Judges 13:13 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And the angel of the LORD said to Manoah, “Of all that I said to the woman let her be careful.

NIV: The angel of the LORD answered, 'Your wife must do all that I have told her.

NASB: And the angel of the Lord said to Manoah, 'The woman shall pay attention to all that I said.

CSB: The angel of the Lord answered Manoah, "Your wife needs to do everything I told her.

NLT: The angel of the Lord replied, 'Be sure your wife follows the instructions I gave her.

KJV: And the angel of the LORD said unto Manoah, Of all that I said unto the woman let her beware.

NKJV: So the Angel of the Lord said to Manoah, “Of all that I said to the woman let her be careful.

Manoah's wife has received a visit from a man who looks like an awe-inspiring angel (Judges 13:2–12). Neither yet understand that this "angel of the LORD," is almost certainly God Himself in a temporary human form. Manoah has prayed for a return visit to learn more about their future son, and how they should raise the boy.

Now face to face with the "man," Manoah has posed a broad question. He apparently hopes this will draw out the most information possible. He has asked what the boy's life will be like, and what will be the focus of his life. This fits with his earlier prayer that this "angel" would teach them what to do with the promised child.

The "angel of the LORD" does not seem inclined to give Manoah added information, at least not yet. Instead, he tells Manoah that his wife should be diligent about following the instructions already given. This emphasizes that this message is primarily being delivered to Manoah's wife, and she is the one primarily responsible for keeping it, for now. However, the Lord will graciously give Manoah another overview (Judges 13:14).

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).