Samson's origin story uniquely emphasizes divine calling and parental obedience, contrasting sharply with his later narratives dominated by personal strength and moral failure.
Judges 13
The Birth of Samson
1The children of Israel again did that which was evil in the LORD’s sight; and the LORD delivered them into the hand of the Philistines forty years.
2There was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren, and childless.
3The LORD’s angel appeared to the woman, and said to her, “See now, you are barren and childless; but you shall conceive and bear a son.
4Now therefore please beware and drink no wine nor strong drink, and don’t eat any unclean thing;
5for, behold, you shall conceive and give birth to a son. No razor shall come on his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb. He shall begin to save Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.”
6Then the woman came and told her husband, saying, “A man of God came to me, and his face was like the face of the angel of God, very awesome. I didn’t ask him where he was from, neither did he tell me his name;
7but he said to me, ‘Behold, you shall conceive and bear a son; and now drink no wine nor strong drink. Don’t eat any unclean thing, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb to the day of his death.’”
8Then Manoah entreated the LORD, and said, “Oh, Lord, please let the man of God whom you sent come again to us, and teach us what we should do to the child who shall be born.”
9God listened to the voice of Manoah, and the angel of God came again to the woman as she sat in the field; but Manoah, her husband, wasn’t with her.
10The woman hurried and ran, and told her husband, saying to him, “Behold, the man who came to me that day has appeared to me.”
11Manoah arose and followed his wife, and came to the man, and said to him, “Are you the man who spoke to my wife?” He said, “I am.”
12Manoah said, “Now let your words happen. What shall the child’s way of life and mission be?”
13The LORD’s angel said to Manoah, “Of all that I said to the woman let her beware.
14She may not eat of anything that comes of the vine, neither let her drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing. Let her observe all that I commanded her.”
15Manoah said to the LORD’s angel, “Please stay with us, that we may make a young goat ready for you.”
16The LORD’s angel said to Manoah, “Though you detain me, I won’t eat your bread. If you will prepare a burnt offering, you must offer it to the LORD.” For Manoah didn’t know that he was the LORD’s angel.
17Manoah said to the LORD’s angel, “What is your name, that when your words happen, we may honor you?”
18The LORD’s angel said to him, “Why do you ask about my name, since it is incomprehensible?”
19So Manoah took the young goat with the meal offering, and offered it on the rock to the LORD. Then the angel did an amazing thing as Manoah and his wife watched.
20For when the flame went up toward the sky from off the altar, the LORD’s angel ascended in the flame of the altar. Manoah and his wife watched; and they fell on their faces to the ground.
21But the LORD’s angel didn’t appear to Manoah or to his wife any more. Then Manoah knew that he was the LORD’s angel.
22Manoah said to his wife, “We shall surely die, because we have seen God.”
23But his wife said to him, “If the LORD were pleased to kill us, he wouldn’t have received a burnt offering and a meal offering at our hand, and he wouldn’t have shown us all these things, nor would he have told us such things as these at this time.”
24The woman bore a son and named him Samson. The child grew, and the LORD blessed him.
25The LORD’s Spirit began to move him in Mahaneh Dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.
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Theme
After forty years of Philistine oppression due to Israel's continued disobedience, God announces the birth of a deliverer through an angel who appears to Manoah's barren wife. The angel declares that their son will be a Nazirite from birth and will begin to save Israel from the Philistines. When Manoah seeks confirmation and offers hospitality, the angel reveals his divine nature by ascending in the flame of their sacrifice, leaving the couple in awe of their encounter with God.
Context
This chapter introduces the final major judge in the book, transitioning from the previous cycles of apostasy to focus on Samson's unique calling and birth narrative.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1 Israel's Oppression Israel again does evil and is delivered to the Philistines for forty years
- 2-5 The Angel's Announcement An angel appears to Manoah's barren wife, promising a son who will be a Nazirite and deliverer
- 6-8 Manoah's Response The wife reports the encounter and Manoah prays for the angel to return with instructions
- 9-14 The Angel's Return The angel appears again, confirming the message and emphasizing the Nazirite requirements
- 15-18 Manoah's Hospitality Manoah offers food and asks the angel's name, receiving mysterious responses
- 19-25 Divine Revelation The angel ascends in the sacrifice's flame, revealing his divine nature, and Samson is born
The Birth of Samson
13:1–13:25 narrative narration hopeful
An angel announces to Manoah's barren wife that she will bear a son who will be a Nazirite and begin to deliver Israel from the Philistines. The divine messenger provides specific instructions for the child's upbringing and mission.
person_contrast
Samson's origin story uniquely emphasizes divine calling and parental obedience, contrasting sharply with his later narratives dominated by personal strength and moral failure.
Insights
Cross-References
Connected passages across Scripture
Judges 13:2 2 references
Judges 13:4 5 references
Lexicals 5
Isaiah 5:22 Lexical
Woe to those who are mighty to drink wine, and champions at mixing strong drink;
Numbers 6:3 Lexical
he shall separate himself from wine and strong drink. He shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of fermented drink,…
Leviticus 10:9 Lexical
“You and your sons are not to drink wine or strong drink whenever you go into the Tent of Meeting, or you will die. This…
Isaiah 24:9 Lexical
They will not drink wine with a song. Strong drink will be bitter to those who drink it.
1 Samuel 1:15 Lexical
Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit. I have not been drinking wine or strong drink, but I…
Judges 13:5 1 reference
Judges 13:6 1 reference
Judges 13:7 5 references
Lexicals 5
Numbers 6:20 Lexical
and the priest shall wave them for a wave offering before the LORD. They are holy for the priest, together with the brea…
Isaiah 5:22 Lexical
Woe to those who are mighty to drink wine, and champions at mixing strong drink;
Numbers 6:3 Lexical
he shall separate himself from wine and strong drink. He shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of fermented drink,…
Leviticus 10:9 Lexical
“You and your sons are not to drink wine or strong drink whenever you go into the Tent of Meeting, or you will die. This…
Isaiah 24:9 Lexical
They will not drink wine with a song. Strong drink will be bitter to those who drink it.
Judges 13:8 2 references
Judges 13:14 5 references
Lexicals 5
Numbers 6:3 Lexical
he shall separate himself from wine and strong drink. He shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of fermented drink,…
Leviticus 10:9 Lexical
“You and your sons are not to drink wine or strong drink whenever you go into the Tent of Meeting, or you will die. This…
Isaiah 24:9 Lexical
They will not drink wine with a song. Strong drink will be bitter to those who drink it.
1 Samuel 1:15 Lexical
Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit. I have not been drinking wine or strong drink, but I…
Proverbs 31:4 Lexical
It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for princes to say, ‘Where is strong drink?’
Judges 13:15 1 reference
Judges 13:25 5 references
Lexicals 5
Judges 16:31 Lexical
Then his brothers and all the house of his father came down and took him, and brought him up and buried him between Zora…
Judges 18:2 Lexical
The children of Dan sent five men of their family from their whole number, men of valor, from Zorah and from Eshtaol, to…
Joshua 19:41 Lexical
The border of their inheritance was Zorah, Eshtaol, Irshemesh,
Judges 18:11 Lexical
The family of the Danites set out from Zorah and Eshtaol with six hundred men armed with weapons of war.
Judges 18:8 Lexical
They came to their brothers at Zorah and Eshtaol; and their brothers asked them, “What do you say?”
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v. 21
v. 22
v. 23
v. 24
v. 25
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