Judges 13 evil again in the sight of the Lord; and the Lord delivered them into the b hand of the Philistines forty years. 2 ¶And 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. 3 And the a angel of the Lord appeared unto the woman, and said unto her, Behold now, thou art b barren , and bearest not: but thou shalt conceive, and bear a son. 4 Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and a drink not wine nor strong drink, and eat not any b 5 For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no a razor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to b deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.

6 ¶Then the woman came and told her husband, saying, A man of God came unto me, and his countenance was like the countenance of an a angel of God, very terrible: but I asked him not whence he was, neither told he me his name: 7 But 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 entreated 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. 9 And 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. 10 And 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.

11 And 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. 12 And Manoah said, Now let thy words come to pass. How shall we order the child, and how shall we do unto him? 13 And the angel of the Lord said unto Manoah, Of all that I said unto the woman let her beware. 14 She 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. 16 And 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.

17 And Manoah said unto the angel of the Lord, What is thy name, that when thy sayings come to pass we may do thee honour? 18 And the angel of the Lord said unto him, Why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it is a 19 So Manoah took a kid with a a meat b offering , and offered it upon a rock unto the Lord: and the angel did wondrously; and Manoah and his wife looked on. 20 For 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. 21 But 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. 22 And Manoah said unto his wife, We shall surely die, because we have a seen God.

23 But 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. 25 And the Spirit of the Lord began to move him at times in the camp of Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol. Manoah’s Wife - All the Women of the Bible - Bible Gateway Judges 13; 14:2-5; Hebrews 11:32 It would have added greater interest to the story of Samson if we had had the name of his mother. It must have been a sweet and suggestive one for she was such a good woman. But while her husband’s name is preserved, she herself is nameless although the Talmud says that she bore the name of Hazelelponi or Zelelponi (see 1 Chronicles 4:3 ), and that she was of the tribe of Judah.

Zelelponi means “the shadow falls on me,” and Manoah’s wife was certainly one who dwelt under the shadow of the Almighty and became the mother of the strongest man who ever lived. She Was a Disappointed Woman Once again we have the poignant phrase “She was barren,” with the redundant expression common in ancient literature, “and bare not.” “Sarai was barren: she had no child.” “Thou shalt live and not die,” etc. As we have already seen, God made many barren wives to rejoice over the birth of children (see href="/id/36333831-4538-3044-2D42-3136362D3332">Sarah , Rebekah , Hannah , Elisabeth ). These godly women who felt the intense sorrow and disappointment of a childless home received divine announcement and accomplishment of maternal joy. Manoah’s wife was a God-fearing Israelite whose faith taught her that heaven knew all about the maternity she cherished, and of the vain waiting that saddened her life. Evidently Manoah and his wife had all necessary material benefits.

They seemed to have been fairly prosperous, but their greatest joy had been denied their home. Their child-longing and child-loving hearts had never been satisfied. Swinburne expressed the sentiment— Where children are not, Heaven is not. She Was a Privileged Woman The wife of Manoah of Zorah was greatly honored in that she experienced a pre-incarnate appearance of the Messiah. By “the angel of the Lord” who visited her with the happy message that her barrenness would pass, and she would become the mother of a most unusual son, we are to understand not any human messenger, but a supernatural being. The phrase constantly used in Judges implies, “The angel of His presence,” and is equivalent to earlier references ( Genesis 16:7; 22:11; Exodus 2:2, 6, 14 , etc.). Speaking in the first person, the august visitor who came to Manoah’s wife was “the captain of the Lord’s host” ( Joshua 5:13-15 ). Heavenly beings brought revelations to individuals, but the prophets were the media of revelation to nations.

The announcer of the good news, “thou shalt conceive and bear a son,” assumed a human form, for reporting his appearance to her husband, she spoke of him as, “A man of God ... his countenance was like the countenance of an angel of God, very terrible.” Later on, when the heavenly visitant appeared to both Manoah and his wife and repeated his message that their prayer and desire for a child would be answered, again his name was asked for. “Neither told me his name” ( Judges 13:6 ). “What is thy name?” ( 13:17 ). But the angel answered, “Why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it is secret,” or “wonderful,” as the margin expresses it, where the same term is used of the promised Messiah. “His name shall be called Wonderful” ( Isaiah 9:6 ). The same word is used in the phrase, “the angel did wonderously” ( Judges 13:19 ).

As angels do not receive worship, the supernatural person the over-awed couple saw was no ordinary angel, for they fell on their faces and said, “We shall surely die, because we have seen God” ( Exodus 33:20 ). It is clearly evident, therefore, that Manoah and his wife had witnessed one of those Old Testament theophanic appearances of Christ. She Was a Godly Woman Both of those humble Israelites must have walked with God to have been counted worthy to receive such a marvelous interview with the heaven-sent messenger. Barren though the nameless wife was, she was yet believing. We have no record of complaint or impatience over her childless state as we have in the case of Hannah. Constantly, she prayed for a child, and her prayer lightened the burden of her loneliness and sustained her patience. As a God-fearing Israelite, she had faith that He would answer her prayer. Further, the fact that her promised son was to be separated unto God from the womb to the day of his death, marks her out as the sanctified vessel. The cause of God is holy, And useth holy things.

This faithful, self-sacrificing, holy woman then, must have had a life corresponding to the separated character of the son she was to bear, and grace was hers to dedicate him to the Lord before his birth. That she was likewise a woman of sanctified common sense is seen in her reply to her husband’s cry, “We shall surely die, because we have seen God.” Calmly and sensibly, she said, “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.” This woman of godly intuition knew that having seen God she was to live as never before. A divinely promised son would come to brighten the home. She Was a Happy Woman At last the prayers of Manoah’s wife were answered, and she became a joyous mother. “The woman bare a son, and called his name Samson.” How grateful to God she must have been as the promised son was now a reality and nestling on her breast!

She understood God’s overruling throughout her barren years, and rejoiced in the knowledge that her long-awaited child would be the saviour of Israel. We note, in the first place, the significance of the name she gave him—Samson. His father’s name, Manoah, meant “rest” or “consolation” while his son’s name implied “strength of the sun”—prophetic of his prowess as a Hebrew Hercules. The association of the sun with strength was most natural ( Judges 5:31; Psalm 19:5, 6 ). Ancient Jewish fathers said that “Samson was named after the name of God, who is called sun and shield of Israel” ( Psalm 84:11 ). Another scholar affirms that the name the mother gave her son is from an Egyptian root, and means “the servant of God,” in reference to Samson’s Nazarite vow. But the name itself is a Hebrew one, and meant to Manoah and his wife that the glory of their family would be sustained through the champion who would be without a rival in Israel.

The second thought is that the son God gave to wreak vengeance upon the enemies of His people was to be a Nazarite from his birth, and the angelic announcer gave to Manoah and his wife explicit instructions as to how they should live and rear their mighty son who was to “judge Israel twenty years.” The mother herself, while pregnant, was under a dedicatory vow not to drink wine, or eat anything of an unclean nature, thus the son she conceived was in blood and bone a Nazarite. For Samson, his uncut hair was to be the sign that he was separated unto God ( Numbers 6 ). In spite of his moral lapses, he never broke the sacred vow until a seductive woman discovered the secret of his power, and left him the helpless victim of carnal passions. She Was a Sorrowful Woman Granted the blessing of motherhood, Manoah’s wife must have wondered why such a turbulent son had been given her as a gift of heaven. It was true that Samson loved Israel and smote those who were his country’s oppressors. How the Philistines feared this giant of a man who knew no fear, and how unceasing they were in their efforts to destroy him.

As his mother saw how he triumphed over Israel’s foes, she doubtless blessed God for creating him as the answer to her prayer, for the removal of her barrenness, fashioning her son like an Atlas and giving him sinews of steel. But some of his unruly traits must have cast a shadow over her heart. Although his name carried the idea of “splendor,” or “sun-like,” some of his desires lacked the splendor of his name. Appearing as the avowed enemy of the Philistine, Samson went to Timnath, and coveted the daughter of an “uncircumcised Philistine,” which on the lips of a Jew was a term of peculiar hatred ( 1 Samuel 17:36 ). Samson urged his parents to secure the woman as his wife seeing it was the custom for parents to make arrangements for a marriage and pay the dowry ( Genesis 34:4-12 ). How such a marriage must have been repugnant to Manoah and his wife, and what sorrow must have been theirs when Samson came back after one of his conquests and found his Philistine wife taken from him and given to another man!

Then there came his association with the harlot Delilah (see Delilah ) which brought about his tragic end. After Samson’s marriage to the Philistine woman of Timnath we do not read of his parents again. It is to be hoped that they had died and were thus spared the tragedy of seeing their son, craftily seduced, robbed of his mighty strength, blinded and made as a slave at Gaza. What a different end Samson would have had, if only he had chosen a wife after the lovely character of the mother who bore him! © 1988 Zondervan. All Rights Reserved Bible Gateway Manoah - International Standard Bible Encyclopedia Manoah MANOAH ma-no'-a (manoach, "rest"): A man of Zorah and of the family of the Danites. Manoah was the father of Samson, and his life-story is but imperfectly told in the history of the conception, birth and early life of his son. No children had been born to Manoah and his wife, and the latter was considered barren ( Judges 13:2 ). Finally it was revealed to her by an angel of the Lord that she would conceive and bear a child.

She was cautioned against strong drink and "unclean" food, for her child was to be born and reared a Nazirite to the end that he might save Israel out of the hands of the Philistines ( Judges 13:3-5 ). That Manoah was a devout man seems certain in view of the fact that, upon hearing of the angel's visit, he offered a prayer for the angel's return, in order that he and his wife might be instructed as to the proper care of the child to be born ( Judges 13:8 ). The request was granted and the angel repeated the visit and the instructions ( Judges 13:9-13 ). Manoah with true hospitality would have the guest remain and partake of food. The angel refused, but commanded a sacrifice unto Yahweh. When Manoah had prepared the sacrifice and lit it on the altar, the angel ascended in the flame from the altar and appeared no more ( Judges 13:15-21 ). The child was born according to the promise and was named Samson.

Manoah and his wife appear twice in the narrative of Samson's early life--once as they protestingly accompanied him to sue for the hand of a Philistine woman of Timnah in marriage, and again when they went with him to Timnab for the wedding. Josephus richly embellishes this Scriptural narrative concerning Manoah, but offers no further light upon the occupation or character of Manoah. At the death of Samson, his brothers went down to Gaza and brought back the body and buried it by the side of Manoah in the family tomb near Zorah ( Judges 16:31 ). In Samson Agonistes Milton gains dramatic effect by having Manoah survive Samson and in deep sorrow assist at his burial. C. E. Schenk Book of Judges Bible Study - Samson the Nazirite and the Philistines. Book of Judges Bible Study: Chapter Thirteen Judges 13: Samson the Nazirite, and the Lure of the Philistines By I Gordon 2 Cor 6:17-18 ï¿½Therefore come out from them and be separate,ï¿½ says the Lord.

Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.ï¿½ Introduction Well, by now you probably know that this study is about Samson. The title kind of gave it away I guess. Oh Samson... Such an example, unfortunately, of what might have been. But I donï¿½t want to get ahead of myself. This Bible study will concentrate on the last judge presented to us in the book of Judges. We will also look at the last enemy to raise its head against Israel during this periodï¿½ namely, the Philistines. The study on Samson will be split into two parts. This study will look at his birth, the Nazirite vow, and the reason why full deliverance never comes to Israel during his reign as Judge. There are also aspects in the life of Samson which also remind us of the conditions in the end times. While this will be mentioned briefly in this study, it will be elaborated upon and completed in the next. A few other comments are necessary before we begin.

The Biblical revelation concerning the life of Samson can be quite disappointing really. Quite negative you might say, and I donï¿½t think you were told the full story at Sunday school! Some people only like ï¿½positiveï¿½ messages, and if that is you, prepare to be disappointed. What I find interesting however, is that when God decides to write about His Judges, He spends more time on Samson than anyone else. Just possibly He wants us to learn something so that the errors of Samson are not repeated in the lives of other believers. We shall see.ï¿½As we read these things however we should always bear in mind that Samson, despite his failures and weaknesses, was still God's chosen and anointed judge and as such he is mentioned in 'the hall of faith' in Hebrews 11. God still used him and there are certainly times of tremendous faith. But as you read the Biblical account as recorded in the book of judges you do start to wonder 'what might have been' if his weaknesses had not led to compromises with the enemies of Israel. Let's have a look. The announcement of a deliverer!

Judges 13:1-5 Now the sons of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord, so that the Lord gave them into the hands of the Philistines forty years. And there was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren and had borne no children. Then the angel of the Lord appeared to the woman, and said to her, ï¿½Behold now, you are barren and have borne no children, but you shall conceive and give birth to a son. ï¿½Now therefore, be careful not to drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing.

ï¿½For behold, you shall conceive and give birth to a son, and no razor shall come upon his head, for the boy shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb; and he shall begin to deliver Israel from the hands of the Philistines.ï¿½ So the seventh and last ï¿½cycle of sinï¿½ begins as Israel again does what is evil in the site of the Lord, and for 40 years Godï¿½s people are subjected to the rule of the Philistines [1] . 40 years? That is the longest period that the enemy has ever dominated for in the entire book of Judges. And so it is that God says ï¿½enoughï¿½. The angel of the Lord appears to Manoahï¿½s wife and announces that she will give birth to a unique individualï¿½ a son who will be a Nazirite [2] from birth [3] .

Now, the other main point that stands out in the passage before us is the prophecy concerning Samson that he will ï¿½begin to deliver Israel from the hands of the Philistines.ï¿½ Since when did Godï¿½s chosen deliverers, His judges, only ï¿½begin to deliver Israel ï¿½? Did Othniel, Ehud, Gideon etc only begin to deliver? No way! Unfortunately, as we shall soon see, Samson would only partially deliver Israel because He couldnï¿½t even fully deliver himself! And you cannot ever lead someone where you wonï¿½t go yourself. [4] But more on this laterï¿½ Letï¿½s just give attention to the hope Samsonï¿½s parents had before we completely burst his bubble! ï¿½s light has come??? Judges 13:24-25 Then the woman gave birth to a son and named him Samson; and the child grew up and the Lord blessed him. And the Spirit of the Lord began to stir him in Mahaneh-dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.

So ï¿½the womanï¿½, Manoahï¿½s unnamed wife, finally gives birth to her little boy. Can you imagine how they felt? They know they canï¿½t have children, and then the Angel of the Lord comes to them and says she will give birth to a delivererï¿½ and finally she gives birth to her son. She calls him ï¿½Samsonï¿½. The name means ï¿½like the sunï¿½ or possibly ï¿½little sunï¿½. Either way, you can imagine the hope these godly parents had that he would shine like the sunï¿½ that he would be a light bearer for Israel ! Like another Nazirite centuries later, Iï¿½m sure that all around would have thought ï¿½what then will this child turn out to be? For the hand of the Lord was certainly with him.ï¿½ (Luke 1:66) What indeed? What would this child, whom the ï¿½Lord blessedï¿½, become in later life?

The Slippery Slope Downhillï¿½ Judges 14:1-3 Then Samson went down to Timnah and saw a woman in Timnah, one of the daughters of the Philistines. So he came back and told his father and mother, ï¿½I saw a woman in Timnah, one of the daughters of the Philistines; now therefore, get her for me as a wife.ï¿½ Then his father and his mother said to him, ï¿½Is there no woman among the daughters of your relatives, or among all our people, that you go to take a wife from the uncircumcised Philistines?ï¿½ But Samson said to his father, ï¿½Get her for me, for she looks good to me.ï¿½ However, his father and mother did not know that it was of the Lord [5] , for He was seeking an occasion against the Philistines. Now at that time the Philistines were ruling over Israel . So a grown up Samson finally goes down to Timnah, a Philistine controlled area. And what exactly does he do thereï¿½fight and begin the deliverance of Israel maybe?

Well, no, not as such. He eyes up a Philistine woman whom He oh so wants! And so begins a sad tale where Samson goes down in more than just location. He goes down in morals, purity and separation unto God as a Nazirite. Concerning Samson, Charles Swindol wrote ï¿½ï¿½just as Superman was vulnerable to kryptonite, so Samson had a chink in his armour through which his greatness was sapped. He was king of the hill when it came to physical prowess, but when it came to women (sexuality), he was a pawn of his own passions.ï¿½ Now your kryptonite may not be Philistine womenï¿½ you may be tempted by something else. But whatever it is, take extra care in that area and stay true to the scripture that says ï¿½put on the Lord Jesus, and make no provision for the flesh to fulfil its lusts.ï¿½ [6] Samsonï¿½s alliances with the Philistines also speak to us of the Church as a whole in these last days. It seems that this last period in the book of Judges has parallels with the last days of Church history.

[7] Do we not see compromise and alliances with the Philistine enemy in our day? There is no doubt that a one world government is on its way... even non-Christians can see this emerging. But be aware that with it comes a one-world religion. The alliances the church is making today with the Catholic Church and others are leading the way to a compromised, worldly, end time ï¿½religionï¿½ which holds vague concepts of ï¿½Godï¿½ without the power of Jesus victory on the cross. ï¿½Toleranceï¿½ is in, ï¿½truthï¿½ is out (way gone!) It is an error of Philistine proportions. Blessed with the Spiritï¿½s strength, yet more compromiseï¿½ Judges 14:5-9 Then Samson went down to Timnahï¿½and behold, a young lion came roaring toward him.

And the Spirit of the Lord came upon him mightily, so that he tore him as one tears a kid though he had nothing in his handï¿½ When he returned later to take her, he turned aside to look at the carcass of the lion; and behold, a swarm of bees and honey were in the body of the lion. So he scraped the honey into his hands and went on, eating as he went. When he came to his father and mother, he gave some to them and they ate it; but he did not tell them that he had scraped the honey out of the body of the lion. Wow! What amazing strength Samson had. Out comes the lion [8] , roaring away and ready for the kill. Yet it is no match for a Samson supernaturally empowered by the Holy Spirit! A good type for our lives would you not agree? The Apostle Peter tells us that Satan goes around like a roaring lion, looking for those He could devour. But we too, like Samson, gain victory over the enemy through our faith in Jesus and the Holy Spiritï¿½s empowering.

No sooner had Samson performed this great feat of strength however, than He was breaking His Nazirite vow by examining and touching the dead body of the lion! Oh Samson! So little regard for the commands of the Lord. He ï¿½turned aside to look at the carcass of the lionï¿½ the Bible says, and this curiosity with that which He wasnï¿½t allowed to do, led to compromise. Curiosity concerning sin has a habit of doing that! On finding honey within the carcass, Samson took some home for his parents, but made sure he didnï¿½t tell them where he got it from. Not exactly surprising, as a guilty conscience often shuts our mouth from speaking the complete truth. The sweet honey may have given temporary satisfaction but was it really worth it Samson? [9] ï¿½ï¿½ The downward slide gains momentumï¿½ Judges 14:10-14 Now his father went down to see the woman. And Samson made a feast there, as was customary for bridegrooms. ï¿½When he appeared, he was given thirty companions.

ï¿½Let me tell you a riddle,ï¿½ Samson said to them. ï¿½If you can give me the answer within the seven days of the feast, I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty sets of clothes. ï¿½ï¿½If you canï¿½t tell me the answer, you must give me thirty linen garments and thirty sets of clothes.ï¿½ ï¿½Tell us your riddle,ï¿½ they said. ï¿½Letï¿½s hear it.ï¿½ He replied, ï¿½Out of the eater, something to eat; out of the strong, something sweet.ï¿½ For three days they could not give the answer. So what started out as one Philistine companion, now leads to thirty! And as Samson eats and drinks (and possibly breaking his nazarite vow once again) at the feast to celebrate his soon coming marriage, it probably doesnï¿½t even cross his mind that these same Philistines, his companions, are meant to be the ones whom Samson is delivering Israel from! Strange way of deliverance indeed as Samson slowly starts to become more like those from whom he was meant to deliver Israel .

This should not surprise us as Godï¿½s word tells - ï¿½Do not be misled: Bad company corrupts good character.ï¿½ (1 Cor 15:33 ). Learn from Samson and his mistakes. Judges 14:15-20 On the fourth day, they said to Samsonï¿½s wife, ï¿½Coax your husband into explaining the riddle for us, or we will burn you and your fatherï¿½s household to death. Did you invite us here to rob us?ï¿½ Then Samsonï¿½s wife threw herself on him, sobbing, ï¿½You hate me! You donï¿½t really love me. Youï¿½ve given my people a riddle, but you havenï¿½t told me the answer.ï¿½ ï¿½I havenï¿½t even explained it to my father or mother,ï¿½ he replied, ï¿½so why should I explain it to you?ï¿½ She cried the whole seven days of the feast. So on the seventh day he finally told her, because she continued to press him.

She in turn explained the riddle to her people. Before sunset on the seventh day the men of the town said to him, ï¿½What is sweeter than honey? What is stronger than a lion?ï¿½ Samson said to them, ï¿½If you had not plowed with my heifer, you would not have solved my riddle.ï¿½ ï¿½Burning with anger, he went up to his fatherï¿½s house. And Samsonï¿½s wife was given to the friend who had attended him at his wedding. What a wedding celebration that must have been! Only 7 days to go to the big day, the feast and guests are all prepared, the wife to beï¿½ well she cries the entire seven days leading up to the wedding! Earlier, having seen this Philistine and going by mere outward appearances, Samson had said ï¿½get her for me, for she looks good to me!ï¿½ Well how about now big guy? Does she still look good to you now? Of course you canï¿½t blame Samsonï¿½s fiancï¿½ completely.

Those nice gentle Philistine companions of Samsonï¿½s had just said to her ï¿½coax your husband into explaining the riddle for us, or we will burn you and your fatherï¿½s household to death.ï¿½ Nice guys these. So the Philistine fiancï¿½ wore old Samson down until he gives in and tells the answer to the riddle. Alliances with Philistines have a habit of wearing us down. This time it was just a riddle. Next time would be far more serious! One last thing is to look at who gets the blameï¿½ a furious Samson tells them ï¿½if you had not ploughed with my heifer, you would not have found out my riddle.ï¿½ Samson blames his companions and, indirectly, his, um, heifer.

(He was obviously quite the sweet talker this Samson when it came to his wife to be!) Samuel Ridout in his ï¿½Lectures on the book of Judgesï¿½ brings out the real truth when he says ï¿½Ah, if only he had reversed it; ï¿½If I had not ploughed with your heiferï¿½ï¿½. But he blames themï¿½ï¿½ That is the truth. Samson was now paying the consequences for being in an alliance with the enemy that should never have been formed! Oh that we as individuals, and the church as a whole, would learn from this! Conclusionï¿½ Now you might think I have been a little hard on Samson. After all, he did make the ï¿½hall of faithï¿½ in Hebrews chapter 11 didnï¿½t he? Yep, he sure did. There are things later on in the life of Samson which he should be commended for. But unfortunately, we are always left with the ï¿½but what ifï¿½ question upon our mouths.

A.B Simpson expressed it well when he wrote that Samson was: ï¿½A marvellous example of what God might have done with a thoroughly separated man, and yet what self-indulgence and sin can do to hinder the glorious promise and the gracious purpose of God.ï¿½ï¿½ We will look again at the life of Samson in the next study. In that, we will look a little closer at some of the implications for the church as a whole of the Philistine alliances that are being made. For now however let us remember that something good can come out of Samsonï¿½s life. Like honey from the defeated dead lion, something sweet can come out Samsonï¿½s life if we learn from his mistakes and donï¿½t duplicate them in our own. Judges 13 NIV - The Birth of Samson - Again the - Bible Gateway Judges 13New International Version (NIV) The Birth of Samson 13 Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord, so the Lord delivered them into the hands of the Philistines for forty years.

2 A certain man of Zorah, named Manoah, from the clan of the Danites, had a wife who was childless, unable to give birth. 3 The angel of the Lord appeared to her and said, “You are barren and childless, but you are going to become pregnant and give birth to a son. 4 Now see to it that you drink no wine or other fermented drink and that you do not eat anything unclean. 5 You will become pregnant and have a son whose head is never to be touched by a razor because the boy is to be a Nazirite, dedicated to God from the womb. He will take the lead in delivering Israel from the hands of the Philistines.” 6 Then the woman went to her husband and told him, “A man of God came to me. He looked like an angel of God, very awesome. I didn’t ask him where he came from, and he didn’t tell me his name. 7 But he said to me, ‘You will become pregnant and have a son.

Now then, drink no wine or other fermented drink and do not eat anything unclean, because the boy will be a Nazirite of God from the womb until the day of his death.’” 8 Then Manoah prayed to the Lord: “Pardon your servant, Lord. I beg you to let the man of God you sent to us come again to teach us how to bring up the boy who is to be born.” 9 God heard Manoah, and the angel of God came again to the woman while she was out in the field; but her husband Manoah was not with her. 10 The woman hurried to tell her husband, “He’s here! The man who appeared to me the other day!” 11 Manoah got up and followed his wife. When he came to the man, he said, “Are you the man who talked to my wife?” “I am,” he said. 12 So Manoah asked him, “When your words are fulfilled, what is to be the rule that governs the boy’s life and work?” 13 The angel of the Lord answered, “Your wife must do all that I have told her.

14 She must not eat anything that comes from the grapevine, nor drink any wine or other fermented drink nor eat anything unclean. She must do everything I have commanded her.” 15 Manoah said to the angel of the Lord, “We would like you to stay until we prepare a young goat for you.” 16 The angel of the Lord replied, “Even though you detain me, I will not eat any of your food. But if you prepare a burnt offering, offer it to the Lord.” (Manoah did not realize that it was the angel of the Lord.) 17 Then Manoah inquired of the angel of the Lord, “What is your name, so that we may honor you when your word comes true?” 18 He replied, “Why do you ask my name? It is beyond understanding.[ a ]” 19 Then Manoah took a young goat, together with the grain offering, and sacrificed it on a rock to the Lord. And the Lord did an amazing thing while Manoah and his wife watched: 20 As the flame blazed up from the altar toward heaven, the angel of the Lord ascended in the flame.

Seeing this, Manoah and his wife fell with their faces to the ground. 21 When the angel of the Lord did not show himself again to Manoah and his wife, Manoah realized that it was the angel of the Lord. 22 “We are doomed to die!” he said to his wife. “We have seen God!” 23 But his wife answered, “If the Lord had meant to kill us, he would not have accepted a burnt offering and grain offering from our hands, nor shown us all these things or now told us this.” 24 The woman gave birth to a boy and named him Samson. He grew and the Lord blessed him, 25 and the Spirit of the Lord began to stir him while he was in Mahaneh Dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol. Footnotes: An Argument of the Book of Judges | Bible.org An Argument of the Book of Judges Related Media Message Statement: Because of the outward and inward anarchy of the tribes of israel, the theocracy nearly collapsed as YHWH ruled over her by raising up discipline to humble the nation and providing mercy to deliver her through her judges making evident the need for a king to direct the nation I.

Prologue--An Incomplete (Failed) Conquest of Canaan by Israel--Focus upon Individual Tribes: 1 The Tribes were unwilling to take full possession of the land 1:1--2:5 A. Israel’s Incomplete Possession of the Land: Even through the nation began in obedience and receiving the promises of God, they began to gradually suffer defeat because of their disobedience 1:1-36 1. This book describes what happened after the death of Joshua 1:1a 2. The victories in the land of Palestine are recounted during the leadership of Joshua 1:1b-15 3. Mixed with further victories are occasional loses until the losses begin to override the victories 1:17-26 4. The reason for the losses is because in event after event the people did not follow the word of the Lord to destroy the inhabitants of the land 2 1:27-36 B. Consequences to Israel’s Disobedience: In faithfulness to His covenant YHWH gave Israel the land, but would not drive out their enemies because Israel had not obeyed Him 2:1-5 II.

Israel in the Period of the Judges--Focus Upon Individual Judges: 3 YHWH rules over rebellious Israel by raising up discipline to bring Israel low in order that mercy might reign in the deliverance of the judges 2:6--16 A. Introductory Principles of Operation During the Period of the Judges--Causes and Elements of Israel’s Disobedience: 2:6--3:6 B. The Downward Cycles of the Judges--The Salvation of a Long-Suffering God: 4 YHWH, the judge of Israel, delivers His unrepentant people through unusual and weak judges, calling the nation to covenantal obedience 3:7--16:31 1. Four Cycles Where the Judge was Good: 5 3:7--8:32 a. Cycle I--Othniel: 6 3:7-11 b. Cycle II--Ehud: 7 3:12-31 c. Cycle III--Deborah and Barak: 8 4:1--5:31 d.

Cycle IV--Gideon: YHWH cares for His continually sinful people: 6:1--8:32 1) The People Finally Remember YHWH--The Cycle of Sin, Servitude, Supplication is Repeated: 6:1-6 2) YHWH’S People Are Prepared Spiritually: 6:7-32 a) The people are Reminded of Broken Covenant: YHWH sends the people a prophet to remind them that they are suffering because they have broken the covenant 6:7-10 b) The Servant Is Prepared to Follow: 6:11-24 (1) YHWH commissions a cynical Gideon to deliver Israel from Midian 6:11-16 (2) YHWH confirms to a doubting Gideon that it is He who is speaking in peace 6:17-24 c) The People Are Prepared to Follow: 6:25-32 (1) When YHWH ordered Gideon to tear down the idols of his father and build an alter and sacrifice to Him, He did so timidly 6:25-27 (2) Nicknaming Gideon ‘fighter

 of Baal’ His father protects him and encourages the people to let the true God fight here 6:28-32 3) The Enemy is Defeated: 6:33--8:21 a) YHWH confirms for Gideon and the People His Defeat of the Midianites through Them: 6:33--7:15a (1) The people from the east enter the land and Gideon sends for all in Israel to gather and fight 6:33-35 (2) Once again out of personal doubt Gideon seeks confirmation from God of His will 6:36-40 (3) With so many men available YHWH cuts the number from 32,000 to 300 so that they will see YHWH as the cause of victory 7:1-8 (4) YHWH gives fearful Gideon confirmation that he will be victorious in the battle with the Medianites 7:9-15a b) The Battle is Won: The battle is described as one which God supernaturally won and allowed Israel to clean up on with the dead leaders 7:15b-25 c) Gideon

 Calms the Ephraimites: Gideon calms the anger of the Ephraimites by proclaiming their deeds in capturing the kings as greater than his deeds 8:1-3 d) The Enemy is Complete Eliminated and its protectors Disciplined by Gideon 8:4-21 (1) Running into discouragement at Succoth and Penuel who refuse to be a part of God’s working, Gideon promises that they will loose their lives later 8:4-9 (2) Zebah and Zalmunna are captured by Gideon 8:10-12 (3) Succoth and Penuel are provided for in a talionic way for their evil against YHWH 8:13-17 (4) Gideon seeks personal revenge by killing Zebah and Zalmunna 8:18-21 4) The End of Gideon’s Reign: 6:22-32 a) Although Gideon refused to stand in YHWH’s place as king, he did error in erecting an ephod which Israel later worshiped 8:22-27 b) Midian was defeated and the land

 was in peace for forty years while Gideon lived like a king, died at an old age and was buried in his fathers Joash’s tomb 8:28-32 2.

Three Cycles were the Judge was Evil: 9 8:33--16:31 a. Cycle V--Abimelech: Even through God mercifully offered an opportunity for those sinning to repent, He also allowed their continued evil to come upon them 8:33--10:5 1) Cycle Repeated--People Sink in Sin: When Gideon was dead after the forty years of peace, Israel forgot God’s deliverance and sinned again returning to Baal 8:33-35 2) A Sinful Man, Abimelech, Rises to Lead a Sinful People: 9:1-6 a) Formulating his father’s flirtations, Abimelech has his mother’s family and Shechem appoint him as king 9:1-4 b) Killing all of his brothers, save Jotham, Abimelech is pronounced king in Shechem 9:5-6 3) An Opportunity for These Sinful People to Choose: Jotham stands on the mount of blessing (Mt. Gerizim [Dt.

27] and in a parable questions integrity and prophecies judgment 9:7-21 4) The People Choose Evil: Abimelech reigned three years 9:22 5) God Allowed Evil to Reign Upon An Evil and Rebellious People: 9:23-57 a) God’s Allowance of Evil to Work: God allowed an evil spirit to come between Abimelech and his people so as to bring back upon them their evil 9:23-25 b) The People of Shechem Rebel: The Shechemites join themselves behind a man named Gaal who encourages rebellion from Abimelech to Hamor 9:26-29 c) Abimelech Defeats the Military of Shechem: Under the sneaky protection of Zubul, his lieutenant, Abimelech ambushed Shechem and Gaal 9:30-41 d) Abimelech Defeats the Common People of Shechem: Abimelech completely defeated, slew and raised the city the next day 9:42-45 e) Abimelech Defeated the Leaders of Shechem: Abimelech burned alive

 all of the leaders and their families in Shechem 9:46-49 f) Abimelech (the Strong) was Killed (by the Weak)--Talionic: Abimelech died in an attempt to capture Thebez by a strong woman and the sword of his armor bearer g) The People Are Left Floundering: With the death of Abimelech all of the men of Israel left the battle 9:55 h) God’s Principle in Dealing with These Evil Ones: God used men to bring about evil upon the evil--Abimelech and Shechem 9:56-57 6) A Period of Peace for the Nation: 9:1-2 a) Tola’s Reign for 20 years as Judge: After the evil of Abimelech, Tola arose to deliver Israel for 23 years 10:1-2 b) Jair’s Reign for 22 Years as Judge: Jair and his 30 sons reigned with influence for 22 years 10:3-5 b.

Cycle VI--Jephthah: As sin continued to infect the nation and its leaders (Judges), YHWH allowed more evil to reign in the midst of deliverance 10:6--12:15 1) A Spiritual Battle Reoccurred, Was Clarified and Decided Upon: 10:6--11:28 a) Israel Returned to Sin and Idolatry: Israel once again turned from serving YHWH to the gods of the people surrounding them 10:6 b) God Gave the Nation into Servitude: 10:7-8 (1) God once again allowed Israel to be sold into bondage--this time to the Philistines and the Ammorites 10:7 (2) Israel became greatly afflicted for 18 years--especially by the Ammorites 10:8 c) Israel Repented of Their Sin (Negotiated with YHWH) and YHWH Had Mercy [Based upon His Covenant]: 10:9-16b (1) Israel Repented and confessed their idolatrous sin to YHWH 10:9 (2) YHWH reminded the nation of his historical deliverance

 of them in their past and his refusal to help them in their rebelliousness 10:11-14 (3) Israel confessed sin and took steps toward upright living toward YHWH 10:15-16a (4) YHWH responded to his people’s great need as a loving father with hurt child 10:16b d) Lining Up for Battle, Israel Humbly Asked Jephthah to Lead Them: 10:17--11:11 (1) Israel and Ammon came together for battle, but Israel did not have a leader 10:17-18 (2) Israel had to humble itself to ask Jephthah to lead them even through they had done evil to him 11:1-11 e) Reminder the War Is YHWH’s: In letters sent to the king of Ammon, Jephthah presented their possession of the land as that which YHWH gave from the Amorites 11:12-28 2) The Physical Battle Was Fought and Won over Ammon by Israel and Jephthah through YHWH 11:29-3

3 a) By the empowering of the Holy Spirit Jephthah lead Israel against Ammon 11:29 b) Jephthah vowed to YHWH to give whatever met him at him first if he won the battle 11:30-31 c) The Lord enabled Jephthah to win against the Ammonites 11:32-33 3) Internal Sin Continues to Plague the Nation: A Painful aftermath of the War with Ammon affects Jephthah and Israel due to poor leadership by Jephthah 11:34--12:6 a) Jephthah mournfully fulfills his vow to YHWH with his daughter 11:34-40 b) Jephthah is confronted by Ephriam for not including them in the battle 12:1 c) Jephthah and the men of Ehriam fought only to slay 42,000 from Ephriam 12:2-6 4) Jephthah’s Death: Jephthah died after judging for six years 12:7 5) Transition--A Period of Three Contin

ual Judges: 12:8-15 a) Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel 7 years yet had his children marry out of the faith 12:8-10 b) Elon, of northern Zebulun, judged Israel for 10 years and died 12:11-12 c) Abdon the Pirathonite judged Israel 8 years with experience of wealth and royalty 12:13-15 c.

Cycle VII--Samson: In spite of a sinful people and leadership, YHWH kept his word to deliver his people 13:1--16:31 1) Sin and Servitude--Israel Returns to Evil and Bondage: Israel once again pursuing evil is placed in bondage to the Philistines for 40 years 13:1 2) A Promise from YHWH in Samson: YHWH promises and gives a deliverer to Israel through Manoah and his wife named Samson 13:2-14 a) YHWH appeared to Manoah’s wife to announce the birth of a son through them who would be separated to God to defeat the Philistines 13:2-5 b) Manoah’s wife reports the message of YHWH to her husband 13:6-7 c) YHWH confirmed his word to Manoah and his wife through the acceptance of a burnt offering 13:8-23 d) A son is born to Manoah and his wife whom they call “Sun” and grows up with God’s enrichment 13:24 3) Through corruption and suffering many of the consequences of

 sin, Samson is used by YHWH to deliver Israel from the oppressive rule of the Philistines 13:25--16:31 a) The Spirit of God Works in Samson: The spirit of God began to work in Samson 13:25 b) Many Philistines die by Samson’s hand but not uprightly--rather through acts of anger and jealousy with personal hurt 14:1--15:8 (1) Leaving his people, Samson fell in love with a Philistine and asked his parents to arrange a marriage (God’s permissive will) 14:1-4 (2) When Samson and his parents go to arrange the wedding, Samson secretly breaks part of his Nazarite vow 14:5-9 (3) Samson, boasting through a riddle of his conquest of the lion, is betrayed by his fiancee, looses the bet and his wife 14:10-20 (4) In jealous violence Samson destroyed the corps of the Philistines only to loose the life of his and wife whereupon he slaughters more Philistines 15:1-8 c) Betrayal

 and Deliverance: Those of Israel tried to deliver their judge in fear over to the Philistines, but God strengthened Samson to be victorious and to judge for 20 years 15:9-20 d) Humiliation of Philistines: Though in Philistine Territory for relations with a harlot, Samson humiliated their defense by carrying away their gates 16:1-3 e) Suffering and Death: Though Samson suffered for breaking his vow, many Philistines died with Samson for YHWH 16:4-30 (1) Loving a Philistine more than his vow to YHWH, Samson allowed her to interfere with his vow to YHWH and suffered servitude 16:4-21 (2) At a banquet where the Philistines acknowledged their god, Dagon, for their victory Samson was enabled by YHWH to overcome them 16:22-30 f) Burial of Samson: Samson was buried with his fathers as a victorious and tragic judge 16:31 III.

Epilogue--Conditions Illustrating the Need and Source of a Future King in Israel--Two Appendices: 10 17:1--21:25 A. Micah’s Household and the Danite Migration 17:1--18:31 B. The Outrage at Gibeah and the Punishment of the Benjamites: 19:1--21:25 1 Johnson writes, The individual tribes now show themselves willing to obey partially. The compromise takes various forms as the reasons surface but the effect only awaits realization of what God had set forth in Deuteronomy (An Analysis of Judges, 17). 2 Deuteronomy 7 and Exodus 23. 3 Johnson writes, The judges were guardians of YHWH's righteousness but in the midst of rebellion became agents of His mercy. As each cycle repeats itself the rebellion increases but never overcomes YHWH's deliverance in mercy (Analysis of Judges, 17). 4 Johnson writes, The reversal of fortune motif throughout the section distinguishes Israel's deliverance as specifically divine.

A sovereign YHWH, moved to compassion by Israel's moaning (not repentance) uses unlikely people (judges) by worldly human standards, in unlikely circumstances to effect her deliverance. There can be no mistake that it is his work alone and it is in grace (Exposition of Judges, 4). 5 The structural formula presented in the introduction is followed in these first four cycles without alteration. 6 A paradigm for the pattern of the judges. Little detail is given, but the basics of the cycle are included. 7 YHWH uses the unexpected, a surprise 'message' by a left-handed Benjamite to bring deliverance. With Shamgar the only weapon of deliverance mentioned is an ox-goad. Again, YHWH gets the credit for deliverance. 8 Because of fear, Barak does not receive the honor for the victory, and is given a relatively small place in the narrative. YHWH uses the most unexpected, a woman, to bring deliverance to the nation. 9 From this cycle on the structural formula presented in the introduction is varied in from. Johnson writes, This section is distinguished by altering the structural formula in presenting the cycles.

One element or several are left out in each of the three remaining cycles and it is this failure to follow the formula that sets this unit apart from the rest of the book (Exposition of Judges, 4). This section interprets the negative results of relying on man rather than YHWH and the unpredictable role that YHWH has in deliverance (Ibid.). 10 Johnson writes, If the judge was a guardian of YHWH'S righteousness the Levite was the guardian of the truth. With truth lost in the willful rebellion of the people, there is the evident need for a king (17:6, 18:1, 19:1, 21:25) to thwart social anarchy (Analysis of Judges, 17). The Book of Judges, Chapter 13 Book of Judges Verses in the Book of Judges Chapter 13 This section contains the complete content of the Book of Judges, Chapter 13 with numbers and text of individual verses from the King James Bible Online (KJV). Free, online access to study passages and verses contained the Book of Judges, Chapter 13 and its verses for online Bible Study, Sunday School lessons and Biblical studies.

Judges Chapter 13 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. 13:2 And 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. 13:3 And 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. 13:4 Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink not wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing: 13:5 For, 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.

13:6 Then 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: 13:7 But 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. 13:8 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. 13:9 And 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. 13:10 And the woman made haste, and ran, and showed her husband, and said unto him, Behold, the man hath appeared unto me, that came unto me the other day.

13:11 And 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. 13:12 And Manoah said, Now let thy words come to pass. How shall we order the child, and how shall we do unto him? 13:13 And the angel of the LORD said unto Manoah, Of all that I said unto the woman let her beware. 13:14 She 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. 13:15 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. 13:16 And 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.

13:17 And Manoah said unto the angel of the LORD, What is thy name, that when thy sayings come to pass we may do thee honor? 13:18 And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it is secret? 13:19 So Manoah took a kid with a meat offering, and offered it upon a rock unto the LORD: and the angel did wonderously; and Manoah and his wife looked on. 13:20 For 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. 13:21 But 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. 13:22 And Manoah said unto his wife, We shall surely die, because we have seen God.

13:23 But 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 showed us all these things, nor would as at this time have told us such things as these. 13:24 And the woman bare a son, and called his name Samson: and the child grew, and the LORD blessed him. 13:25 And the Spirit of the LORD began to move him at times in the camp of Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol. ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ Next Chapter of Judges >>> The Book of Judges, Chapter 13 We hope that you find the content of the Book of Judges, Chapter 13 helpful to your Bible studies and for references which allow you to read the books and individual verses of this chapter. The Book of Judges, Chapter 13 offers Free, online access to study passages and verses contained in the words, text and verses of the King James Bible Online (KJV).

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Question: Who in the Bible's Book of Judges is the son of Manoah ?
Answer: SAMSON