Israel's evil brings forty years of Philistine oppression; the angel of the LORD appears to the barren wife of Manoah the Danite, announcing she will bear a son who must be a Nazirite from the womb—no razor on his head—and he will begin to save Israel from the Philistines. Manoah prays to see the angel again and receives further instructions; when they offer a sacrifice, the angel ascends in the flame and appears no more, causing Manoah to fear death from seeing God. The woman bears Samson, who grows, and the Spirit of the LORD begins to stir him at Mahaneh-dan between Zorah and Eshtaol.
Read Judges Chapter 13 Summary
Original
Characters in This Chapter
Deborah
Prophetess and judge who led Israel to victory over the Canaanites
Gideon
Judge who defeated the Midianites with 300 men, demonstrating God's power
Samson
Nazirite judge with supernatural strength who fought the Philistines
Jephthah
Outcast who became judge and defeated the Ammonites
Manoah
Father of Samson
Places in This Chapter
Position in Book
Incomplete ConquestChapters 1-2
The JudgesChapters 3-16
Stories of the judges including Othniel, Ehud, Deborah, Gideon, Jephthah, and Samson who delivered Israel from various oppressors.
Moral and Spiritual DeclineChapters 17-21
Bible Bites
A left-handed hero the enemy never saw coming
The judge Ehud was left-handed, so he hid his sword on his right thigh, the side guards never checked (Judges 3:15-21). His 'weakness' became the very reason his surprise attack succeeded. The Bible loves an unlikely hero.
Judges 3:15-21