Judges

Chapter 13

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּosi֨pu֙ bּene֣y yishsera'e֔l la'ashs֥ot hara֖ bּe'eyne֣y yehva֑h vayּitּene֧m yehva֛h bּeyad-pּelishshetּi֖ym 'arebּa'i֥ym shshanaֽh׃p

Edified Edition (EDE)Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD, so the LORD delivered them into the hands of the Philistines for forty years.

וַיֹּסִ֨פוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת הָרַ֖ע בְּעֵינֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה וַיִּתְּנֵ֧ם יְהוָ֛ה בְּיַד־פְּלִשְׁתִּ֖ים אַרְבָּעִ֥ים שָׁנָֽה׃פ

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayehiy֩ 'i֨yshsh 'echa֧d mitzּare'a֛h mimּishshepּa֥chat hadּani֖y ushshem֣o man֑ocha ve'ishshetּ֥o 'aqara֖h velo֥ yalaֽdah׃

Edified Edition (EDE)A certain man of Zorah, named Manoah, from the clan of the Danites, had a wife who was childless, unable to give birth.

וַיְהִי֩ אִ֨ישׁ אֶחָ֧ד מִצָּרְעָ֛ה מִמִּשְׁפַּ֥חַת הַדָּנִ֖י וּשְׁמ֣וֹ מָנ֑וֹחַ וְאִשְׁתּ֥וֹ עֲקָרָ֖ה וְלֹ֥א יָלָֽדָה׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּera֥ male'ake-yehva֖h 'el-ha'ishshּa֑h vayּo֣'mer 'ele֗yha hinּeh-na֤ 'atּe-'aqarah֙ velo֣ yala֔detּe vehari֖yt veyala֥detּe bּeֽn׃

Edified Edition (EDE)The angel of the LORD appeared to her and said, "You are barren and childless, but you are going to become pregnant and give birth to a son.

וַיֵּרָ֥א מַלְאַךְ־יְהוָ֖ה אֶל־הָאִשָּׁ֑ה וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלֶ֗יהָ הִנֵּה־נָ֤א אַתְּ־עֲקָרָה֙ וְלֹ֣א יָלַ֔דְתְּ וְהָרִ֖ית וְיָלַ֥דְתְּ בֵּֽן׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): ve'atּah֙ hishshּa֣meriy na֔ ve'al-tּishshetּi֖y ya֣yin veshsheka֑r ve'al-tּo'keli֖y kּal-tameֽ'׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Now see to it that you drink no wine or other fermented drink and that you do not eat anything unclean.

וְעַתָּה֙ הִשָּׁ֣מְרִי נָ֔א וְאַל־תִּשְׁתִּ֖י יַ֣יִן וְשֵׁכָ֑ר וְאַל־תֹּאכְלִ֖י כָּל־טָמֵֽא׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): kּiy֩ hinּa֨ke hara֜h veyola֣detּe bּe֗n umorah֙ lo'-ya'ale֣h 'al-ro'shsh֔o kּiֽy-nezi֧yr 'elohi֛ym yiheye֥h hanּa֖'ar min-habּa֑ten veh֗u yache֛l lehoshshi֥y'a 'et-yishsera'e֖l miyּa֥d pּelishshetּiֽym׃

Edified Edition (EDE)You will become pregnant and have a son whose head is never to be touched by a razor because the boy is to be a Nazarite [1], dedicated to God from the womb. He will take the lead in delivering Israel from the hands of the Philistines."

כִּי֩ הִנָּ֨ךְ הָרָ֜ה וְיֹלַ֣דְתְּ בֵּ֗ן וּמוֹרָה֙ לֹא־יַעֲלֶ֣ה עַל־רֹאשׁ֔וֹ כִּֽי־נְזִ֧יר אֱלֹהִ֛ים יִהְיֶ֥ה הַנַּ֖עַר מִן־הַבָּ֑טֶן וְה֗וּא יָחֵ֛ל לְהוֹשִׁ֥יעַ אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל מִיַּ֥ד פְּלִשְׁתִּֽים׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vatּabo֣ ha'ishshּa֗h vatּo֣'mer le'iyshshahּ֮ le'mor֒ 'i֤yshsh ha'elohiym֙ bּa֣ 'ela֔y umare'e֕hu kּemare'e֛h male'a֥ke ha'elohi֖ym nora֣ me'o֑d velo֤ shshe'iletּi֨yhu֙ 'eֽy-mizּe֣h h֔u ve'et-shshem֖o loֽ'-higּi֥yd liֽy׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Then the woman went to her husband and told him, "A man of God came to me. He looked like an angel of God, very awesome. I didn’t ask him where he came from, and he didn’t tell me his name.

וַתָּבֹ֣א הָאִשָּׁ֗ה וַתֹּ֣אמֶר לְאִישָׁהּ֮ לֵאמֹר֒ אִ֤ישׁ הָאֱלֹהִים֙ בָּ֣א אֵלַ֔י וּמַרְאֵ֕הוּ כְּמַרְאֵ֛ה מַלְאַ֥ךְ הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים נוֹרָ֣א מְאֹ֑ד וְלֹ֤א שְׁאִלְתִּ֨יהוּ֙ אֵֽי־מִזֶּ֣ה ה֔וּא וְאֶת־שְׁמ֖וֹ לֹֽא־הִגִּ֥יד לִֽי׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּo֣'mer li֔y hinּa֥ke hara֖h veyola֣detּe bּe֑n ve'atּa֞h 'al-tּishshetּi֣y ׀ ya֣yin veshsheka֗r ve'al-tּoֽ'keliy֙ kּal-tume'a֔h kּiֽy-nezi֤yr 'elohiym֙ yiheye֣h hanּa֔'ar min-habּe֖ten 'ad-y֥om motֽo׃p

Edified Edition (EDE)But he said to me, 'You will become pregnant and have a son. Now then, drink no wine or other fermented drink and do not eat anything unclean, because the boy will be a Nazirite of God from the womb until the day of his death.'"

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לִ֔י הִנָּ֥ךְ הָרָ֖ה וְיֹלַ֣דְתְּ בֵּ֑ן וְעַתָּ֞ה אַל־תִּשְׁתִּ֣י ׀ יַ֣יִן וְשֵׁכָ֗ר וְאַל־תֹּֽאכְלִי֙ כָּל־טֻמְאָ֔ה כִּֽי־נְזִ֤יר אֱלֹהִים֙ יִהְיֶ֣ה הַנַּ֔עַר מִן־הַבֶּ֖טֶן עַד־י֥וֹם מוֹתֽוֹ׃פ

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּe'etּa֥r man֛ocha 'el-yehva֖h vayּo'ma֑r bּi֣y 'adona֔y 'i֣yshsh ha'elohi֞ym 'ashshe֣r shshala֗chetּa yabo'-na֥ 'od֙ 'ele֔ynu veyore֕nu maֽh-nּa'ashse֖h lanּa֥'ar hayּulּaֽd׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Then Manoah prayed to the LORD: "Pardon your servant, Lord. I beg you to let the man of God you sent to us come again to teach us how to bring up the boy who is to be born."

וַיֶּעְתַּ֥ר מָנ֛וֹחַ אֶל־יְהוָ֖ה וַיֹּאמַ֑ר בִּ֣י אֲדוֹנָ֔י אִ֣ישׁ הָאֱלֹהִ֞ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר שָׁלַ֗חְתָּ יָבוֹא־נָ֥א עוֹד֙ אֵלֵ֔ינוּ וְיוֹרֵ֕נוּ מַֽה־נַּעֲשֶׂ֖ה לַנַּ֥עַר הַיּוּלָּֽד׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּishshema֥ ha'elohi֖ym bּeq֣ol man֑ocha vayּabo֣ male'ake֩ ha'elohi֨ym '֜od 'el-ha'ishshּa֗h vehiy'֙ yoshshe֣bet bּashsּade֔h uman֥ocha 'iyshsha֖hּ 'e֥yn 'imּaֽhּ׃

Edified Edition (EDE)God heard Manoah, and the angel of God came again to the woman while she was out in the field; but her husband Manoah was not with her.

וַיִּשְׁמַ֥ע הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים בְּק֣וֹל מָנ֑וֹחַ וַיָּבֹ֣א מַלְאַךְ֩ הָאֱלֹהִ֨ים ע֜וֹד אֶל־הָאִשָּׁ֗ה וְהִיא֙ יוֹשֶׁ֣בֶת בַּשָּׂדֶ֔ה וּמָנ֥וֹחַ אִישָׁ֖הּ אֵ֥ין עִמָּֽהּ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vatּemaher֙ haֽ'ishshּa֔h vatּa֖ratz vatּagּe֣d le'iyshsha֑hּ vatּo֣'mer 'ela֔yv hinּe֨h nire'a֤h 'elay֙ ha'i֔yshsh 'ashsher-bּa֥ bayּ֖om 'elaֽy׃

Edified Edition (EDE)The woman hurried to tell her husband, "He’s here! The man who appeared to me the other day!"

וַתְּמַהֵר֙ הָֽאִשָּׁ֔ה וַתָּ֖רָץ וַתַּגֵּ֣ד לְאִישָׁ֑הּ וַתֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלָ֔יו הִנֵּ֨ה נִרְאָ֤ה אֵלַי֙ הָאִ֔ישׁ אֲשֶׁר־בָּ֥א בַיּ֖וֹם אֵלָֽי׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּa֛qam vayּe֥leke man֖ocha 'achare֣y 'ishshetּ֑o vayּabo'֙ 'el-ha'i֔yshsh vayּo֣'mer l֗o ha'atּa֥h ha'i֛yshsh 'ashsher-dּibּa֥retּa 'el-ha'ishshּa֖h vayּo֥'mer 'aֽniy׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Manoah got up and followed his wife. When he came to the man, he said, "Are you the man who talked to my wife?" "I am," he said.

וַיָּ֛קָם וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ מָנ֖וֹחַ אַחֲרֵ֣י אִשְׁתּ֑וֹ וַיָּבֹא֙ אֶל־הָאִ֔ישׁ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ל֗וֹ הַאַתָּ֥ה הָאִ֛ישׁ אֲשֶׁר־דִּבַּ֥רְתָּ אֶל־הָאִשָּׁ֖ה וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אָֽנִי׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּo֣'mer man֔ocha 'atּa֖h yabo֣ debare֑yka mah-yּiֽheye֥h mishshepּat-hanּa֖'ar uma'ashseֽhu׃

Edified Edition (EDE)So Manoah asked, "When your words are fulfiled, what is to be the rule that governs the boy’s life and work?"

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר מָנ֔וֹחַ עַתָּ֖ה יָבֹ֣א דְבָרֶ֑יךָ מַה־יִּֽהְיֶ֥ה מִשְׁפַּט־הַנַּ֖עַר וּמַעֲשֵֽׂהוּ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּo֛'mer male'a֥ke yehva֖h 'el-man֑ocha mikּo֛l 'ashsher-'ama֥retּiy 'el-ha'ishshּa֖h tּishshּameֽr׃

Edified Edition (EDE)The angel of the LORD answered, "Your wife must do all that I have told her.

וַיֹּ֛אמֶר מַלְאַ֥ךְ יְהוָ֖ה אֶל־מָנ֑וֹחַ מִכֹּ֛ל אֲשֶׁר־אָמַ֥רְתִּי אֶל־הָאִשָּׁ֖ה תִּשָּׁמֵֽר׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): mikּo֣l 'ashsher-yetze'֩ migּe֨pen hayּa֜yin lo֣ to'ka֗l veya֤yin veshshekar֙ 'al-tּe֔shshetּe vekal-tume'a֖h 'al-tּo'ka֑l kּo֥l 'ashsher-tziuiyti֖yha tּishshemoֽr׃

Edified Edition (EDE)She must not eat anything that comes from the grapevine, nor drink any wine or other fermented drink nor eat anything unclean. She must do everything I have commanded her."

מִכֹּ֣ל אֲשֶׁר־יֵצֵא֩ מִגֶּ֨פֶן הַיַּ֜יִן לֹ֣א תֹאכַ֗ל וְיַ֤יִן וְשֵׁכָר֙ אַל־תֵּ֔שְׁתְּ וְכָל־טֻמְאָ֖ה אַל־תֹּאכַ֑ל כֹּ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־צִוִּיתִ֖יהָ תִּשְׁמֹֽר׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּo֥'mer man֖ocha 'el-male'a֣ke yehva֑h na'etzerah-nּa֣ 'ota֔ke vena'ashse֥h lepane֖yka gּedi֥y 'izּiֽym׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Manoah said to the angel of the LORD, "We would like you to stay until we prepare a young goat for you."

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר מָנ֖וֹחַ אֶל־מַלְאַ֣ךְ יְהוָ֑ה נַעְצְרָה־נָּ֣א אוֹתָ֔ךְ וְנַעֲשֶׂ֥ה לְפָנֶ֖יךָ גְּדִ֥י עִזִּֽים׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּo'mer֩ male'a֨ke yehva֜h 'el-man֗ocha 'im-tּa'etzere֨niy֙ lo'-'oka֣l bּelacheme֔ka ve'im-tּa'ashse֣h 'ola֔h layhva֖h tּa'ale֑nּah kּi֚y lo'-yada֣ man֔ocha kּiֽy-male'a֥ke yehva֖h hֽu'׃

Edified Edition (EDE)The angel of the LORD replied, "Even if you detain me, I will not eat any of your food. But if you prepare a burnt offering, offer it to the LORD." (Manoah did not realise that it was the angel of the LORD.)

וַיֹּאמֶר֩ מַלְאַ֨ךְ יְהוָ֜ה אֶל־מָנ֗וֹחַ אִם־תַּעְצְרֵ֨נִי֙ לֹא־אֹכַ֣ל בְּלַחְמֶ֔ךָ וְאִם־תַּעֲשֶׂ֣ה עֹלָ֔ה לַיהוָ֖ה תַּעֲלֶ֑נָּה כִּ֚י לֹא־יָדַ֣ע מָנ֔וֹחַ כִּֽי־מַלְאַ֥ךְ יְהוָ֖ה הֽוּא׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּo֧'mer man֛ocha 'el-male'a֥ke yehva֖h mi֣y shsheme֑ka kּiֽy-yabo֥ dbryk debareka֖ vekibּadenֽuka׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Then Manoah inquired of the angel of the LORD, "What is your name, so that we may honour you when your word comes true?"

וַיֹּ֧אמֶר מָנ֛וֹחַ אֶל־מַלְאַ֥ךְ יְהוָ֖ה מִ֣י שְׁמֶ֑ךָ כִּֽי־יָבֹ֥א דבריך דְבָרְךָ֖ וְכִבַּדְנֽוּךָ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּo֤'mer lּo֙ male'a֣ke yehva֔h la֥mּah zּe֖h tּishshe'a֣l lishshemi֑y vehu'-pe֛li'y׃s

Edified Edition (EDE)He replied, "Why do you ask my name? It is beyond understanding."

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לּוֹ֙ מַלְאַ֣ךְ יְהוָ֔ה לָ֥מָּה זֶּ֖ה תִּשְׁאַ֣ל לִשְׁמִ֑י וְהוּא־פֶ֛לִאי׃ס

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּiqּa֨ch man֜ocha 'et-gּedi֤y ha'izּiym֙ ve'et-hamּinecha֔h vayּa֥'al 'al-hatzּ֖ur laֽyhva֑h umapeli֣ la'ashs֔ot uman֥ocha ve'ishshetּ֖o ro'iֽym׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Then Manoah took a young goat, together with the grain offering, and sacrificed it on a rock to the LORD. And the LORD did an amazing thing while Manoah and his wife watched:

וַיִּקַּ֨ח מָנ֜וֹחַ אֶת־גְּדִ֤י הָעִזִּים֙ וְאֶת־הַמִּנְחָ֔ה וַיַּ֥עַל עַל־הַצּ֖וּר לַֽיהוָ֑ה וּמַפְלִ֣א לַעֲשׂ֔וֹת וּמָנ֥וֹחַ וְאִשְׁתּ֖וֹ רֹאִֽים׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayehiy֩ ba'al֨ot halּa֜hab me'a֤l hamּizebּe֨cha֙ hashshּama֔yemah vayּa֥'al male'ake-yehva֖h bּela֣hab hamּizebּe֑cha uman֤ocha ve'ishshetּo֙ ro'i֔ym vayּipּel֥u 'al-pּeneyhe֖m 'aֽretzah׃

Edified Edition (EDE)As the flame blazed up from the altar toward heaven, the angel of the LORD ascended in the flame. Seeing this, Manoah and his wife fell with their faces to the ground.

וַיְהִי֩ בַעֲל֨וֹת הַלַּ֜הַב מֵעַ֤ל הַמִּזְבֵּ֨חַ֙ הַשָּׁמַ֔יְמָה וַיַּ֥עַל מַלְאַךְ־יְהוָ֖ה בְּלַ֣הַב הַמִּזְבֵּ֑חַ וּמָנ֤וֹחַ וְאִשְׁתּוֹ֙ רֹאִ֔ים וַיִּפְּל֥וּ עַל־פְּנֵיהֶ֖ם אָֽרְצָה׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): velo'-ya֤sap 'od֙ male'a֣ke yehva֔h lehera'o֖h 'el-man֣ocha ve'el-'ishshetּ֑o 'a֚z yada֣ man֔ocha kּiֽy-male'a֥ke yehva֖h hֽu'׃

Edified Edition (EDE)When the angel of the LORD did not show himself again to Manoah and his wife, Manoah realised that it was the angel of the LORD.

וְלֹא־יָ֤סַף עוֹד֙ מַלְאַ֣ךְ יְהוָ֔ה לְהֵרָאֹ֖ה אֶל־מָנ֣וֹחַ וְאֶל־אִשְׁתּ֑וֹ אָ֚ז יָדַ֣ע מָנ֔וֹחַ כִּֽי־מַלְאַ֥ךְ יְהוָ֖ה הֽוּא׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּo֧'mer man֛ocha 'el-'ishshetּ֖o m֣ot nam֑ut kּi֥y 'elohi֖ym ra'iֽynu׃

Edified Edition (EDE)"We are doomed to die!" he said to his wife. "We have seen God!"

וַיֹּ֧אמֶר מָנ֛וֹחַ אֶל־אִשְׁתּ֖וֹ מ֣וֹת נָמ֑וּת כִּ֥י אֱלֹהִ֖ים רָאִֽינוּ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vatּo֧'mer l֣o 'ishshetּ֗o lu֩ chape֨tz yehva֤h lahamiyte֨nu֙ loֽ'-laqa֤ch miyּade֨nu֙ 'ola֣h uminecha֔h velo֥ here'a֖nu 'et-kּal-'e֑lּeh veka'e֕t lo֥ hishshemiy'a֖nu kּazoֽ't׃

Edified Edition (EDE)But his wife answered, "If the LORD had meant to kill us, he would not have accepted a burnt offering and grain offering from our hands, nor shown us all these things or now announced this to us."

וַתֹּ֧אמֶר ל֣וֹ אִשְׁתּ֗וֹ לוּ֩ חָפֵ֨ץ יְהוָ֤ה לַהֲמִיתֵ֨נוּ֙ לֹֽא־לָקַ֤ח מִיָּדֵ֨נוּ֙ עֹלָ֣ה וּמִנְחָ֔ה וְלֹ֥א הֶרְאָ֖נוּ אֶת־כָּל־אֵ֑לֶּה וְכָעֵ֕ת לֹ֥א הִשְׁמִיעָ֖נוּ כָּזֹֽאת׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vatּe֤led haֽ'ishshּah֙ bּe֔n vatּiqera֥ 'et-shshem֖o shshimeshsh֑on vayּigedּa֣l hanּa֔'ar vaֽyebareke֖hu yehvaֽh׃

Edified Edition (EDE)The woman gave birth to a son and named him Samson. He grew and the LORD blessed him,

וַתֵּ֤לֶד הָֽאִשָּׁה֙ בֵּ֔ן וַתִּקְרָ֥א אֶת־שְׁמ֖וֹ שִׁמְשׁ֑וֹן וַיִּגְדַּ֣ל הַנַּ֔עַר וַֽיְבָרְכֵ֖הוּ יְהוָֽה׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vatּa֨chel֙ r֣ucha yehva֔h lepa'am֖o bּemachaneh-da֑n bּe֥yn tzare'a֖h ube֥yn 'eshshetּa'oֽl׃p

Edified Edition (EDE)and the Spirit of the LORD began to stir him while he was in Mahaneh Dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.

וַתָּ֨חֶל֙ ר֣וּחַ יְהוָ֔ה לְפַעֲמ֖וֹ בְּמַחֲנֵה־דָ֑ן בֵּ֥ין צָרְעָ֖ה וּבֵ֥ין אֶשְׁתָּאֹֽל׃פ