Judges 13

King James Version

Full text for Judges Chapter 13

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.

2And 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.

3And 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.

4Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink not wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean [thing]:

5For, 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.

6Then 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:

7But 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.

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.

9And 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.

10And 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.

11And 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].

12And Manoah said, Now let thy words come to pass. How shall we order the child, and [how] shall we do unto him?

13And the angel of the LORD said unto Manoah, Of all that I said unto the woman let her beware.

14She 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.

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.

16And 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.

17And Manoah said unto the angel of the LORD, What [is] thy name, that when thy sayings come to pass we may do thee honour?

18And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it [is] secret?

19So 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.

20For 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.

21But 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.

22And Manoah said unto his wife, We shall surely die, because we have seen God.

23But 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.

24¶ And the woman bare a son, and called his name Samson: and the child grew, and the LORD blessed him.

25And the Spirit of the LORD began to move him at times in the camp of Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

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.

Medium Summary

Judges 13 details Israel's continued disobedience, resulting in their forty-year subjugation under the Philistines. Amidst this oppression, the Angel of the LORD appears to Manoah's barren wife, prophesying the birth of a son. This son, Samson, is designated as a Nazarite from birth, requiring his mother to abstain from wine, strong drink, and unclean foods, and for the child's hair never to be cut. The angel declares that Samson will initiate Israel's deliverance from the Philistines. Manoah, seeking further guidance on raising the promised child, prays for the angel's return, which God grants. During a second encounter, Manoah offers a sacrifice, which the angel directs to be offered to the LORD. As the offering burns, the angel ascends in the flame, confirming his divine identity to Manoah and his wife. Subsequently, the child Samson is born, grows, and is blessed by the LORD, with the Spirit of the LORD beginning to move him.

Long Summary

Judges 13 commences by recounting the familiar cycle of Israel's apostasy, which results in their being delivered into the oppressive hand of the Philistines for a period of forty years. In this context, a specific family is introduced: Manoah, a man of Zorah from the tribe of Dan, whose wife is barren. The narrative then shifts to a miraculous announcement as the Angel of the LORD appears directly to Manoah's wife, declaring that despite her barrenness, she will conceive and bear a son. Crucially, the angel imposes specific conditions, instructing the woman to abstain from wine, strong drink, and any unclean thing, for the child is to be a Nazarite unto God from the womb, meaning no razor shall come upon his head. This divinely appointed son is prophesied to "begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines." Upon hearing this extraordinary news, the woman informs her husband, describing the messenger as a "man of God" with a "very terrible" countenance. Manoah, seeking divine guidance on how to properly raise this promised child, earnestly entreats the LORD for the messenger's return. God hearkens to Manoah's prayer, and the Angel of the LORD reappears to the woman in the field, who then quickly fetches her husband. Manoah questions the angel directly, confirming his identity and seeking further instruction regarding the child's upbringing. The angel reiterates the mother's strict dietary and lifestyle observances, emphasizing the lifelong Nazarite vow for the child. Manoah then offers hospitality, proposing to prepare a kid for the angel, unaware of his true identity. The angel declines to eat but instructs Manoah to offer the kid as a burnt offering to the LORD. As Manoah prepares and offers the sacrifice upon a rock, the angel performs a wondrous act: as the flame ascends toward heaven, the Angel of the LORD ascends within that very flame. This astonishing manifestation causes Manoah and his wife to fall prostrate, finally realizing the divine nature of their visitor. Manoah, in fear, believes they will die for having seen God, but his wife wisely reassures him, reasoning that if God intended their death, He would not have accepted their offering or revealed such things. In due course, the woman bears a son, naming him Samson, and the child grows, blessed by the LORD. The chapter concludes by noting that the Spirit of the LORD began to move Samson at times, signifying the commencement of his divine empowerment for his destined role.

Core Concepts

  • Divine DeliveranceThe chapter highlights God's initiative to deliver Israel from Philistine oppression, even when Israel is in a state of sin, by raising up a specific individual, Samson.
  • Nazarite VowSamson is consecrated as a Nazarite from birth, a special vow to God involving abstinence from wine, strong drink, and cutting of hair, signifying devotion and separation for divine purpose.
  • Angel of the LORDThis figure, appearing to Manoah's wife and then Manoah, is revealed to be a divine messenger, ultimately ascending in the flame of sacrifice, indicating a manifestation of God Himself.
  • Barrenness and Miraculous BirthThe barrenness of Manoah's wife underscores the miraculous nature of Samson's conception, emphasizing that his birth is solely by divine intervention and purpose.
  • Parental Instruction and ObedienceManoah's earnest prayer for guidance on raising the promised child demonstrates a desire for obedience and highlights the importance of divine instruction in fulfilling God's plan.
  • The Spirit of the LORDThe chapter concludes by noting that the Spirit of the LORD began to move Samson, indicating the divine empowerment and anointing necessary for him to fulfill his role as a deliverer.