Judges 13

Judges 13:1

J. Samson (Chaps. 13-16)

1. Samson’s Godly Heritage (Chap. 13)13:1-3 For the seventh time in Judges we read: “Again the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD.” The cycle begins again; this time the Philistines enslaved Israel for forty years. This was the longest oppression the nation had yet undergone. While the Israelites were being oppressed by the Philistines, the Angel of the LORD (Christ) appeared to the wife of Manoah, of the tribe of Dan, and announced that, though she had been barren, she would become the mother of a son. The barren womb is often a starting place in the purposes of God. He calls life out of death and uses the things that “are not” to confound the things that are. 13:4-7 This son was to be a Nazirite from his mother’s womb to the day of his death. He was not to drink . . . wine or eat grapes or raisins, nor was his hair to be cut. The mother herself was to abstain from wine or similar drink and from anything unclean. For the scriptural background of the Nazirite vow, see Num_6:2. Ordinarily, Naziriteship was a vow which a person made of his own will. But in Samson’s case Naziriteship was to extend from his birth to his death. 13:8-14 Manoah prayed for another visit from the Angel of the Lord and for further instructions. The Angel appeared to the woman again, and she hurriedly brought her husband out to meet this heavenly Visitor. No further instructions were given by the Angel at this time, however. 13:15-18 Then Manoah offered to prepare a meal for the Angel, thinking that he was a mere man. The Angel refused to eat with Manoah merely as one of equal rank. He proposed instead that a kid be offered as a burnt offering . . . to the LORD. When Manoah asked the Angel’s name, he was told it was Wonderfulone of the names given to the Lord Jesus in Isa_9:6. 13:19-23 Then Manoah offered the young goat to the LORD. The Angel ascended to heaven in the flame of the altar, showing clearly that this was an appearance of the LORD Himself. Manoah and his wife then worshiped by falling on their facesan act that would have been improper if the Angel were less than God. They had seen the LORD, but they would not die as a result, since God had received a burnt offering and a grain offering from them. 13:24, 25 After this the son was born and named Samson (little sun). It soon became obvious that the Spirit of the LORD was working powerfully in his life. Few men in the Bible exhibit such a contrast of strength and weakness. When we think of Samson, we ordinarily think of his strengths. He killed a lion with his bare hands (Jdg_14:6). He killed thirty Philistines single-handed (Jdg_14:19). He broke the cords with which the men of Judah had bound him, and slew 1000 Philistines with the jawbone of a donkey (Jdg_15:14-16). In escaping from a trap which the Philistines had laid for him, he walked away with the gates of Gaza (Jdg_16:3).

Three times he escaped the treachery of Delilahonce by breaking the seven fresh bowstrings that bound him, once by snapping the new ropes as if they were a thread, and once by pulling out the pin that fastened the seven locks of his hair to a loom (Jdg_16:6-14). Finally, he pulled down the pillars of the house in which the Philistines were being amused by him, killing more in his death than he did in his life (Jdg_16:30). But Samson’s weaknesses were even more apparent. He had a weakness for women, and was willing to disobey God in order to get a woman who pleased him (Jdg_14:1-7). He also disobeyed his parents (Jdg_14:3). He practiced deceit (Jdg_14:9; Jdg_16:7, Jdg_16:11, Jdg_16:13 b). He fraternized with thirty Philistines, the enemies of God’s people (Jdg_14:11-18). He gave way to temper and vindictiveness (Jdg_14:19 b; Jdg_15:4-5). He had a cruel streak in his nature (Jdg_15:4-5). He consorted with a harlot (Jdg_16:1-2). He dallied with evil (Jdg_16:6-14). He revealed the secret of his strength to the enemy (Jdg_16:17-18). He was too cocky and self-confident (Jdg_16:20 b). Last, but not least, he broke his Nazirite vow (Jdg_14:9).