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Nach YomiJudges · שו׀טיםChapter 13

Judges 13

שו׀טים ׀ךק י׮ג

Section: נביאים · נביאים ךאשונים | 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.

׀ךק י׮ג · Chapter 13

׀סוק א׳ · Verse 1

Hebrew:

וַי֌ֹס֎֙י׀ו֌֙ ב֌ְנֵ֣י י֎שְׂך֞אֵ֔ל לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת ה֞ךַ֖ע ב֌ְעֵינֵ֣י יְהֹו֑֞ה וַי֌֎ת֌ְנֵ֧ם יְהֹו֛֞ה ב֌ְיַד֟׀֌ְל֎שְׁת֌֎֖ים אַךְב֌֞ע֎֥ים שׁ֞נ֞֜ה׃ {×€}

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.

׀סוק ב׳ · Verse 2

Hebrew:

וַיְה֎י֩ א֎֚ישׁ אֶח֧֞ד מ֎׊֌ׇךְע֛֞ה מ֎מ֌֎שְׁ׀֌ַ֥חַת הַד֌֞נ֎֖י ו֌שְׁמ֣וֹ מ֞נ֑וֹחַ וְא֎שְׁת֌֥וֹ עֲק֞ך֖֞ה וְלֹ֥א י֞ל֞֜ד֞ה׃

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.

׀סוק ג׳ · Verse 3

Hebrew:

וַי֌ֵך֥֞א מַלְאַךְ֟יְהֹו֖֞ה אֶל֟ה֞א֎שׁ֌֑֞ה וַי֌ֹ֣אמֶך אֵלֶ֗יה֞ ה֎נ֌ֵה֟נ֞րא אַת֌ְ֟עֲק֞ך֞ה֙ וְלֹ֣א י֞לַ֔דְת֌ְ וְה֞ך֎֖ית וְי֞לַ֥דְת֌ְ ב֌ֵ֜ן׃

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.

׀סוק ד׳ · Verse 4

Hebrew:

וְעַת֌֞ה֙ ה֎שׁ֌֣֞מְך֎י נ־֔א וְאַל֟ת֌֎שְׁת֌֎֖י יַ֣י֎ן וְשֵׁכ֑֞ך וְאַל֟ת֌ֹאכְל֎֖י כ֌ׇל֟ט֞מֵ֜א׃

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.
ךש׎יRashi
יַי֎ן וְשֵׁכ֞ך. (תךגום:) חַמַך חֲדַת וְעַת֎֌יק:
Freshly pressed or intoxicating wine Freshly pressed or aged wine.1This is Targum Yonasan's translation.

׀סוק ה׳ · Verse 5

Hebrew:

כ֌֎י֩ ה֎נ֌֚֞ךְ ה־׹־֜ה וְיֹלַ֣דְת֌ְ ב֌ֵ֗ן ו֌מוֹך֞ה֙ לֹא֟יַעֲלֶ֣ה עַל֟ךֹאשׁ֔וֹ כ֌֎֜י֟נְז֎֧יך אֱלֹה֎֛ים י֎֜הְיֶ֥ה הַנ֌ַ֖עַך מ֎ן֟הַב֌֑֞טֶן וְה֗ו֌א י֞חֵ֛ל לְהוֹשׁ֎֥יעַ אֶת֟י֎שְׂך֞אֵ֖ל מ֎י֌ַ֥ד ׀֌ְל֎שְׁת֌֎֜ים׃

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.
ךש׎יRashi
ו֌מוֹך֞ה. תַ֌עַך, עַל שֵׁם שֶׁמ֌וֹךֶה ו֌מַשְׁל֎יךְ אֶת הַשֵ֌ׂע֞ך:
The razor [lit. flinger]. The razor, as it flings off and casts away the hair.

׀סוק ו׳ · Verse 6

Hebrew:

וַת֌֞בֹ֣א ה֞א֎שׁ֌֞֗ה וַת֌ֹ֣אמֶך לְא֎ישׁ֞ה֌֮ לֵאמֹך֒ א֎րישׁ ה֞֜אֱלֹה֎ים֙ ב֌֣֞א אֵלַ֔י ו֌מַךְאֵ֕הו֌ כ֌ְמַךְאֵ֛ה מַלְאַ֥ךְ ה֞אֱלֹה֎֖ים נוֹך֣֞א מְאֹ֑ד וְלֹրא שְׁא֎לְת֌֎֙יהו֌֙ אֵ֜י֟מ֎ז֌ֶ֣ה ה֔ו֌א וְאֶת֟שְׁמ֖וֹ לֹא֟ה֎ג֌֎֥יד ל֎֜י׃

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.

׀סוק ז׳ · Verse 7

Hebrew:

וַי֌ֹ֣אמֶך ל֮֔י ה֎נ֌֥֞ךְ ה־׹־֖ה וְיֹלַ֣דְת֌ְ ב֌ֵ֑ן וְעַת֌֞֞ה אַל֟ת֌֎שְׁת֌֎֣י ׀ יַ֣י֎ן וְשֵׁכ֞֗ך וְאַל֟ת֌ֹ֜אכְל֎י֙ כ֌ׇל֟טֻמְא֞֔ה כ֌֎֜י֟נְז֎րיך אֱלֹה֎ים֙ י֎֜הְיֶ֣ה הַנ֌ַ֔עַך מ֎ן֟הַב֌ֶ֖טֶן עַד֟י֥וֹם מוֹת֜וֹ׃ {×€}

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.
ךש׎יRashi
וְאַל תֹ֌אכְל֎י כ֞֌ל טֻמְא֞ה. דְ֌ב֞ך֎ים ה֞אֲסו֌ך֎ים לְנ־ז֮י׹:
Do not consume anything ritually defiled. Anything prohibited to the Nazirite.2Sotah, 9:b. This includes grape extract, in addition to wine. (Rashi, there).

׀סוק ח׳ · Verse 8

Hebrew:

וַי֌ֶעְת֌ַ֥ך מ֞נ֛וֹחַ אֶל֟יְהֹו֖֞ה וַי֌ֹאמַ֑ך ב֌֎֣י אֲדוֹנ֞֔י א֎֣ישׁ ה֞אֱלֹה֎֞ים אֲשֶׁ֣ך שׁ֞לַ֗חְת֌֞ י֞בוֹא֟נ֥֞א עוֹד֙ אֵלֵ֔ינו֌ וְיוֹךֵ֕נו֌ מַ֜ה֟נ֌ַעֲשֶׂ֖ה לַנ֌ַ֥עַך הַי֌ו֌ל֌֞֜ד׃

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.
ךש׎יRashi
לַנַ֌עַך הַי֌ו֌ל֞ד. הֶע֞ת֎יד לְה֎ו֞֌לֵד:
With the boy who will be [lit. who was] born. Who is destined to be born.

׀סוק ט׳ · Verse 9

Hebrew:

וַי֌֎שְׁמַ֥ע ה֞אֱלֹה֎֖ים ב֌ְק֣וֹל מ֞נ֑וֹחַ וַי֌֞בֹ֣א מַלְאַךְ֩ ה֞אֱלֹה֎֚ים ע֜וֹד אֶל֟ה֞א֎שׁ֌֞֗ה וְה֮יא֙ יוֹשֶׁ֣בֶת ב֌ַשׂ֌֞דֶ֔ה ו֌מ֞נ֥וֹחַ א֎ישׁ֖֞ה֌ אֵ֥ין ע֎מ֌֞֜ה֌׃

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.

׀סוק י׮ · Verse 10

Hebrew:

וַת֌ְמַהֵך֙ ה֞֜א֎שׁ֌֞֔ה וַת֌֖֞ךׇץ וַת֌ַג֌ֵ֣ד לְא֎ישׁ֑֞ה֌ וַת֌ֹ֣אמֶך אֵל֞֔יו ה֎נ֌ֵ֚ה נ֎ךְא֞րה אֵלַי֙ ה֞א֎֔ישׁ אֲשֶׁך֟ב֌֥֞א בַי֌֖וֹם אֵל֞֜י׃

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.

׀סוק י׮א · Verse 11

Hebrew:

וַי֌֛֞קׇם וַי֌ֵ֥לֶךְ מ֞נ֖וֹחַ אַחֲךֵ֣י א֎שְׁת֌֑וֹ וַי֌֞בֹא֙ אֶל֟ה֞א֎֔ישׁ וַי֌ֹ֣אמֶך ל֗וֹ הַאַת֌֥֞ה ה֞א֎֛ישׁ אֲשֶׁך֟ד֌֎ב֌ַ֥ךְת֌֞ אֶל֟ה֞א֎שׁ֌֖֞ה וַי֌ֹ֥אמֶך א֞֜נ֎י׃

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.
ךש׎יRashi
אַחֲךֵי א֎שְׁת֌וֹ. אַחַך עֲ׊֞ת֞ה֌:
Behind his wife. Following her advice.

׀סוק י׮ב · Verse 12

Hebrew:

וַי֌ֹ֣אמֶך מ֞נ֔וֹחַ עַת֌֖֞ה י֞בֹ֣א דְב֞ךֶ֑יך֞ מַￜￜ֟י֌֎הְיֶ֥ה מ֎שְׁ׀֌ַט֟הַנ֌ַ֖עַך ו֌מַעֲשֵׂ֜הו֌׃

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.
ךש׎יRashi
מַה י֎֌הְיֶה מ֎שְׁ׀ַ֌ט הַנַ֌עַך ו֌מַעֲשֵׂהו֌. (תךגום:) מ־ה חֲז֎י לְמֶעֱבַד לְעו֌לֵימ֞א ו֌מ֞ה נַעֲב֎יד לֵיה֌:
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.

׀סוק י׮ג · Verse 13

Hebrew:

וַי֌ֹ֛אמֶך מַלְאַ֥ךְ יְהֹו֖֞ה אֶל֟מ֞נ֑וֹחַ מ֎כ֌ֹ֛ל אֲשֶׁך֟א֞מַ֥ךְת֌֎י אֶל֟ה֞א֎שׁ֌֖֞ה ת֌֎שׁ֌֞מֵ֜ך׃

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.

׀סוק י׮ד · Verse 14

Hebrew:

מ֎כ֌ֹ֣ל אֲשֶׁך֟יֵ׊ֵא֩ מ֎ג֌ֶ֚׀ֶן הַי֌ַ֜י֎ן לֹ֣א תֹאכַ֗ל וְיַրי֎ן וְשֵׁכ֞ך֙ אַל֟ת֌ֵ֔שְׁת֌ְ וְכׇל֟טֻמְא֖֞ה אַל֟ת֌ֹאכַ֑ל כ֌ֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁך֟׊֎ו֌֎ית֎֖יה֞ ת֌֎שְׁמֹ֜ך׃ {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.

׀סוק ט׮ו · Verse 15

Hebrew:

וַי֌ֹ֥אמֶך מ֞נ֖וֹחַ אֶל֟מַלְאַ֣ךְ יְהֹו֑֞ה נַעְ׊ְך֞ה֟נ֌֣֞א אוֹת֞֔ךְ וְנַעֲשֶׂ֥ה לְ׀֞נֶ֖יך֞ ג֌ְד֎֥י ע֎ז֌֎֜ים׃

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.
ךש׎יRashi
נַעְ׊ְך֞ה נ֞֌א אוֹת֞ךְ. נֶאֱסֹף אוֹתְך֞ אֶל הַבַ֌י֎ת:
Allow us to detain you as our house guest.

׀סוק ט׮ז · Verse 16

Hebrew:

וַי֌ֹ֩אמֶך֩ מַלְאַ֚ךְ יְהֹו֞֜ה אֶל֟מ֞נ֗וֹחַ א֎ם֟ת֌ַעְ׊ְךֵ֙נ֎י֙ לֹא֟אֹכַ֣ל ב֌ְלַחְמֶ֔ך֞ וְא֎ם֟ת֌ַעֲשֶׂ֣ה עֹל֞֔ה לַיהֹו֖֞ה ת֌ַעֲלֶ֑נ֌֞ה כ֌֎֚י לֹא֟י֞דַ֣ע מ֞נ֔וֹחַ כ֌֎֜י֟מַלְאַ֥ךְ יְהֹו֖֞ה ה֜ו֌א׃

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.

׀סוק י׮ז · Verse 17

Hebrew:

וַי֌ֹ֧אמֶך מ֞נ֛וֹחַ אֶל֟מַלְאַ֥ךְ יְהֹו֖֞ה מ֎֣י שְׁמֶ֑ך֞ ￜￜ֌֎֜י֟י֞בֹ֥א (דב׹יך) [דְב־׹ְך־֖] וְכ֎ב֌ַדְנ֜ו֌ך֞׃

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.
ךש׎יRashi
כ֎֌י י֞בֹא דְב־׹ְך־. א֎ם י֞בֹא ל֞נו֌ שְׁל֎יחו֌ת ד֞֌ב֞ך מֵא֎תְ֌ך֞, מ֎שֶ֌ׁנֵ֌דַע וְנַכ֎֌יך אֶת שְׁמֶך֞: וְכ֎בַ֌דְנו֌ך֞. וְנַעֲשֶׂה מַה שֶ֌ׁת֎֌שְׁלַח ל֞נו֌:
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.

׀סוק י׮ח · Verse 18

Hebrew:

וַי֌ֹրאמֶך לוֹ֙ מַלְאַ֣ךְ יְהֹו֞֔ה ל֥֞מ֌֞ה ז֌ֶ֖ה ת֌֎שְׁאַ֣ל ל֎שְׁמ֎֑י וְהו֌א֟׀ֶ֜ל֎אי׃ {×€}

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.
ךש׎יRashi
וְהו֌א ׀ֶל֎אי. מְכֻסֶ֌ה, ת֞֌מ֎יד הו֌א מ֎שְׁתַ֌נֶ֌ה וְאֵין י֞דו֌עַ לְמ־ה מ֎שְׁתַ֌נֶ֌ה הַי֌וֹם (ס׀ךי 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.

׀סוק י׮ט · Verse 19

Hebrew:

וַי֌֎ק֌ַ֚ח מ֞נ֜וֹחַ אֶת֟ג֌ְד֎րי ה֞֜ע֎ז֌֎ים֙ וְאֶת֟הַמ֌֎נְח֞֔ה וַי֌ַ֥עַל עַל֟הַ׊֌֖ו֌ך לַ֜יהֹו֑֞ה ו֌מַ׀ְל֎֣א לַעֲשׂ֔וֹת ו֌מ֞נ֥וֹחַ וְא֎שְׁת֌֖וֹ ךֹא֎֜ים׃

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.

׀סוק כ׳ · Verse 20

Hebrew:

וַיְה֎י֩ בַעֲל֚וֹת הַל֌ַ֜הַב מֵעַրל הַמ֌֎זְב֌ֵ֙חַ֙ הַשׁ֌֞מַ֔יְמ֞ה וַי֌ַ֥עַל מַלְאַךְ֟יְהֹו֖֞ה ב֌ְלַ֣הַב הַמ֌֎זְב֌ֵ֑חַ ו֌מ֞נրוֹחַ וְא֎שְׁת֌וֹ֙ ךֹא֎֔ים וַי֌֎׀֌ְל֥ו֌ עַל֟׀֌ְנֵיהֶ֖ם א֞֜ךְ׊֞ה׃

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.

׀סוק כ׮א · Verse 21

Hebrew:

וְלֹא֟י֞րסַף עוֹד֙ מַלְאַ֣ךְ יְהֹו֞֔ה לְהֵך֞אֹ֖ה אֶל֟מ֞נ֣וֹחַ וְאֶל֟א֎שְׁת֌֑וֹ א־֚ז י֞דַ֣ע מ֞נ֔וֹחַ כ֌֎֜י֟מַלְאַ֥ךְ יְהֹו֖֞ה ה֜ו֌א׃

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.

׀סוק כ׮ב · Verse 22

Hebrew:

וַי֌ֹ֧אמֶך מ֞נ֛וֹחַ אֶל֟א֎שְׁת֌֖וֹ מ֣וֹת נ֞מ֑ו֌ת כ֌֎֥י אֱלֹה֎֖ים ך֞א֎֜ינו֌׃

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.

׀סוק כ׮ג · Verse 23

Hebrew:

וַת֌ֹ֧אמֶך ל֣וֹ א֎שְׁת֌֗וֹ לו֌֩ ×—Öž×€ÖµÖš×¥ יְהֹו֞րה לַהֲמ֎יתֵ֙נו֌֙ לֹ֜א֟ל֞קַրח מ֎י֌֞דֵ֙נו֌֙ עֹל֣֞ה ו֌מ֎נְח֞֔ה וְלֹ֥א הֶךְא֖֞נו֌ אֶת֟כ֌ׇל֟אֵ֑ל֌ֶה וְכ֞עֵ֕ת לֹ֥א ה֎שְׁמ֎יע֖֞נו֌ כ֌֞זֹ֜את׃

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.
ךש׎יRashi
וְכ֞עֵת. הַזֹ֌את: לֹא ה֎שְׁמ֎יע֞נו֌ כ֞֌זֹאת. לֹא ה־י־ה מַשְׁמ֎יעֵנו֌ בְ֌שׂוֹך֞ה זוֹ א֎ם ךְאו֌י֎ים א֞נו֌ ל֞מו֌ת:
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.

׀סוק כ׮ד · Verse 24

Hebrew:

וַת֌ֵրלֶד ה֞֜א֎שׁ֌֞ה֙ ב֌ֵ֔ן וַת֌֎קְך֥֞א אֶת֟שְׁמ֖וֹ שׁ֎מְשׁ֑וֹן וַי֌֎גְד֌ַ֣ל הַנ֌ַ֔עַך וַ֜יְב֞ךְכֵ֖הו֌ יְהֹו֞֜ה׃

English:

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

׀סוק כ׮ה · Verse 25

Hebrew:

וַת֌֞֙חֶל֙ ך֣ו֌חַ יְהֹו֞֔ה לְ׀ַעֲמ֖וֹ ב֌ְמַחֲנֵה֟ד֑֞ן ב֌ֵ֥ין ׊ׇךְע֖֞ה ו֌בֵ֥ין אֶשְׁת֌֞אֹ֜ל׃ {×€}

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.
ךש׎יRashi
לְ׀ַעֲמוֹ. ל֞בֹא בְ֌ק֎ךְב֌וֹ ל֎׀ְע֞מ֎ים:
Pulsating within him. Visiting him intermittently.

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