Judges Chapter 13

In Judges 13, the Israelites once again did evil in the sight of the Lord, so God allowed them to be oppressed by the Philistines for 40 years. During this time, a certain man from the tribe of Dan named Manoah and his wife, who was barren, received a visit from an angel of the Lord. The angel delivered a message to Manoah’s wife, promising that she would conceive and bear a son. This son was to be a Nazirite from birth and would begin to deliver Israel from the Philistines’ grip.

Manoah prayed for the angel to return and provide further instructions on raising the child. God heard his prayer and the angel appeared again to Manoah’s wife. She hurriedly fetched her husband, who inquired about the child’s upbringing. The angel repeated the instructions, emphasizing the need for the woman to abstain from certain things during her pregnancy and for the child to adhere to the Nazirite vow throughout his life.

Recognizing the divine nature of the encounter, Manoah offered a sacrifice to God, and the angel ascended to heaven in the flame of the altar. Manoah and his wife realized they had seen God’s messenger and feared for their lives. However, they were reassured that they would not die since they had seen an angel of the Lord.

This chapter sets the stage for the birth of Samson, one of the famous judges of Israel, who would play a significant role in the deliverance of his people from the Philistines. To delve deeper into the context and meaning of each verse, click the links below.