December 19, 2013, Reading

Judges   13: 2-7,24-25

13:2 Now there was a certain man from Zorah, and of the stock of Dan, whose name was Manoah, having a barren wife.

13:3 And an Angel of the Lord appeared to her, and he said: “You are barren and without children. But you shall conceive and bear a son.

13:4 Therefore, take care that you do not drink wine or strong drink. Neither shall you eat anything unclean.

13:5 For you shall conceive and bear a son, whose head no razor shall touch. For he shall be a Nazirite of God, from his infancy and from his mother’s womb. And he shall begin to free Israel from the hand of the Philistines.”

13:6 And when she had gone to her husband, she said to him: “A man of God came to me, having the countenance of an Angel, exceedingly terrible. And when I had inquired of him, who he was, and where he was from, and what name he was called, he was not willing to tell me.

13:7 But he responded: ‘Behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. Take care that you do not drink wine or strong drink. And you shall not consume anything unclean. For the boy shall be a Nazirite of God from his infancy, from his mother’s womb, even until the day of his death.’ ”

13:24 And so she bore a son, and she called his name Samson. And the boy grew up, and the Lord blessed him.

13:25 And the Spirit of the Lord began to be with him in the camp of Dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.