“The Major Judges: Sampson Part I”

 “And there was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren, and bare not.” (Judges 13:2)

The Conception of Sampson

Just as when an angel of the LORD had told Abraham and his wife Sarah that though she was barren she would conceive a child. This angel was different with its message.

“4Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink not wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing:

5For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.” (Judges 13:4-5)

Manoah’s wife told him what the angel had said, and Manoah wanted to meet this angel. Manoah prayed to God to send his angel again so they could learn what is was they should do.

Once again the angel appeared to Manoah’s wife with the same message. This time Manoah’s wife ran to bring him to the angel.

The angel repeated the instructions to Manoah. Manoah wanted to bring food to the angel, but the angel refused.

“19So Manoah took a kid with a meat offering, and offered it upon a rock unto the LORD: and the angel did wondrously; and Manoah and his wife looked on.

20For it came to pass, when the flame went up toward heaven from off the altar, that the angel of the LORD ascended in the flame of the altar. And Manoah and his wife looked on it, and fell on their faces to the ground.

21But the angel of the LORD did no more appear to Manoah and to his wife. Then Manoah knew that he was an angel of the LORD.

22And Manoah said unto his wife, We shall surely die, because we have seen God.

23But his wife said unto him, If the LORD were pleased to kill us, he would not have received a burnt offering and a meat offering at our hands, neither would he have shewed us all these things, nor would as at this time have told us such things as these.” (Judges 13:19-23)

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