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Nach YomiJudges · שופטיםChapter 13

Judges 13

שופטים פרק י״ג

Section: נביאים · נביאים ראשונים | Book: Judges | Chapter: 13 of 21 | Day: 37 of 742

Date: March 20, 2026

קלאוד על הנ״ך

Judges 13 marks a dramatic turning point in the book of Judges, introducing the Samson narrative with an annunciation scene that ranks among the most theologically rich birth accounts in all of biblical literature. The chapter opens with the now-familiar refrain of the cyclical pattern that structures the entire book: “The Israelites again did what was offensive to God” (va-yosifu bnei Yisrael la’asot ha-ra be-einei Hashem). Yet this cycle is different from all previous ones in a critical respect. For the first time, there is no cry of distress from the people, no collective repentance, and no communal plea for deliverance. The Philistine oppression of forty years — the longest in the book — appears to have been accepted with a kind of resigned complacency, foreshadowing the incomplete nature of the salvation that will follow.

The literary architecture of the chapter is built around a double theophany, a structural device that invites comparison with other biblical annunciation narratives, most notably the promise of Isaac to Sarah in Genesis 18. The angel of God (malakh Hashem) appears twice, and both times he comes to the unnamed wife of Manoah rather than to Manoah himself. This detail is far from incidental. Throughout the chapter, Manoah’s wife emerges as the more spiritually perceptive of the two: she accurately reports the angel’s message, she does not press for the angel’s name or origin, and most strikingly, it is she who provides the decisive theological argument in verse 23 that calms her husband’s fear of death after the angel’s dramatic departure. Her logical reasoning — that God would not have accepted their offering or announced the birth of a son if He intended to kill them — demonstrates a clarity of faith that contrasts sharply with Manoah’s anxious confusion.

The Nazirite consecration (nezirut) announced for the child is itself exceptional. Unlike ordinary Nazirite vows described in Numbers 6, which are voluntary and temporary, Samson’s consecration is divinely imposed, begins in the womb (min ha-beten), and extends for his entire life. The restrictions placed on the mother during pregnancy — abstaining from wine, strong drink, and impure foods — effectively extend the Nazirite holiness backward into the prenatal period, an idea the commentators found remarkable. Rashi and the Talmud (Sotah 9b) interpret “impure” (tameh) not in its usual ritual sense but as referring specifically to items forbidden to a Nazirite, such as grape products. This prenatal consecration establishes Samson as a figure set apart by God from his very formation, making his later moral failures all the more tragic and theologically complex.

The angel’s refusal to reveal his name — declaring it “unknowable” (peli) — introduces a theme of mystery and hiddenness that will pervade the entire Samson cycle. Rashi explains that an angel’s name changes according to its mission, so it cannot be fixed at any given moment. This idea of shifting identity resonates with the character of Samson himself, who will operate as a lone figure moving between Israelite and Philistine society, his true purpose often concealed even from those closest to him. The miraculous scene at the altar, where fire emerges from the rock and the angel ascends in the flame, serves as the moment of revelation that finally pierces Manoah’s misunderstanding, though even here his wife must correct his fearful interpretation.

Perhaps the most significant phrase in the chapter is the angel’s declaration that the child “shall begin to deliver Israel from the Philistines” (ve-hu yachel le-hoshia). The verb yachel, meaning “to begin,” signals from the outset that Samson’s mission will be fundamentally incomplete. As Metzudat David observes, unlike other judges who fought until they achieved decisive victory, Samson will strike at the Philistines repeatedly but never finish the task. This partial deliverance reflects the spiritual state of a generation that never cried out to God in the first place. The chapter thus sets up one of the most paradoxical figures in biblical literature: a man consecrated to God from before birth, endowed with supernatural strength by the spirit of God (ruach Hashem), yet destined to accomplish only a beginning — leaving the completion of Israel’s redemption to the era of Samuel and Saul that follows.

פרק י״ג · Chapter 13

פסוק א׳ · Verse 1

Hebrew:

וַיֹּסִ֙יפוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת הָרַ֖ע בְּעֵינֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה וַיִּתְּנֵ֧ם יְהֹוָ֛ה בְּיַד־פְּלִשְׁתִּ֖ים אַרְבָּעִ֥ים שָׁנָֽה׃ {פ}

English:

The Israelites again did what was offensive to GOD, and GOD delivered them into the hands of the Philistines for forty years.

The forty-year Philistine domination began before Samson's time and extended through his judgeship and into the early days of Eli the priest.

פסוק ב׳ · Verse 2

Hebrew:

וַיְהִי֩ אִ֨ישׁ אֶחָ֧ד מִצׇּרְעָ֛ה מִמִּשְׁפַּ֥חַת הַדָּנִ֖י וּשְׁמ֣וֹ מָנ֑וֹחַ וְאִשְׁתּ֥וֹ עֲקָרָ֖ה וְלֹ֥א יָלָֽדָה׃

English:

There was a certain man from Zorah, of the stock of Dan, whose name was Manoah. His wife was infertile and had borne no children.

Manoah is introduced as a Danite from Zorah whose wife was barren. The phrase 'infertile and had borne no children' is emphatic repetition, underscoring the miraculous nature of the birth to come.

פסוק ג׳ · Verse 3

Hebrew:

וַיֵּרָ֥א מַלְאַךְ־יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־הָאִשָּׁ֑ה וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלֶ֗יהָ הִנֵּה־נָ֤א אַתְּ־עֲקָרָה֙ וְלֹ֣א יָלַ֔דְתְּ וְהָרִ֖ית וְיָלַ֥דְתְּ בֵּֽן׃

English:

An angelaAn angel Lit. “A messenger.” of GOD appeared tobappeared to Or “made contact with.” the woman and said to her, “You are infertile and have borne no children; but you shall conceive and bear a son.

An angel of God appears directly to the woman — not to her husband — and delivers the promise that despite her barrenness, she will conceive and bear a son.

פסוק ד׳ · Verse 4

Hebrew:

וְעַתָּה֙ הִשָּׁ֣מְרִי נָ֔א וְאַל־תִּשְׁתִּ֖י יַ֣יִן וְשֵׁכָ֑ר וְאַל־תֹּאכְלִ֖י כׇּל־טָמֵֽא׃

English:

Now be careful not to drink wine or other intoxicant, or to eat anything impure.

The angel instructs the woman to abstain from wine, strong drink, and impure food. The Sages explain that 'impure' here refers to items forbidden to a Nazirite, such as grape products, since the child's consecration begins in the womb.
▶Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
יַיִן וְשֵׁכָר. (תרגום:) חַמַר חֲדַת וְעַתִּיק:
Freshly pressed or intoxicating wine Freshly pressed or aged wine.1This is Targum Yonasan's translation.

פסוק ה׳ · Verse 5

Hebrew:

כִּי֩ הִנָּ֨ךְ הָרָ֜ה וְיֹלַ֣דְתְּ בֵּ֗ן וּמוֹרָה֙ לֹא־יַעֲלֶ֣ה עַל־רֹאשׁ֔וֹ כִּֽי־נְזִ֧יר אֱלֹהִ֛ים יִֽהְיֶ֥ה הַנַּ֖עַר מִן־הַבָּ֑טֶן וְה֗וּא יָחֵ֛ל לְהוֹשִׁ֥יעַ אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל מִיַּ֥ד פְּלִשְׁתִּֽים׃

English:

For you are going to conceive and bear a son; let no razor touch his head, for the boy is to be a nazirite to God from the womb on. He shall be the first to deliver Israel from the Philistines.”

The child is to be a Nazirite consecrated from the womb, with no razor ever touching his head. He will only begin Israel's deliverance from the Philistines — unlike other judges, his salvation will be partial and incomplete.
▶Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
וּמוֹרָה. תַּעַר, עַל שֵׁם שֶׁמּוֹרֶה וּמַשְׁלִיךְ אֶת הַשֵּׂעָר:
The razor [lit. flinger]. The razor, as it flings off and casts away the hair.

פסוק ו׳ · Verse 6

Hebrew:

וַתָּבֹ֣א הָאִשָּׁ֗ה וַתֹּ֣אמֶר לְאִישָׁהּ֮ לֵאמֹר֒ אִ֤ישׁ הָֽאֱלֹהִים֙ בָּ֣א אֵלַ֔י וּמַרְאֵ֕הוּ כְּמַרְאֵ֛ה מַלְאַ֥ךְ הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים נוֹרָ֣א מְאֹ֑ד וְלֹ֤א שְׁאִלְתִּ֙יהוּ֙ אֵֽי־מִזֶּ֣ה ה֔וּא וְאֶת־שְׁמ֖וֹ לֹא־הִגִּ֥יד לִֽי׃

English:

The woman went and told her husband, “An agent of God came to me; he looked like an angel of God, very frightening. I did not ask him where he was from, nor did he tell me his name.

The woman reports to her husband that a man of God visited her with an awe-inspiring appearance like an angel. She did not ask where he was from, and he did not reveal his name.

פסוק ז׳ · Verse 7

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לִ֔י הִנָּ֥ךְ הָרָ֖ה וְיֹלַ֣דְתְּ בֵּ֑ן וְעַתָּ֞ה אַל־תִּשְׁתִּ֣י ׀ יַ֣יִן וְשֵׁכָ֗ר וְאַל־תֹּֽאכְלִי֙ כׇּל־טֻמְאָ֔ה כִּֽי־נְזִ֤יר אֱלֹהִים֙ יִֽהְיֶ֣ה הַנַּ֔עַר מִן־הַבֶּ֖טֶן עַד־י֥וֹם מוֹתֽוֹ׃ {פ}

English:

He said to me, ‘You are going to conceive and bear a son. Drink no wine or other intoxicant, and eat nothing impure, for the boy is to be a nazirite to God from the womb to the day of his death!’”

The woman relays the angel's message to Manoah, adding that the boy's Nazirite status will last 'until the day of his death' — a detail emphasizing the lifelong and irrevocable nature of his consecration.
▶Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
וְאַל תֹּאכְלִי כָּל טֻמְאָה. דְּבָרִים הָאֲסוּרִים לְנָזִיר:
Do not consume anything ritually defiled. Anything prohibited to the Nazirite.2Sotah, 9:b. This includes grape extract, in addition to wine. (Rashi, there).

פסוק ח׳ · Verse 8

Hebrew:

וַיֶּעְתַּ֥ר מָנ֛וֹחַ אֶל־יְהֹוָ֖ה וַיֹּאמַ֑ר בִּ֣י אֲדוֹנָ֔י אִ֣ישׁ הָאֱלֹהִ֞ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר שָׁלַ֗חְתָּ יָבוֹא־נָ֥א עוֹד֙ אֵלֵ֔ינוּ וְיוֹרֵ֕נוּ מַֽה־נַּעֲשֶׂ֖ה לַנַּ֥עַר הַיּוּלָּֽד׃

English:

Manoah pleaded with GOD. “Oh, my Sovereign!” he said, “please let the agent of God that You sent come to us again, and let him instruct us how to act with the child that is to be born.”

Manoah prays to God asking that the angel return and instruct them on how to raise the promised child. He senses there may be special requirements beyond ordinary Nazirite practice for a child consecrated from the womb.
▶Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
לַנַּעַר הַיּוּלָד. הֶעָתִיד לְהִוָּלֵד:
With the boy who will be [lit. who was] born. Who is destined to be born.

פסוק ט׳ · Verse 9

Hebrew:

וַיִּשְׁמַ֥ע הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים בְּק֣וֹל מָנ֑וֹחַ וַיָּבֹ֣א מַלְאַךְ֩ הָאֱלֹהִ֨ים ע֜וֹד אֶל־הָאִשָּׁ֗ה וְהִיא֙ יוֹשֶׁ֣בֶת בַּשָּׂדֶ֔ה וּמָנ֥וֹחַ אִישָׁ֖הּ אֵ֥ין עִמָּֽהּ׃

English:

God heeded Manoah’s plea, and the angel of God came to the woman again. She was sitting in the field and her husband Manoah was not with her.

God answers Manoah's prayer and sends the angel again, but the angel appears once more to the woman alone while she is sitting in the field without her husband.

פסוק י״ · Verse 10

Hebrew:

וַתְּמַהֵר֙ הָֽאִשָּׁ֔ה וַתָּ֖רׇץ וַתַּגֵּ֣ד לְאִישָׁ֑הּ וַתֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלָ֔יו הִנֵּ֨ה נִרְאָ֤ה אֵלַי֙ הָאִ֔ישׁ אֲשֶׁר־בָּ֥א בַיּ֖וֹם אֵלָֽי׃

English:

The woman ran in haste to tell her husband. She said to him, “The man who came to me beforecbefore Lit. “in the day.” has just appeared todappeared to Or “contacted.” me.”

The woman hurries to tell Manoah that the same man who appeared to her before has returned. The commentaries clarify that 'beforehand' refers to the specific, known day of the first visit.

פסוק י״א · Verse 11

Hebrew:

וַיָּ֛קׇם וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ מָנ֖וֹחַ אַחֲרֵ֣י אִשְׁתּ֑וֹ וַיָּבֹא֙ אֶל־הָאִ֔ישׁ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ל֗וֹ הַאַתָּ֥ה הָאִ֛ישׁ אֲשֶׁר־דִּבַּ֥רְתָּ אֶל־הָאִשָּׁ֖ה וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אָֽנִי׃

English:

Manoah promptly followed his wife. He came to that figure and asked him: “Are you the one who spoke to my wife?” “Yes,” he answered.

Manoah follows his wife to meet the angel and confirms his identity. Rashi interprets 'after his wife' as meaning he followed her counsel, highlighting her spiritual initiative throughout this episode.
▶Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
אַחֲרֵי אִשְׁתּוֹ. אַחַר עֲצָתָהּ:
Behind his wife. Following her advice.

פסוק י״ב · Verse 12

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר מָנ֔וֹחַ עַתָּ֖ה יָבֹ֣א דְבָרֶ֑יךָ מַ��־יִּהְיֶ֥ה מִשְׁפַּט־הַנַּ֖עַר וּמַעֲשֵֽׂהוּ׃

English:

Then Manoah said, “May your words soon come true! What rules shall be observed for the boy?”

Manoah expresses confidence that the angel's words will come true and asks what rules should govern the boy's upbringing. The question is not what the boy must do, but what the parents must do for him.
▶Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
מַה יִּהְיֶה מִשְׁפַּט הַנַּעַר וּמַעֲשֵׂהוּ. (תרגום:) מָה חֲזִי לְמֶעֱבַד לְעוּלֵימָא וּמָה נַעֲבִיד לֵיהּ:
What regulations must we follow with the boy? How shall we treat him? What should appropriately be done with the boy, what must we do with him?3Targum Yonasan. The question was not what must the boy do, but what must we do with him.

פסוק י״ג · Verse 13

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֛אמֶר מַלְאַ֥ךְ יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־מָנ֑וֹחַ מִכֹּ֛ל אֲשֶׁר־אָמַ֥רְתִּי אֶל־הָאִשָּׁ֖ה תִּשָּׁמֵֽר׃

English:

The angel of GOD said to Manoah, “The woman must abstain from all the things against which I warned her.

The angel replies that the woman must observe all the restrictions he previously specified. There is nothing additional to impose on the child beyond standard Nazirite law; rather, it is the mother who must observe these restrictions during pregnancy.

פסוק י״ד · Verse 14

Hebrew:

מִכֹּ֣ל אֲשֶׁר־יֵצֵא֩ מִגֶּ֨פֶן הַיַּ֜יִן לֹ֣א תֹאכַ֗ל וְיַ֤יִן וְשֵׁכָר֙ אַל־תֵּ֔שְׁתְּ וְכׇל־טֻמְאָ֖ה אַל־תֹּאכַ֑ל כֹּ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־צִוִּיתִ֖יהָ תִּשְׁמֹֽר׃ {ס}        

English:

She must not eat anything that comes from the grapevine, or drink wine or other intoxicant, or eat anything impure. She must observe all that I commanded her.”

The angel elaborates on the prohibitions: the mother must avoid all grape products, wine, strong drink, and impure food. Everything he commanded her must be carefully observed for the sake of the child's holiness.

פסוק ט״ו · Verse 15

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר מָנ֖וֹחַ אֶל־מַלְאַ֣ךְ יְהֹוָ֑ה נַעְצְרָה־נָּ֣א אוֹתָ֔ךְ וְנַעֲשֶׂ֥ה לְפָנֶ֖יךָ גְּדִ֥י עִזִּֽים׃

English:

Manoah said to the angel of GOD, “Let us detain you and prepare a kid for you.”

Manoah offers hospitality, asking to detain the visitor and prepare a young goat for him. He still believes the angel is a human prophet and does not yet understand his true nature.
▶Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
נַעְצְרָה נָּא אוֹתָךְ. נֶאֱסֹף אוֹתְךָ אֶל הַבַּיִת:
Allow us to detain you as our house guest.

פסוק ט״ז · Verse 16

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֩אמֶר֩ מַלְאַ֨ךְ יְהֹוָ֜ה אֶל־מָנ֗וֹחַ אִם־תַּעְצְרֵ֙נִי֙ לֹא־אֹכַ֣ל בְּלַחְמֶ֔ךָ וְאִם־תַּעֲשֶׂ֣ה עֹלָ֔ה לַיהֹוָ֖ה תַּעֲלֶ֑נָּה כִּ֚י לֹא־יָדַ֣ע מָנ֔וֹחַ כִּֽי־מַלְאַ֥ךְ יְהֹוָ֖ה הֽוּא׃

English:

But the angel of GOD said to Manoah, “If you detain me, I shall not eat your food; and if you present a burnt offering, offer it to GOD.”—For Manoah did not know that he was an angel of GOD.

The angel declines the meal, explaining that he cannot eat human food, but suggests that if Manoah wishes to offer a burnt offering, he should direct it to God. The narrator clarifies that Manoah still did not realize he was speaking with an angel.

פסוק י״ז · Verse 17

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֧אמֶר מָנ֛וֹחַ אֶל־מַלְאַ֥ךְ יְהֹוָ֖ה מִ֣י שְׁמֶ֑ךָ ��ִּֽי־יָבֹ֥א (דבריך) [דְבָרְךָ֖] וְכִבַּדְנֽוּךָ׃

English:

So Manoah said to the angel of GOD, “What is your name? We should like to honor you when your words come true.”

Manoah asks the angel's name so he can honor him when the prophecy is fulfilled. He still perceives the visitor as a human prophet and wants to know how to show gratitude.
▶Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
כִּי יָבֹא דְבָרְךָ. אִם יָבֹא לָנוּ שְׁלִיחוּת דָּבָר מֵאִתְּךָ, מִשֶּׁנֵּדַע וְנַכִּיר אֶת שְׁמֶךָ: וְכִבַּדְנוּךָ. וְנַעֲשֶׂה מַה שֶּׁתִּשְׁלַח לָנוּ:
When your instructions reach us. If we are contacted with instructions to fulfill a mission for you, and we know and recognize your name, We shall honor you by fulfilling the mission.

פסוק י״ח · Verse 18

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לוֹ֙ מַלְאַ֣ךְ יְהֹוָ֔ה לָ֥מָּה זֶּ֖ה תִּשְׁאַ֣ל לִשְׁמִ֑י וְהוּא־פֶֽלִאי׃ {פ}

English:

The angel said to him, “You must not ask for my name; it is unknowable!”

The angel refuses to reveal his name, calling it 'unknowable' (peli). Rashi explains that an angel's name constantly changes according to its mission, so it cannot be pinned down at any given moment.
▶Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
וְהוּא פֶלִאי. מְכֻסֶּה, תָּמִיד הוּא מִשְׁתַּנֶּה וְאֵין יָדוּעַ לְמָה מִשְׁתַּנֶּה הַיּוֹם (ספרי נשא מב):
When it is mystical. It is concealed. It changes constantly,4According to the angel's mission at that particular time. Cf. Rashi to Bereishis, 32:30. so that its identity remains unknown on any given day.

פסוק י״ט · Verse 19

Hebrew:

וַיִּקַּ֨ח מָנ֜וֹחַ אֶת־גְּדִ֤י הָֽעִזִּים֙ וְאֶת־הַמִּנְחָ֔ה וַיַּ֥עַל עַל־הַצּ֖וּר לַֽיהֹוָ֑ה וּמַפְלִ֣א לַעֲשׂ֔וֹת וּמָנ֥וֹחַ וְאִשְׁתּ֖וֹ רֹאִֽים׃

English:

Manoah took the kid and the grain offering and offered them up on the rock to GOD; and a marvelous thing happenedeand a marvelous thing happened Meaning of Heb. uncertain. while Manoah and his wife looked on.

Manoah offers the kid and a grain offering on a rock to God, and the angel performs a wonder — miraculously drawing fire from the rock to consume the offering while Manoah and his wife watch.

פסוק כ׳ · Verse 20

Hebrew:

וַיְהִי֩ בַעֲל֨וֹת הַלַּ֜הַב מֵעַ֤ל הַמִּזְבֵּ֙חַ֙ הַשָּׁמַ֔יְמָה וַיַּ֥עַל מַלְאַךְ־יְהֹוָ֖ה בְּלַ֣הַב הַמִּזְבֵּ֑חַ וּמָנ֤וֹחַ וְאִשְׁתּוֹ֙ רֹאִ֔ים וַיִּפְּל֥וּ עַל־פְּנֵיהֶ֖ם אָֽרְצָה׃

English:

As the flames leaped up from the altar toward the sky, the angel of GOD ascended in the flames of the altar, while Manoah and his wife looked on; and they flung themselves on their faces to the ground.—

As the flame rises heavenward from the altar, the angel ascends within it. Manoah and his wife witness this supernatural departure and fall on their faces in awe and fear.

פסוק כ״א · Verse 21

Hebrew:

וְלֹא־יָ֤סַף עוֹד֙ מַלְאַ֣ךְ יְהֹוָ֔ה לְהֵרָאֹ֖ה אֶל־מָנ֣וֹחַ וְאֶל־אִשְׁתּ֑וֹ אָ֚ז יָדַ֣ע מָנ֔וֹחַ כִּֽי־מַלְאַ֥ךְ יְהֹוָ֖ה הֽוּא׃

English:

The angel of GOD never appeared again tofnever appeared again to Or “never again made contact with.” Manoah and his wife.—Manoah then realized that it had been an angel of GOD.

The angel never appears again to the couple. Only now, after witnessing his supernatural ascent in the flame, does Manoah finally realize that their visitor was truly an angel of God.

פסוק כ״ב · Verse 22

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֧אמֶר מָנ֛וֹחַ אֶל־אִשְׁתּ֖וֹ מ֣וֹת נָמ֑וּת כִּ֥י אֱלֹהִ֖ים רָאִֽינוּ׃

English:

And Manoah said to his wife, “We will surely die, for we have seen a divine being.”

Manoah panics and tells his wife they will surely die because they have seen a divine being. His fear reflects the widespread biblical belief that encountering an angel directly is fatal for mortals.

פסוק כ״ג · Verse 23

Hebrew:

וַתֹּ֧אמֶר ל֣וֹ אִשְׁתּ֗וֹ לוּ֩ חָפֵ֨ץ יְהֹוָ֤ה לַהֲמִיתֵ֙נוּ֙ לֹֽא־לָקַ֤ח מִיָּדֵ֙נוּ֙ עֹלָ֣ה וּמִנְחָ֔ה וְלֹ֥א הֶרְאָ֖נוּ אֶת־כׇּל־אֵ֑לֶּה וְכָעֵ֕ת לֹ֥א הִשְׁמִיעָ֖נוּ כָּזֹֽאת׃

English:

But his wife said to him, “Had GOD meant to take our lives, our burnt offering and grain offering would not have been accepted, nor would we have been shown all these things—and [God] would not have made such an announcement to us.”

Manoah's wife reassures him with clear logical reasoning: if God intended to kill them, He would not have accepted their offering, shown them miracles, or announced the good news of a son's birth.
▶Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
וְכָעֵת. הַזֹּאת: לֹא הִשְׁמִיעָנוּ כָּזֹאת. לֹא הָיָה מַשְׁמִיעֵנוּ בְּשׂוֹרָה זוֹ אִם רְאוּיִים אָנוּ לָמוּת:
At this time [lit. at the time]. At this time. He would not have apprised us in this way. He would not have apprised us of these tidings5Concerning the birth of a son. if we deserved to die.

פסוק כ״ד · Verse 24

Hebrew:

וַתֵּ֤לֶד הָֽאִשָּׁה֙ בֵּ֔ן וַתִּקְרָ֥א אֶת־שְׁמ֖וֹ שִׁמְשׁ֑וֹן וַיִּגְדַּ֣ל הַנַּ֔עַר וַֽיְבָרְכֵ֖הוּ יְהֹוָֽה׃

English:

The woman bore a son, and she named him Samson. The boy grew up, and GOD blessed him.

פסוק כ״ה · Verse 25

Hebrew:

וַתָּ֙חֶל֙ ר֣וּחַ יְהֹוָ֔ה לְפַעֲמ֖וֹ בְּמַחֲנֵה־דָ֑ן בֵּ֥ין צׇרְעָ֖ה וּבֵ֥ין אֶשְׁתָּאֹֽל׃ {פ}

English:

The spirit of GOD first moved him in the encampment of Dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.

The spirit of God begins to stir in Samson at the camp of Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol. Rashi explains this as divine power visiting him intermittently, while Radak interprets it as the onset of supernatural strength granted by God.
▶Commentaries (1)
רש״יRashi
לְפַעֲמוֹ. לָבֹא בְּקִרְבּוֹ לִפְעָמִים:
Pulsating within him. Visiting him intermittently.

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