Judges 13:11 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And Manoah arose and went after his wife and came to the man and said to him, "Are you the man who spoke to this woman?" And he said, "I am."

NIV: 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.

NASB: So Manoah got up and followed his wife, and when he came to the man he said to him, 'Are you the man who spoke to the woman?' And he said, 'I am.'

CSB: So Manoah got up and followed his wife. When he came to the man, he asked, "Are you the man who spoke to my wife?" "I am," he said.

NLT: Manoah ran back with his wife and asked, 'Are you the man who spoke to my wife the other day?' 'Yes,' he replied, 'I am.'

KJV: 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.

NKJV: So Manoah arose and followed his wife. When he came to the Man, he said to Him, “Are You the Man who spoke to this woman?” And He said, “I am.”

As far as Manoah and his wife know, an unusual man has appeared to her with a happy and startling announcement. Though she has been barren, they will now have a son. This son will be unique. He will be set apart to the Lord as a Nazarite. He won't be allowed to drink alcohol or have his hair cut. While those vows are established already in the Law (Numbers 6:1–21), it's unprecedented for someone to be so dedicated while still in the womb. The boy's destiny will be to begin to save Israel from the oppressing Philistines (Judges 13:2–7).

The couple seems to understand the "man of God" is from the Lord—or likely even God Himself in some temporary form—but Manoah longs for more information. He asks God to send the "man" back to talk more about how to raise their son (Judges 13:8). God grants Manoah's prayer but delays sharing direct information with Manoah, at least at first.

When "the angel of God" returns, He appears again to Manoah's wife when her husband is not around. She runs and brings Manoah back, so he can ask, awkwardly, if this is the being who spoke to his wife. The "angel of the LORD" says simply, "I am" and stops talking. While many interpreters believe this is a "theophany" where God Himself appears, He does not use the exact same phrase spoken to Moses (Exodus 3:14). To Moses, God called Himself e'heyeh aser' e'heyeh, literally "I am who I am." Here, the Angel simply uses the word ā'ni, somewhat like saying, "yes, I." When they later ask for His name, He will imply that it's beyond their understanding (Judges 13:18).

Judges 13:8–25 explains how Manoah learned of his wife's interaction with a messenger from God. He prays for more understanding, so he can properly fulfill his obligations. The angel of the Lord appears, again, and repeats his instructions. The child is to be consecrated as a Nazirite for his entire life. Manoah prepares a sacrifice, and the angel disappears into the flames. This further confirms the truth of the message. Manoah and his wife name their child Samson, who shows signs of blessing and the influence of God's Spirit from an early age.

The Lord appoints another deliverer for Israel, this time in response to oppression under the Philistines. An impressive stranger appears to Manoah and his wife, announcing they will have a son. This child is to be set apart as a Nazarite from before birth until death. His mother must not drink wine or strong drink or eat any unclean thing. This visitor then disappears into the flames of a burnt offering. The couple realizes they have seen a manifestation of Yahweh, Himself. Samson is born and soon shows signs of God's influence.

After Jephthah's rescue (Judges 11—12) this passage begins with another generation sinning against God. As is the pattern of the book of Judges, this leads to oppression. Israel is subject to forty years of misery under the Philistines. God appears to the wife of Manoah in the territory of Dan. She is commanded to consecrate her unborn son as a Nazarite, and that this child will begin to save Israel from the Philistines. Samson is born and is blessed by God. This is as pure as Samson's life will be—the rest of his story is an awkward, scandalous example of the Lord using flawed people to accomplish His great purposes.

The Book of Judges describes Israel's history from the death of Joshua to shortly before Israel's first king, Saul. Israel fails to complete God's command to purge the wicked Canaanites from the land (Deuteronomy 7:1–5; 9:4). This results in a centuries-long cycle where Israel falls into sin and is oppressed by local enemies. After each oppression, God sends a civil-military leader, labeled using a Hebrew word loosely translated into English as "judge." These appointed rescuers would free Israel from enemy control and govern for a certain time. After each judge's death, the cycle of sin and oppression begins again. This continues until the people of Israel choose a king, during the ministry of the prophet-and-judge Samuel (1 Samuel 1—7).