Manoah

Manoah is a man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose wife was barren and to whom the angel of Yahweh announces the birth of a son who will begin to save Israel from the Philistines. The narrative in Judges 13 frames him as a careful and pious father, repeatedly seeking instruction from the messenger and offering sacrifice when the angel ascends in the flame of the altar.

A Danite of Zorah

The opening of the account places Manoah within Israel's tribal geography. "And there was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren, and had not given birth" (Judges 13:2). The childlessness of his wife is the setting against which the divine announcement is made.

The Annunciation to His Wife

The angel of Yahweh appears first to Manoah's wife, not to Manoah himself. "And the angel of Yahweh appeared to the woman, and said to her, Look now, you are barren, and have not given birth; but you will become pregnant, and give birth to a son" (Judges 13:3). The instructions about the unborn son's life are given to her: she is to drink no wine or strong drink, eat nothing unclean, and the boy will be a Nazirite to God from the womb (Judges 13:4-5). She reports the encounter to Manoah, describing the visitor as "A man of God ... and his countenance was like the countenance of the angel of God, very awesome" (Judges 13:6), and repeating the vow's terms (Judges 13:7).

Manoah's Prayer and the Second Visitation

Manoah's response is to ask for the messenger to return and teach them how to raise the child. "Then Manoah entreated Yahweh, and said, Oh, Lord, I pray you, let the man of God whom you sent come again to us, and teach us what we will do to the lad that will be born" (Judges 13:8). The prayer is heard: "And God listened to the voice of Manoah; and the angel of God came again to the woman as she sat in the field: but her husband Manoah wasn't with her" (Judges 13:9). She runs to fetch him, and Manoah goes back with her to the field (Judges 13:10-11).

When Manoah questions the messenger directly — "Now let your words come to pass: what will be the ordering of the lad, and [how] shall we do to him?" (Judges 13:12) — the answer redirects him to what was already told to his wife: "Of all that I said to the woman let her beware" (Judges 13:13). The Nazirite restrictions are reaffirmed: she may not eat of the vine, drink wine or strong drink, or eat anything unclean (Judges 13:14).

The Offering and the Ascent in the Flame

Manoah's instinct is hospitality and sacrifice. He asks the visitor to stay while he prepares a young goat (Judges 13:15). The angel refuses to eat but redirects the meal toward Yahweh: "Though you detain me, I will not eat of your bread; and if you will prepare a burnt-offering, you must offer it to Yahweh. For Manoah didn't know that he was the angel of Yahweh" (Judges 13:16). When Manoah asks the messenger's name to honor him, the answer is a refusal: "Why do you ask after my name, seeing it is wonderful?" (Judges 13:18).

The decisive moment comes at the altar. "So Manoah took the young goat with the meal-offering, and offered it on the rock to Yahweh: and [the angel] did wondrously, and Manoah and his wife looked on. For it came to pass, when the flame went up toward heaven from off the altar, that the angel of Yahweh ascended in the flame of the altar: and Manoah and his wife looked on; and they fell on their faces to the ground" (Judges 13:19-20). Only after the ascent does Manoah recognize the visitor: "But the angel of Yahweh did not appear anymore to Manoah or to his wife. Then Manoah knew that he was the angel of Yahweh" (Judges 13:21).

Fear and His Wife's Reasoning

Manoah's first reaction to the recognition is dread: "We will surely die, because we have seen God" (Judges 13:22). His wife answers with a reasoned counter-argument from the offering itself: "If Yahweh desired to kill us, he would not have received a burnt-offering and a meal-offering at our hand, neither would he have shown us all these things, nor would at this time have told such things as these" (Judges 13:23). The exchange leaves the husband's fear answered by the wife's theological insight.

The Birth of Samson

The chapter closes with the promise fulfilled. "And the woman bore a son, and named him Samson: and the lad grew, and Yahweh blessed him" (Judges 13:24). Manoah's name passes into scripture as the father through whom the Danite deliverer is given.