The Birth of Samson
Judges 13, verse 1. Again the sons of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord delivered them into the hand of the Philistines for forty years. Judges 13, verse 2. Now there was a certain man from Zorah, from the tribe of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren and could not give birth. Judges 13, verse 3. And the Angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, “Indeed now, you are barren and have not given birth, but you shall conceive a son. Judges 13, verse 4. Now therefore, be careful not to drink wine or strong drink, and do not eat anything unclean. Judges 13, verse 5. For behold, you are pregnant and shall bear a son. And no razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb; and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.” Judges 13, verse 6. So the woman went in and told her husband, saying, “A Man of God came to me, and His appearance was like the appearance of an Angel of God, very frightening. But I did not ask Him where He was from, and He did not tell me His name. Judges 13, verse 7. And He said to me, ‘Behold, you are pregnant and shall bear a son. Now drink no wine or strong drink, and do not eat anything unclean, for the child shall be holy to God from the womb to the day of his death.’” Judges 13, verse 8. Then Manoah prayed to the Lord and said, “Lord Adonai, please let the Man of God whom You sent come to us again and teach us what we shall do for the child who will be born.” Judges 13, verse 9. And God listened to the voice of Manoah, and the Angel of God came to the woman again as she was sitting in the field, but Manoah her husband was not with her. Judges 13, verse 10. Then the woman ran in haste and told her husband, and said to him, “Look, the Man who came to me the other day has just now appeared to me!” Judges 13, verse 11. So Manoah arose and followed his wife. When he came to the Man, he said to Him, “Are You the Man who spoke to my wife?” And the Angel said, “I am.” Judges 13, verse 12. Manoah said, “Now let Your words come to pass! What is to be the decision regarding the boy and his activities?” Judges 13, verse 13. So the Angel of the Lord said to Manoah, “The woman will guard herself from everything I have told her. Judges 13, verse 14. She may not eat anything that comes from the vine of wine, and let her not drink wine or similar strong drink, nor eat anything unclean. All that I commanded her, let her observe.” Judges 13, verse 15. Then Manoah said to the Angel of the Lord, “Let us delay You here, and we will prepare a young goat for You.” Judges 13, verse 16. And the Angel of the Lord said to Manoah, “Though you delay me, I will not eat your bread. But if you offer a burnt offering, you must offer it to the Lord”; for Manoah did not know he was the Angel of the Lord. Judges 13, verse 17. Then Manoah said to the Angel of the Lord, “What is Your name, so when Your words come to pass we may honor You?” Judges 13, verse 18. And the Angel of the Lord said to him, “Why do you ask My name, is it extraordinary?” Judges 13, verse 19. So Manoah took the young goat and the sacrifice, and offered it upon the rock to the Lord. And the Angel wrought a distinct work, while Manoah and his wife were looking on. Judges 13, verse 20. And it so happened when the flame went up above the altar toward heaven, that the Angel of the Lord ascended in the flame of the altar. When Manoah and his wife saw this, they fell upon their faces to the ground. Judges 13, verse 21. When the Angel of the Lord appeared no more to Manoah and his wife, Manoah knew this to be the Angel of the Lord. Judges 13, verse 22. And Manoah said to his wife, “We shall surely die, because we have seen God!” Judges 13, verse 23. But his wife said to him, “If the Lord had desired to kill us, He would not have accepted a burnt offering and a meat offering from our hands, nor would He have shown us all these things, nor would He have made us hear such things as these at this time.” Judges 13, verse 24. So the woman bore a son and called his name Samson; and the child grew, and the Lord blessed him. Judges 13, verse 25. And the Spirit of the Lord began to proceed out with him at the camp of Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol.