13:1 The Philistines lived on the west side of Canaan, along the Mediterranean seacoast. From Samson’s day until the time of David they were the major enemy force in the land and a constant threat to Israel. The Philistines were fierce warriors; they had the advantage over Israel in numbers, tactical expertise, and technology. They knew the secret of making weapons out of iron (1 Samuel 13:19-22). But none of that mattered when God was fighting for Israel.
13:1ff Once again the cycle of sin, judgment, and repentance began (3:8, 9, 14, 15; 4:1-4; 6:1-14; 10:6–11:11). The Israelites would not turn to God unless they had been stunned by suffering, oppression, and death. This suffering was not caused by God, but resulted from the fact that the people ignored God, their Judge and Ruler. What will it take for you to follow God? The warnings in God’s Word are clear: If we continue to harden our hearts against God, we can expect the same fate as Israel.
13:2, 3 The angel of the Lord could have been a special divine messenger sent from God or a pre-Incarnation appearance of Jesus Christ. The reason for the angel’s visit was to give Samson’s parents the vital news that Samson would begin to rescue Israel from the Philistines. (For more on the angel, see the notes on 2:1 and 6:11).
13:5 Samson was to be a Nazarite—a person who took a vow to be set apart for God’s service. Samson’s parents made the vow for him. A Nazarite vow was sometimes temporary, but in Samson’s case, it was for life. As a Nazarite, Samson could not cut his hair, touch a dead body, or drink anything containing alcohol.
Although Samson often used poor judgment and sinned terribly, he accomplished much when he determined to be set apart for God. In this way he was like the nation Israel. As long as the Israelites remained set apart for God, the nation thrived. But they fell into terrible sin when they ignored God.
13:5 Manoah’s wife was told that her son would begin to rescue the Israelites from Philistine oppression. It wasn’t until David’s day that the Philistine opposition was completely crushed (2 Samuel 8:1). Samson’s part in subduing the Philistines was just the beginning, but it was important nonetheless. It was the task God had given Samson to do. Be faithful in following God even if you don’t see instant results, because you might be beginning an important job that others will finish.
13:18 Why did the angel keep his name a secret? In those days people believed that if they knew someone’s name, they knew his character and how to control him. By not giving his name, the angel was not allowing himself to be controlled by Manoah. He was also saying that his name was a mystery beyond understanding and too wonderful to imagine. Manoah asked the angel for an answer that he wouldn’t have understood. Sometimes we ask God questions and then receive no answer. This may not be because God is saying no. We may have asked for knowledge beyond our ability to understand or accept.
13:19 Manoah sacrificed a meat offering—that is, a food offering—to the Lord. A food offering was grain, oil, and flour shaped into a cake and burned on the altar along with the burnt offering (the young goat). The meat offering, described in Leviticus 2, was offered to God as a sign of honor, respect, and worship. It was an acknowledgment that because the Israelites’ food came from God, they owed their lives to him. With the meat offering, Manoah showed his desire to serve God and demonstrated his respect.
13:25 Samson’s tribe, Dan, continued to wander in their inherited land (18:1), which was yet unconquered (Joshua 19:47, 48). Samson must have grown up with his warlike tribe’s yearnings for a permanent and settled territory. Thus, his visits to the tribal army camp stirred his heart, and God’s Spirit began preparing him for his role as judge and leader against the Philistines.
Perhaps there are things that stir your heart. These may indicate areas where God wants to use you. God uses a variety of means to develop and prepare us: hereditary traits, environmental influences, and personal experiences. As with Samson, this preparation often begins long before adulthood. Work at being sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s leading and the tasks God has prepared for you. Your past may be more useful to you than you imagine.