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.
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Israel Oppressed by the Philistines

1
And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD delivered them into the hand of the Philistines forty years. ​
2
And there was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren, and bare not. ​

The Angel Announces Samson's Birth

3
And the angel of the LORD appeared unto the woman, and said unto her, Behold now, thou art barren, and bearest not: but thou shalt conceive, and bear a son.
4
Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink not wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing: ​
5
For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines. ​
6
Then the woman came and told her husband, saying, A man of God came unto me, and his countenance was like the countenance of an angel of God, very terrible: but I asked him not whence he was, neither told he me his name: ​
7
But he said unto me, Behold, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and now drink no wine nor strong drink, neither eat any unclean thing: for the child shall be a Nazarite to God from the womb to the day of his death.

Manoah Requests Further Instruction

8
Then Manoah intreated the LORD, and said, O my Lord, let the man of God which thou didst send come again unto us, and teach us what we shall do unto the child that shall be born. ​
9
And God hearkened to the voice of Manoah; and the angel of God came again unto the woman as she sat in the field: but Manoah her husband was not with her.
10
And the woman made haste, and ran, and shewed her husband, and said unto him, Behold, the man hath appeared unto me, that came unto me the other day.
11
And Manoah arose, and went after his wife, and came to the man, and said unto him, Art thou the man that spakest unto the woman? And he said, I am.
12
And Manoah said, Now let thy words come to pass. How shall we order the child, and how shall we do unto him?
13
And the angel of the LORD said unto Manoah, Of all that I said unto the woman let her beware. ​
14
She may not eat of any thing that cometh of the vine, neither let her drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing: all that I commanded her let her observe.

Manoah Offers a Sacrifice

15
And Manoah said unto the angel of the LORD, I pray thee, let us detain thee, until we shall have made ready a kid for thee.
16
And the angel of the LORD said unto Manoah, Though thou detain me, I will not eat of thy bread: and if thou wilt offer a burnt offering, thou must offer it unto the LORD. For Manoah knew not that he was an angel of the LORD. ​
17
And Manoah said unto the angel of the LORD, What is thy name, that when thy sayings come to pass we may do thee honour?
18
And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it is secret? ​
19
So Manoah took a kid with a meat offering, and offered it upon a rock unto the LORD: and the angel did wondrously; and Manoah and his wife looked on.
20
For it came to pass, when the flame went up toward heaven from off the altar, that the angel of the LORD ascended in the flame of the altar. And Manoah and his wife looked on it, and fell on their faces to the ground. ​
21
But the angel of the LORD did no more appear to Manoah and to his wife. Then Manoah knew that he was an angel of the LORD.
22
And Manoah said unto his wife, We shall surely die, because we have seen God. ​
23
But his wife said unto him, If the LORD were pleased to kill us, he would not have received a burnt offering and a meat offering at our hands, neither would he have shewed us all these things, nor would as at this time have told us such things as these. ​

The Birth of Samson

24
And the woman bare a son, and called his name Samson: and the child grew, and the LORD blessed him.
25
And the Spirit of the LORD began to move him at times in the camp of Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol. ​

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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