Judges 13

The Birth of Samson

(Numbers 6:1–21)

1AgainH3254 the IsraelitesH1121H3478 didH6213 evilH7451 in the sightH5869 of the LORDH3068, soH3068 He delivered themH5414 into the handH3027 of the PhilistinesH6430 for fortyH705 yearsH8141.

2Now there wasH1961 aH259 manH376 from ZorahH6881 namedH8034 ManoahH4495, from the clanH4940 of the DanitesH1839, whose wifeH802 was barrenH6135 and had noH3808 childrenH3205. 3The angelH43971 of the LORDH3068 appearedH7200 toH413 the womanH802 and saidH559 to herH413, “It is trueH2009H4994 that youH859 are barrenH6135 and have noH3808 childrenH3205; but you will conceiveH2029 and give birth toH3205 a sonH1121. 4NowH6258 pleaseH4994 be carefulH8104 notH408 to drinkH8354 wineH3196 or strong drinkH7941, and notH408 to eatH398 anythingH3605 uncleanH2931. 5ForH3588 beholdH2009, you will conceiveH2030 and give birth toH3205 a sonH1121. And noH3808 razorH4177 shall touchH5927H5921 his headH7218, becauseH3588 the boyH5288 will beH1961 a NaziriteH51392 to GodH430 fromH4480 the wombH990, and heH1931 will beginH2490 the deliveranceH3467 of IsraelH3478 from the handH3027 of the PhilistinesH6430.”

6So the womanH802 wentH935 and toldH559 her husbandH376H559, “A manH376 of GodH430 cameH935 to meH413. His appearance was likeH4758 the angelH4397 of GodH430, exceedinglyH3966 awesomeH3372. I did notH3808 ask himH7592 whereH335 he came fromH2088, and he did notH3808 tellH5046 me his nameH8034. 7But he saidH559 to me, ‘BeholdH2009, you will conceiveH2030 and give birth toH3205 a sonH1121. Now, thereforeH6258, do notH408 drinkH8354 wineH3196 or strong drinkH7941, and do notH408 eatH398 anythingH3605 uncleanH2932, becauseH3588 the boyH5288 will beH1961 a NaziriteH5139 to GodH430 fromH4480 the wombH990 untilH5704 the dayH3117 of his deathH4194.’”

8Then ManoahH4495 prayedH6279 toH413 the LORDH3068, “PleaseH994, O LordH136, let the manH376 of GodH430 You sent usH7971 comeH935H4994 to usH413 againH5750 to teach usH3384 howH4100 to raiseH6213 the boyH5288 who is to be bornH3205.”

9And GodH430 listenedH8085 to the voiceH6963 of ManoahH4495, and the angelH4397 of GodH430 returnedH935H5750 toH413 the womanH802 as sheH1931 was sittingH3427 in the fieldH7704; but her husbandH376 ManoahH4495 was notH369 with herH5973. 10The womanH376 ranH7323H5046 quicklyH4116 to tellH559 her husbandH802, “BeholdH2009, the manH376 whoH834 cameH935 to meH413 the other dayH3117 has reappearedH7200H413!”

11So ManoahH4495 got upH6965 and followedH1980H310 his wifeH802. When he cameH935 toH413 the manH376, he askedH559, “Are youH859 the manH376 whoH834 spokeH1696 toH413 my wifeH802?”

“IH589 am,” he saidH559.

12Then ManoahH4495 askedH559, “WhenH6258 your wordsH1697 come to passH935, whatH4100 will beH1961 the boy’sH5288 rule of lifeH4941 and missionH4639?”

13So the angelH4397 of the LORDH3068H413 answeredH559 ManoahH4495, “Your wifeH802 is to doH8104 everythingH3605 I told herH559H413. 14She must notH3808 eatH398 anythingH3605 thatH834 comesH3318 from the vineH1612H3196, nor drinkH8354 any wineH3196 or strong drinkH7941, norH408 eatH398 anythingH3605 uncleanH2932H408. She must doH8104 everythingH3605 I have commanded herH6680.”

15“PleaseH4994 stay hereH6113,” ManoahH4495H413 saidH559 to the angelH4397 of the LORDH3068, “and we will prepareH6213 a young goatH1423H5795 for youH6440.”

16And the angelH4397 of the LORDH3068 repliedH559, “Even ifH518 I stayH6113, I will notH3808 eatH398 your foodH3899. But ifH518 you prepareH6213 a burnt offeringH5930, offer itH5927 to the LORDH3068.” ForH3588 ManoahH4495H3588 did notH3808 knowH3045 that itH1931 was the angelH4397 of the LORDH3068.

17Then ManoahH4495 saidH559 toH413 the angelH4397 of the LORDH3068, “WhatH4310 is your nameH8034, so thatH3588 we may honor youH3513 when your wordH1697 comes to passH935?”

18“WhyH4100H2088 do you askH7592 my nameH8034,” saidH559 the angelH4397 of the LORDH3068, “since itH1931 is beyond comprehensionH6383?”

19Then ManoahH4495 tookH3947 a young goatH1423H5795 and a grain offeringH4503 and offered themH5927 onH5921 a rockH6697 to the LORDH3068. And as ManoahH4495 and his wifeH802 looked onH7200, the LORD didH6213 a marvelous thingH6381. 20When the flameH3851 went upH5927 fromH5921 the altarH4196 to the skyH8064, the angelH4397 of the LORDH3068 ascendedH5927 in theH4196 flameH3851.

When ManoahH4495 and his wifeH802 sawH7200 this, they fellH5307 facedownH5921H6440 to the groundH776. 21And when the angelH4397 of the LORDH3068 did notH3808 appearH7200 againH3254H5750 toH413 ManoahH4495 andH413 his wifeH802, ManoahH4495 realizedH3045 thatH3588 itH1931 had been the angelH4397 of the LORDH3068.

22“We are going to dieH4191,” heH4495 saidH559 toH413 his wifeH802, “forH3588 we have seenH7200 GodH430!”

23But his wifeH802 repliedH559, “IfH3863 the LORDH3068 had intendedH2654 to kill usH4191, He would notH3808 have acceptedH3947 the burnt offeringH5930 and the grain offeringH4503 from our handsH3027, nor would HeH3808 have shownH7200 usH853 allH3605 these thingsH428 or spokenH8085 to usH6256H3808 this wayH2063.”

24So the womanH802 gave birth toH3205 a sonH1121 and namedH7121 himH8034 SamsonH8123. The boyH5288 grewH1431, and the LORDH3068 blessed himH1288. 25And the SpiritH7307 of the LORDH3068 beganH2490 to stir himH6470 at Mahaneh-danH4265,3 betweenH996 ZorahH6881H996 and EshtaolH847.