Judges 13:1-25

13:3-5 | This was no ordinary angel. God sent His very own son (the Angel of the LORD) to announce the coming birth of Samson.

13:5 | Those who took a Nazirite (Heb., “to separate”) vow voluntarily and publicly gave themselves to God as special servants to carry out specified duties. The requirements are spelled out in Numbers 6:1-8 and included abstaining from alcohol, not touching dead bodies, and not cutting one’s hair – all of which Samson violated in his lifetime (14:6-20; 15:15; 16:17-19).

13:18 | The Angel of the LORD affirmed the mystery and power of His name by refusing to divulge it to Samson’s father. To do so would signify that Manoah had some control over Him. The angel did identify Himself as wonderful, foreshadowing Isaiah’s prophesy in Isaiah 9:6.

13:25 | How the Spirit of the LORD began to move upon him, the text does not say. Perhaps the Lord just took hold of Samson’s body and filled him with supernatural strength so that he would be prepared for the bloody battles with the Philistines. One thing is certain: Samson’s power came from God.