JUDGES LESSON 15
We will begin this lesson in Judges 13:1 "And the children of
Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD delivered
them into the hand of the Philistines forty years."
The number "40" means times of testing. Perhaps, this is why this
period was for 40 years. They seem to never learn. Over and over, they
fall back into sin. Usually, that sin is idolatry or spiritual
adultery. Notice, it is the LORD who delivered them into the hands of
the Philistines.
Judges 13:2 "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."
This is the tribe of Dan. We have already studied in a previous
lesson, how Hebrew women felt about being barren. They felt it was a
curse upon them, and it disgraced them. There is not much known of
Manoah, except that he was frightened at the appearance of the angel,
and that he was the father of Samson. At the time of verse 2 above, he
and his wife had no children.
Judges 13:3 "And the angel of the LORD appeared unto the woman,
and said unto her, Behold now, thou [art] barren, and bearest not: but
thou shalt conceive, and bear a son."
There are just a few times in the Bible, when this message is
brought by the angel of the LORD. Abraham and Sarah were visited like
this. Of course, Mary, the mother of Jesus, was. John the Baptist's
father was, also, visited. This is a special occasion. It is wonderful
news to this barren woman. Not only will she have a child, but it will
be a son to carry on the family.
Judges 13:4 "Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink not
wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean [thing]:"
Notice, this is speaking to the woman. What she eats and drinks
will effect her baby, when it is born. God wants the baby to be pure,
even from his mother's womb. Drug addicted babies are being born in
our society today, because the mother is a drug addict. The Nazarite
must not eat, or drink, anything that grows on a vine. They are never
to drink intoxicating drink.
Judges 13:5 "For, 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."
The Nazarite vow is a vow of separation from all worldliness for
a period of time. The hair is grown long, because it is the crowning
glory of mankind. One word connected with Nazarite is a diadem, or
crown, thus the long hair. This separation is unto God. God gives
special empowerments to those taking this vow. It can be taken by a
man, or a woman. This was a setting aside to the service of God. No
outside influences were to be indulged in. The verb, "nazar", means to
separate. The first Biblical record of this is in Genesis. There is
even an instance of this being done by Paul, one time, in the New
Testament. The hair was not to be cut, until the vow was over. This
is not to be confused with Nazarene, which means a person from
Nazereth. Jesus was a Nazarene, not a Nazarite. The vow usually lasted
30 to 100 days. There were two instances where it covered a lifetime.
One is here. Samson was a Nazarite from his mother's womb. John the
Baptist was, also. This was a special call that few had. When the vow
was over, the person shaved his head at the temple and sacrificed his
hair. The abstinance from anything growing on a vine, and any
intoxicating drink, is part of the vow. The Nazarite was to touch no
dead body. At the end of the vow, the Nazarite resumed normal living,
and was not restricted from wine. The meaning of the vow was a total
separation from the world, and a special dedication to God. The long
uncut hair symbolized strength from God.
Judges 13:6 "Then the woman came and told her husband, saying, A
man of God came unto me, and his countenance [was] like the
countenance of an angel of God, very terrible: but I asked him not
whence he [was], neither told he me his name:"
The wife of Manoah was not sure, at this point, whether this was
a man, or an angel. The name "Gabriel" means man of God. So it is not
unusual to call an angel, man of God. This angel did not give his
name, so it was not necessarily Gabriel. She was, probably, in shock,
because of the things he said to her, and did not think to ask for his
name.
Judges 13:7 "But he said unto me, Behold, thou shalt conceive,
and bear a son; and now drink no wine nor strong drink, neither eat
any unclean [thing]: for the child shall be a Nazarite to God from the
womb to the day of his death."
He had greatly impressed her by the things he said. She had not
forgotten them, and repeated them to her husband. She must have felt
great joy, because she was no longer barren. She, probably, did not
fully understand the magnitude of the Nazarite vow.
Judges 13:8 "Then Manoah entreated the LORD, and said, O my
Lord, let the man of God which thou didst send come again unto us, and
teach us what we shall do unto the child that shall be born."
"Entreated" here is speaking of a prayer to God. Manoah wants to
make sure this message is from God. He wants to hear the instructions,
to make sure there is nothing for him to do, to keep these
instructions. He, also, is thrilled at the possibility of having a
son.
Judges 13:9 "And God hearkened to the voice of Manoah; and the
angel of God came again unto the woman as she sat in the field: but
Manoah her husband [was] not with her."
Just appearing in the field, should have told her that he was an
angel. People walk up, or ride up. They do not just appear. We see
that God answers her husband's prayer, and sends the angel back to
talk with them.
Judges 13:10 "And the woman made haste, and ran, and shewed her
husband, and said unto him, Behold, the man hath appeared unto me,
that came unto me the [other] day."
She knew this was the answer to the prayer, and ran to get her
husband, so he could see him, too. The husband had prayed that the
angel would appear to them both.
Judges 13:11 "And Manoah arose, and went after his wife, and came
to the man, and said unto him, [Art] thou the man that spakest unto
the woman? And he said, I [am]."
It appears, the angel waited in the field, until Manoah returned
with his wife. This is a legitimate question for Manoah to ask, since
he was not there, when the angel spoke to Manaoh's wife. When the
angel answered I am, it was settled that this is the same angel.
Judges 13:12 "And Manoah said, Now let thy words come to pass.
How shall we order the child, and [how] shall we do unto him?"
Manoah is thrilled at the prospect of having a son. He says, let
it be, to the prospect of having this all be as the angel had said. He
would not know how to raise a son such as this. They know what to feed
him, and that he is not to drink wine, but they do not know much else
about how to raise him. They do know that he is never to cut his hair.
His entire life should be lived as a Nazarite.
Judges 13:13 "And the angel of the LORD said unto Manoah, Of all
that I said unto the woman let her beware."
These were things she must do, while she is carrying the baby in
her womb. This shows me that, the baby's welfare in the womb is
governed by the mother while she is carrying the baby. Many babies in
our day are drug addicts, even before they are born, because their
mothers are addicts.
Judges 13:14 "She may not eat of any [thing] that cometh of the
vine, neither let her drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean
[thing]: all that I commanded her let her observe."
The angel repeats the things she is to abstain from while
carrying the baby, so that she will not forget.
Judges 13:15 "And Manoah said unto the angel of the LORD, I pray
thee, let us detain thee, until we shall have made ready a kid for
thee."
Manoah is like many other people, when they see an angel. He has
this angel confused with the LORD. He wants to sacrifice to him.
Judges 13:16 "And the angel of the LORD said unto Manoah, Though
thou detain me, I will not eat of thy bread: and if thou wilt offer a
burnt offering, thou must offer it unto the LORD. For Manoah knew not
that he [was] an angel of the LORD."
The angel is not opposed to Manoah preparing an offering to the
LORD. He just does not want the offering made to him. He will not take
of the offering. Angels are not to be worshipped.
Judges 13:17 "And Manoah said unto the angel of the LORD, What
[is] thy name, that when thy sayings come to pass we may do thee
honour?"
The angel is a messenger from the LORD. It is not important what
his name is. The important thing is, that this message came from God.
He does not want to be honoured.
Judges 13:18 "And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Why askest
thou thus after my name, seeing it [is] secret?"
When it is important for the people to know the name of the
angel, the angel will proclaim his own name. Another meaning for the
word that was translated here, secret, is wonderful. There are some
things too wonderful for us to know on this earth. Paul heard things,
in the third heaven, not lawful to speak on this earth.
Judges 13:19 "So Manoah took a kid with a meat offering, and
offered [it] upon a rock unto the LORD: and [the angel] did
wonderously; and Manoah and his wife looked on."
They made an offering to the LORD on a rock. This is a burnt
offering and meat offering unto the LORD.
Judges 13:20 "For 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."
This was such an overwhelming experience, that they fell on their
faces worshipping God. The angel in the fire rising from the makeshift
altar, left absolutely no doubt that this was a heavenly messenger.
Judges 13:21 "But 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."
He disappeared, as suddenly as he had come.
Judges 13:22 "And Manoah said unto his wife, We shall surely die,
because we have seen God."
This is a natural reaction to such a startling thing that they
had just observed. They related this angel to God. He was not God, but
His messenger. They had been taught that no man could see the face of
God and live.
Judges 13:23 "But 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."
The wife had more faith than her husband. She had faith that God
had truly sent them a message by an angel. She knew in her own heart
that God had accepted their offerings. She, also, knew that all he
said would come true. Her faith overcame the fear of her husband.
Judges 13:24 "And the woman bare a son, and called his name
Samson: and the child grew, and the LORD blessed him."
The name "Samson" means sun-like, or sunlight. Some historical
writers believe the name to mean "a strong one". It is questionable
about this meaning, however. In the language of the Chaldee, it could
mean "to minister". It seemed he grew up as a normal child, except for
his diet, and never having a razor on his head. He was never to cut
his hair. "The LORD blessed him" shows that he was strengthened day
to day by the LORD.
Judges 13:25 "And the spirit of the LORD began to move him at
times in the camp of Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol."
This is just saying that, Samson was controlled by the Spirit of
the LORD, and it caused him to do unusual things, as far as the world
was concerned. The towns mentioned, here, are, possibly, where he went
to on occasion. This was his travel territory.
Samson was, probably, no different to look at than anyone else.
His power was not in his physical might, it was in his power in God.
As long as he kept the Nazarite vow, he would have the power of God
working in him.
Judges 15 Questions
1. How many years did the LORD deliver the children of Israel into
the hands of the Philistines?
2. The number "40" means _______ of _________.
3. What is their usual sin?
4. Of what tribe was Manoah?
5. They had no ___________.
6. Who appeared to the woman with good news?
7. What did he tell her?
8. Who else had an angel of the LORD appear to them like this?
9. What did he caution the woman not to do?
10. Why was this important?
11. The child shall be a Nazarite unto God from his mother's ______.
12. What great thing shall he do for all Israel?
13. What is a Nazarite vow a separation from?
14. Why is his hair grown long?
15. Who can take a Nazarite vow?
16. The verb, "nazar", means to _________.
17. Where is the first Biblical record of a Nazarite vow?
18. How long did the vow usually last?
19. Who, besides Samson, had a lifelong Nazarite vow?
20. The long uncut hair symbolized what?
21. What did the woman tell her husband?
22. What does "Gabriel" mean?
23. Quote Judges chapter 13 verse 7.
24. What does "entreated", in verse 8, mean?
25. Who did the angel appear to the second time?
26. What did the woman do, when he appeared?
27. What was the first question Manoah asked him?
28. What lets us know Manoah approves of this?
29. Why did the angel repeat the instructions, again, to the wife of
Manoah?
30. What does Manoah ask the angel to stay awhile for?
31. Who did the angel say was the only one to sacrifice to?
32. Manoah asked the angel, what was his _________.
33. How did the angel answer him?
34. How did the angel leave them?
35. What did Manoah say, in fear?
36. What did his wife reassure him of?
37. What was the son's name?
38. What does his name mean?
39. What is verse 25 saying?
40. Samson's power was not in his physical might, but in what?
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