2 And there is a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danite, and his name 'is' Manoah, his wife 'is' barren, and hath not borne; 3 and a messenger of Jehovah appeareth unto the woman, and saith unto her, 'Lo, I pray thee, thou 'art' barren, and hast not borne; when thou hast conceived, then thou hast borne a son. 4 And, now, take heed, I pray thee, and do not drink wine, and strong drink, and do not eat any unclean thing, 5 for, lo, thou art conceiving and bearing a son, and a razor doth not go up on his head, for a Nazarite to God is the youth from the womb, and he doth begin to save Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.' 6 And the woman cometh and speaketh to her husband, saying, 'A man of God hath come unto me, and his appearance 'is' as the appearance of a messenger of God, very fearful, and I have not asked him whence he 'is', and his name he hath not declared to me; 7 and he saith to me, Lo, thou art pregnant, and bearing a son, and now do not drink wine and strong drink, and do not eat any unclean thing, for a Nazarite to God is the youth from the womb till the day of his death.'
8 And Manoah maketh entreaty unto Jehovah, and saith, 'O, my Lord, the man of God whom Thou didst send, let him come in, I pray thee, again unto us, and direct us what we do to the youth who is born.' 9 And God hearkeneth to the voice of Manoah, and the messenger of God cometh again unto the woman, and she 'is' sitting in a field, and Manoah her husband is not with her, 10 and the woman hasteth, and runneth, and declareth to her husband, and saith unto him, 'Lo, he hath appeared unto me—the man who came on 'that' day unto me.'
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Judges 13:2-10
Commentary on Judges 13:1-7
(Read Judges 13:1-7)
Israel did evil: then God delivered them again into the hands of the Philistines. When Israel was in this distress, Samson was born. His parents had been long childless. Many eminent persons were born of such mothers. Mercies long waited for, often prove signal mercies; and by them others may be encouraged to continue their hope in God's mercy. The angel notices her affliction. God often sends comfort to his people very seasonably, when they feel their troubles most. This deliverer of Israel must be devoted to God. Manoah's wife was satisfied that the messenger was of God. She gave her husband a particular account, both of the promise and of the precept. Husbands and wives should tell each other their experiences of communion with God, and their improvements in acquaintance with him, that they may help each other in the way that is holy.
Commentary on Judges 13:8-14
(Read Judges 13:8-14)
Blessed are those who have not seen, and yet, as Manoah, have believed. Good men are more careful and desirous to know the duty to be done by them, than to know the events concerning them: duty is ours, events are God's. God will guide those by his counsel, who desire to know their duty, and apply to him to teach them. Pious parents, especially, will beg Divine assistance. The angel repeats the directions he had before given. There is need of much care for the right ordering both of ourselves and our children, that we may be duly separate from the world, and living sacrifices to the Lord.