded in Judges

Sorek
(red), The valley of, a wady in which lay the residence of Delilah. #Jud 16:4| It was possibly nearer Gaza than any other of the chief Philistine cities, since thither Samson was taken after his capture at Delilah's house.

Delilah
(languishing) a woman who dwelt in the valley Of Sorek, beloved by Samson. #Jud 16:4-18| There seems to be little doubt that she was a Philistine courtesan. [SAMS0N] (B.C. 1141.)

The Bible Mentions "Philistia" on the Coast of Israel

1 Samuel 6:17 - "And these are the golden emerods which the Philistines returned for a trespass offering unto the LORD; for Ashdod one, for Gaza one, for Askelon one, for Gath one, for Ekron one"

Psalms 87:4 - I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this [man] was born there.

Psalms 60:8 - Moab [is] my washpot; over Edom will I cast out my shoe: Philistia, triumph thou because of me.

Psalms 108:9 - Moab [is] my washpot; over Edom will I cast out my shoe; over Philistia will I triumph.

The Bible Mentions "Gaza" as a Chief City of the Philistines

Judges 1:18 - Also Judah took Gaza with the coast thereof, and Askelon with the coast thereof, and Ekron with the coast thereof.

1 Chronicles 7:28 - And their possessions and habitations [were], Bethel and the towns thereof, and eastward Naaran, and westward Gezer, with the towns thereof; Shechem also and the towns thereof, unto Gaza and the towns thereof:

Joshua 15:47 - Ashdod with her towns and her villages, Gaza with her towns and her villages, unto the river of Egypt, and the great sea, and the border [thereof]:

Genesis 10:19 - And the border of the Canaanites was from Sidon, as thou comest to Gerar, unto Gaza; as thou goest, unto Sodom, and Gomorrah, and Admah, and Zeboim, even unto Lasha.

1 Samuel 6:17 - And these [are] the golden emerods which the Philistines returned [for] a trespass offering unto the LORD; for Ashdod one, for Gaza one, for Askelon one, for Gath one, for Ekron one;

Amos 1:6 - Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four, I will not turn away [the punishment] thereof; because they carried away captive the whole captivity, to deliver [them] up to Edom:

Judges 6:4 - And they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, till thou come unto Gaza, and left no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass.

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.

Acts 8:26 - And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.

Joshua 11:22 - There was none of the Anakims left in the land of the children of Israel: only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod, there remained.

2 Kings 18:8 - He smote the Philistines, [even] unto Gaza, and the borders thereof, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city.

Jeremiah 47:5 - Baldness is come upon Gaza; Ashkelon is cut off [with] the remnant of their valley: how long wilt thou cut thyself?

Zephaniah 2:4 - For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation: they shall drive out Ashdod at the noon day, and Ekron shall be rooted up.

Jeremiah 47:1 - The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Philistines, before that Pharaoh smote Gaza.

Joshua 10:41 - And Joshua smote them from Kadeshbarnea even unto Gaza, and all the country of Goshen, even unto Gibeon.

Amos 1:7 - But I will send a fire on the wall of Gaza, which shall devour the palaces thereof:

Judges 16:1 - Then went Samson to Gaza, and saw there an harlot, and went in unto her.

Zechariah 9:5 - Ashkelon shall see [it], and fear; Gaza also [shall see it], and be very sorrowful, and Ekron; for her expectation shall be ashamed; and the king shall perish from Gaza, and Ashkelon shall not be inhabited.