Judges13

The chapter opens with Israel's renewed sin, leading to forty years of Philistine oppression. An Angel of the LORD appears to Manoah's barren wife, announcing the miraculous birth of a son, Samson, who is to be a Nazarite from the womb and begin Israel's deliverance. Manoah seeks further instruction, and during a second encounter, the angel ascends in the flame of a sacrifice, revealing his divine nature. Samson is subsequently born, grows, and the Spirit of the LORD begins to stir him.

Israel Oppressed by the Philistines

1
Again the people of Isra'el did what was evil from ADONAI's perspective, and ADONAI handed them over to the P'lishtim for forty years. ​
2
There was a man from Tzor'ah from the family of Dan, whose name was Manoach; his wife was barren, childless. ​

The Angel Announces Samson's Birth

3
The angel of ADONAI appeared to the woman and said to her, "Listen! You are barren, you haven't had a child, but you will conceive and bear a son.
4
Now, therefore, be careful not to drink any wine or other intoxicating liquor, and don't eat anything unclean. ​
5
For indeed you will conceive and bear a son. No razor is to touch his head, because the child will be a nazir for God from the womb. Moreover, he will begin to rescue Isra'el from the power of the P'lishtim." ​
6
The woman came and told her husband; she said, "A man of God came to me; his face was fearsome, like that of the angel of God. I didn't ask him where he came from, and he didn't tell me his name. ​
7
But he said to me, 'Listen! You will conceive and bear a son, so now don't drink any wine or other intoxicating liquor, and don't eat anything unclean, because the child will be a nazir for God from the womb until the day he dies.'"

Manoah Requests Further Instruction

8
Then Manoach prayed to ADONAI, "Please, Adonai, let the man of God you sent come again to us and teach us what we should do for the child who will be born." ​
9
God paid attention to what Manoach said, and the angel of God came again to the woman as she sat in the field, but her husband Manoach wasn't with her.
10
The woman hurried and ran to tell her husband, "Here! That man, the one who came to me the other day, he's come again!"
11
Manoach got up, followed his wife, went to the man and said to him, "Are you the man who spoke to the woman?" He answered, "I am."
12
Manoach asked, "Now, when what you said comes true, what are the guidelines for raising the child? What should be done for him?"
13
The angel of ADONAI said to Manoach, "The woman should take care to do everything I said to her. ​
14
She shouldn't eat anything that comes from a grapevine, she shouldn't drink wine or other intoxicating liquor, and she shouldn't eat anything unclean. She should do everything I ordered her to do."

Manoah Offers a Sacrifice

15
Manoach said to the angel of ADONAI, "Please stay with us a bit longer, so that we can cook a young goat for you."
16
The angel of ADONAI said to Manoach, "Even if I do stay, I won't eat your food; and if you prepare a burnt offering, you must offer it to ADONAI." For Manoach did not know that he was the angel of ADONAI. ​
17
Manoach said to the angel of ADONAI, "Tell us your name, so that when your words come true we can honor you."
18
The angel of ADONAI answered him, "Why are you asking about my name? It is wonderful." ​
19
Manoach took the kid and the grain offering and offered them on the rock to ADONAI. Then, with Manoach and his wife looking on, the angel did something wonderful -
20
as the flame went up toward the sky from the altar, the angel of ADONAI went up in the flame from the altar. When Manoach and his wife saw it, they fell to the ground on their faces. ​
21
But the angel of ADONAI did not appear again to Manoach or his wife. Then Manoach realized it had been the angel of ADONAI.
22
Manoach said to his wife, "We will surely die, because we have seen God!" ​
23
But his wife said to him, "If ADONAI had wanted to kill us, he wouldn't have accepted a burnt offering and a grain offering from us, and he wouldn't have shown us all this or told us such things at this time." ​

The Birth of Samson

24
The woman bore a son and called him Shimshon. The child grew, and ADONAI blessed him.
25
The Spirit of ADONAI began to stir him when he was in the Camp of Dan, between Tzor'ah and Eshta'ol. ​

Study Notes for Judges 13

Verse 1

This verse initiates the final period of the Judges cycle, detailing the most prolonged oppression (40 years) under the Philistines, Israel’s powerful coastal enemy.

Verse 2

The motif of the barren woman (cf. Sarah, Rebekah, Hannah) establishes that Samson’s birth is solely due to divine intervention, highlighting his unique, pre-ordained role.

Verse 4

The restrictions (no wine, strong drink, or unclean food) apply to the mother during pregnancy to ensure the child adheres to the Nazirite vow (Num 6) from conception.

Verse 5

Samson is designated a lifelong Nazirite, symbolized by the uncut hair. His mission is significant but limited: he is only 'to begin' the process of deliverance from the Philistines.

Verse 6

The woman accurately perceives the visitor as a messenger of God, describing his appearance as 'terrible' or awe-inspiring, a typical description of divine manifestation.

Verse 8

Manoah’s prayer shows piety and responsibility toward the divine command, seeking clarity on how to raise a child dedicated to God.

Verse 13

The Angel repeats the specific instructions, emphasizing that the mother’s ritual purity is paramount, as her condition directly affects the child's Nazirite status.

Verse 16

The Angel directs the offering solely to Yahweh, refusing to accept the hospitality himself. This action sets up the revelation of the messenger's true divine identity.

Verse 18

The Hebrew word translated 'secret' or 'wonderful' (*peli*) is often associated with the divine nature or action (cf. Isaiah 9:6). The refusal to give a name confirms the messenger's transcendence.

Verse 20

The ascension in the flame serves as a definitive theophany, confirming that the messenger was indeed the Angel of the LORD (a manifestation of God himself).

Verse 22

Manoah reacts with conventional terror, reflecting the ancient Israelite belief that direct contact with the divine resulted in death (Exod 33:20).

Verse 23

The wife demonstrates superior theological insight, reasoning that God would not accept their offering or reveal his gracious plan if he intended to destroy them immediately.

Verse 25

This verse marks the initial manifestation of Samson’s supernatural strength. The 'Spirit of the LORD' is the source of his power, which begins to move him in specific instances.

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