Judges 13
Judges 13-16 will record the life of the twelfth and final judge, Samson. His life is one that we will see and understand to be both heroic and tragic, being a representative of Israel itself at this time. As we read, be sure to recognize how the story of Samson is symbolic of Israel as a whole.
V. 1 The people once again turn to evil and away from the Lord, causing the Lord to allow the Israelites to be oppressed by the Philistines for 40 years.
Vv. 2-7 The salvation of Israel is to be given through the birth of a Nazirite judge to a barren couple. An angel of the Lord is the messenger of the good news to the wife of Manoah. It is the angel who declares that the child is to be raised a Nazirite, from birth until death. Read Numbers 6 for qualifications to be a Nazirite.
What is the significance of being birthed to a barren woman? How is Samson’s call to be a Nazirite different from the prescription used in Numbers 6?
Vv. 8-14 Manoah is amazed that his wife has an experience with this angel of the Lord, one with an awesome appearance. Manoah prays that he may come again that he too may speak with the angel.
Vv. 15-20 Up to this point Manoah and his wife were unsure who it was that they were speaking to. Their understanding was that this individual is awesome in appearance, but presumably must be a prophet. Manoah does the right thing and attempts to make the angel a meal, but the angel declares that Manoah ought to make a burnt offering to the Lord. Manoah made the burnt offering and as the flame went into the sky, so did the angel of the Lord. This gives understanding as to why his name was too wonderful to be spoken!
Vv. 21-25 Manoah became fearful that they may die for being in the presence of the Lord, but his wife shows great faith and reassures her husband that the Lord’s will was confirmed through the offering that what the angel told them was to come to pass. And she gave birth to Samson. And the Spirit stirred in Samson.
How does the birth of Samson, if at all, reflect the birth of Christ?