The Birth of Samson
(Numbers 6:1–21)

1  וַיֹּסִ֙פוּ֙ (And again) בְּנֵ֣י (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel) לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת (did) הָרַ֖ע (evil) בְּעֵינֵ֣י (in the eyes) יְהוָ֑ה (of YHWH). וַיִּתְּנֵ֧ם (And delivered them) יְהוָ֛ה (YHWH) בְּיַד־ (into the hand) פְּלִשְׁתִּ֖ים (of the Philistines) אַרְבָּעִ֥ים (forty) שָׁנָֽה׃פ (years).

2  וַיְהִי֩ (And there was) אִ֨ישׁ (man) אֶחָ֧ד (a certain) מִצָּרְעָ֛ה (from Zorah) מִמִּשְׁפַּ֥חַת (of the family) הַדָּנִ֖י (of the Danite), וּשְׁמ֣וֹ (and his name was) מָנ֑וֹחַ (Manoah). וְאִשְׁתּ֥וֹ (And his wife was) עֲקָרָ֖ה (barren) וְלֹ֥א (and not) יָלָֽדָה׃ (she had given birth). 3  וַיֵּרָ֥א (And appeared) מַלְאַךְ־ (the angel) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH) אֶל־ (to) הָאִשָּׁ֑ה (the woman) וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (and said) אֵלֶ֗יהָ (to her), הִנֵּה־ (Behold) נָ֤א (please), אַתְּ־ (you) עֲקָרָה֙ (are barren), וְלֹ֣א (and not) יָלַ֔דְתְּ (have you borne children). וְהָרִ֖ית (And you shall conceive) וְיָלַ֥דְתְּ (and bear) בֵּֽן׃ (a son). 4  וְעַתָּה֙ (And now) הִשָּׁ֣מְרִי (be careful), נָ֔א (please), וְאַל־ (and not) תִּשְׁתִּ֖י (do drink) יַ֣יִן (wine) וְשֵׁכָ֑ר (or strong drink), וְאַל־ (and not) תֹּאכְלִ֖י (do eat) כָּל־ (anything) טָמֵֽא׃ (unclean). 5  כִּי֩ (For) הִנָּ֨ךְ (behold), הָרָ֜ה (you will conceive) וְיֹלַ֣דְתְּ (and bear) בֵּ֗ן (a son). וּמוֹרָה֙ (And a razor) לֹא־ (not) יַעֲלֶ֣ה (shall come) עַל־ (upon) רֹאשׁ֔וֹ (his head), כִּֽי־ (for) נְזִ֧יר (a Nazirite) אֱלֹהִ֛ים (to God) יִהְיֶ֥ה (shall be) הַנַּ֖עַר (the child) מִן־ (from) הַבָּ֑טֶן (the womb), וְה֗וּא (and he) יָחֵ֛ל (shall begin) לְהוֹשִׁ֥יעַ (to deliver) אֶת־ (-) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (Israel) מִיַּ֥ד (out of the hand) פְּלִשְׁתִּֽים׃ (of the Philistines).

6  וַתָּבֹ֣א (And came) הָאִשָּׁ֗ה (the woman) וַתֹּ֣אמֶר (and spoke) לְאִישָׁהּ֮ (to her husband), לֵאמֹר֒ (saying), אִ֤ישׁ (A man) הָאֱלֹהִים֙ (of God) בָּ֣א (came) אֵלַ֔י (to me) וּמַרְאֵ֕הוּ (and his appearance) כְּמַרְאֵ֛ה (was like the appearance) מַלְאַ֥ךְ (of the angel) הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים (of God), נוֹרָ֣א (awesome) מְאֹ֑ד (exceedingly). וְלֹ֤א (Not) שְׁאִלְתִּ֙יהוּ֙ (I did ask Him) אֵֽי־ (where) מִזֶּ֣ה (from this) ה֔וּא (He was). וְאֶת־ (And) שְׁמ֖וֹ (his name). לֹֽא־ (Not) הִגִּ֥יד (he did tell) לִֽי׃ (to me). 7  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And he said) לִ֔י (to me), הִנָּ֥ךְ (Behold), הָרָ֖ה (you will conceive) וְיֹלַ֣דְתְּ (and bear) בֵּ֑ן (a son). וְעַתָּ֞ה (And now) אַל־ (not) תִּשְׁתִּ֣י׀ (do drink) יַ֣יִן (wine) וְשֵׁכָ֗ר (or strong drink), וְאַל־ (and not) תֹּֽאכְלִי֙ (do eat) כָּל־ (anything) טֻמְאָ֔ה (unclean), כִּֽי־ (for) נְזִ֤יר (a Nazirite) אֱלֹהִים֙ (to God) יִהְיֶ֣ה (shall be) הַנַּ֔עַר (the child) מִן־ (from) הַבֶּ֖טֶן (the womb) עַד־ (until) י֥וֹם (the day) מוֹתֽוֹ׃פ (of his death).

8  וַיֶּעְתַּ֥ר (And) מָנ֛וֹחַ (Manoah) אֶל־ (prayed to) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) וַיֹּאמַ֑ר (and said), בִּ֣י (O) אֲדוֹנָ֔י (O my Lord), אִ֣ישׁ (the man) הָאֱלֹהִ֞ים (of God) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (whom) שָׁלַ֗חְתָּ (You sent), יָבוֹא־ (let him come) נָ֥א (please) עוֹד֙ (again) אֵלֵ֔ינוּ (to us) וְיוֹרֵ֕נוּ (and teach us) מַֽה־ (what) נַּעֲשֶׂ֖ה (we shall do) לַנַּ֥עַר (for the child) הַיּוּלָּֽד׃ (who will be born).

9  וַיִּשְׁמַ֥ע (And listened) הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים (God) בְּק֣וֹל (to the voice) מָנ֑וֹחַ (of Manoah), וַיָּבֹ֣א (and came) מַלְאַךְ֩ (the angel) הָאֱלֹהִ֨ים (of God) ע֜וֹד (again) אֶל־ (to) הָאִשָּׁ֗ה (the woman), וְהִיא֙ (and she) יוֹשֶׁ֣בֶת (was sitting) בַּשָּׂדֶ֔ה (in the field). וּמָנ֥וֹחַ (And Manoah) אִישָׁ֖הּ (her husband) אֵ֥ין (was not) עִמָּֽהּ׃ (with her). 10  וַתְּמַהֵר֙ (Hurried) הָֽאִשָּׁ֔ה (to her husband) וַתָּ֖רָץ (and ran) וַתַּגֵּ֣ד (and declared) לְאִישָׁ֑הּ (and the woman) וַתֹּ֣אמֶר (and said) אֵלָ֔יו (to him), הִנֵּ֨ה (Behold), נִרְאָ֤ה (has appeared) אֵלַי֙ (to me) הָאִ֔ישׁ (the man) אֲשֶׁר־ (who) בָּ֥א (came) בַיּ֖וֹם (the other day) אֵלָֽי׃ (to me).

11  וַיָּ֛קָם (And arose) וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ (and followed) מָנ֖וֹחַ (Manoah) אַחֲרֵ֣י (after) אִשְׁתּ֑וֹ (his wife), וַיָּבֹא֙ (and he came) אֶל־ (to) הָאִ֔ישׁ (the man), וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (and he said) ל֗וֹ (to him) הַאַתָּ֥ה (You) הָאִ֛ישׁ (are the man) אֲשֶׁר־ (who) דִּבַּ֥רְתָּ (spoke) אֶל־ (to) הָאִשָּׁ֖ה (the woman)?

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר (And He said), אָֽנִי׃ (I am).

12  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) מָנ֔וֹחַ (Manoah), עַתָּ֖ה (Now) יָבֹ֣א (let come) דְבָרֶ֑יךָ (your words), מַה־ (what) יִּֽהְיֶ֥ה (will be) מִשְׁפַּט־ (the custom) הַנַּ֖עַר (of the boy) וּמַעֲשֵֽׂהוּ׃ (and his work).

13  וַיֹּ֛אמֶר (And said) מַלְאַ֥ךְ (the angel) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH) אֶל־ (to) מָנ֑וֹחַ (Manoah), מִכֹּ֛ל (Of all) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) אָמַ֥רְתִּי (I said) אֶל־ (to) הָאִשָּׁ֖ה (the woman), תִּשָּׁמֵֽר׃ (let her take heed). 14  מִכֹּ֣ל (Of anything) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) יֵצֵא֩ (comes) מִגֶּ֨פֶן (from the vine), הַיַּ֜יִן (wine), לֹ֣א (not) תֹאכַ֗ל (she may eat), וְיַ֤יִן (and wine) וְשֵׁכָר֙ (or strong drink) אַל־ (not) תֵּ֔שְׁתְּ (may she drink), וְכָל־ (and anything) טֻמְאָ֖ה (unclean) אַל־ (not) תֹּאכַ֑ל (may she eat). כֹּ֥ל (All) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) צִוִּיתִ֖יהָ (I commanded her) תִּשְׁמֹֽר׃ (she shall keep).

15  וַיֹּ֥אמֶר (And said) מָנ֖וֹחַ (Manoah) אֶל־ (to) מַלְאַ֣ךְ (the angel) יְהוָ֑ה (of YHWH), נַעְצְרָה־ (Let us detain), נָּ֣א (please), אוֹתָ֔ךְ (you), וְנַעֲשֶׂ֥ה (and we will prepare) לְפָנֶ֖יךָ (for you) גְּדִ֥י (a kid) עִזִּֽים׃ (of the goats).

16  וַיֹּאמֶר֩ (And said) מַלְאַ֨ךְ (the angel) יְהוָ֜ה (of YHWH) אֶל־ (to) מָנ֗וֹחַ (Manoah), אִם־ (Even if) תַּעְצְרֵ֙נִי֙ (you detain me), לֹא־ (not) אֹכַ֣ל (I will eat) בְּלַחְמֶ֔ךָ (of your food). וְאִם־ (But if) תַּעֲשֶׂ֣ה (you prepare) עֹלָ֔ה (a burnt offering) לַיהוָ֖ה (to YHWH) תַּעֲלֶ֑נָּה (you shall offer it). כִּ֚י (For) לֹא־ (not) יָדַ֣ע (did know) מָנ֔וֹחַ (Manoah) כִּֽי־ (that) מַלְאַ֥ךְ (the angel) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) הֽוּא׃ (he was).

17  וַיֹּ֧אמֶר (And said) מָנ֛וֹחַ (Manoah) אֶל־ (to) מַלְאַ֥ךְ (the angel) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH), מִ֣י (What is) שְׁמֶ֑ךָ (your name), כִּֽי־ (that when) יָבֹ֥א (comes) דִבְרֶיךָ (your word), וְכִבַּדְנֽוּךָ׃ (and we may honor you)?

18  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) לּוֹ֙ (to him) מַלְאַ֣ךְ (the angel) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH), לָ֥מָּה (Why) זֶּ֖ה (is this)— תִּשְׁאַ֣ל (you do ask) לִשְׁמִ֑י (My name), וְהוּא־ (and it) פֶ֛לִאי׃ס (is incomprehensible)?

19  וַיִּקַּ֨ח (And took) מָנ֜וֹחַ (Manoah) אֶת־ (-) גְּדִ֤י (the kid) הָעִזִּים֙ (of the goats), וְאֶת־ (and) הַמִּנְחָ֔ה (a grain offering), וַיַּ֥עַל (and he offered it) עַל־ (upon) הַצּ֖וּר (the rock) לַֽיהוָ֑ה (to YHWH). וּמַפְלִ֣א (And doing wonderously); לַעֲשׂ֔וֹת (in doing it), וּמָנ֥וֹחַ (and Manoah) וְאִשְׁתּ֖וֹ (and his wife) רֹאִֽים׃ (were watching). 20  וַיְהִי֩ (And it came to pass), בַעֲל֨וֹת (in the going up) הַלַּ֜הַב (of the flame) מֵעַ֤ל (from) הַמִּזְבֵּ֙חַ֙ (the altar) הַשָּׁמַ֔יְמָה (toward the heavens), וַיַּ֥עַל (and ascended) מַלְאַךְ־ (the angel) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH) בְּלַ֣הַב (in the flame) הַמִּזְבֵּ֑חַ (of the altar).

וּמָנ֤וֹחַ (And Manoah) וְאִשְׁתּוֹ֙ (and his wife) רֹאִ֔ים (saw it), וַיִּפְּל֥וּ (and they fell) עַל־ (on) פְּנֵיהֶ֖ם (their faces) אָֽרְצָה׃ (to the ground). 21  וְלֹא־ (And not) יָ֤סַף (added) עוֹד֙ (again) מַלְאַ֣ךְ (the angel) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH) לְהֵרָאֹ֖ה (to appear) אֶל־ (to) מָנ֣וֹחַ (Manoah) וְאֶל־ (and) אִשְׁתּ֑וֹ (his wife). אָ֚ז (Then) יָדַ֣ע (knew) מָנ֔וֹחַ (Manoah) כִּֽי־ (that) מַלְאַ֥ךְ (the angel) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH) הֽוּא׃ (he was).

22  וַיֹּ֧אמֶר (And said) מָנ֛וֹחַ (Manoah) אֶל־ (to) אִשְׁתּ֖וֹ (his wife), מ֣וֹת (Dying) נָמ֑וּת (we will die), כִּ֥י (because) אֱלֹהִ֖ים (God) רָאִֽינוּ׃ (we have seen).

23  וַתֹּ֧אמֶר (And said) ל֣וֹ (to him) אִשְׁתּ֗וֹ (his wife), לוּ֩ (If) חָפֵ֨ץ (had delighted) יְהוָ֤ה (YHWH) לַהֲמִיתֵ֙נוּ֙ (to kill us), לֹֽא־ (not) לָקַ֤ח (He would have accepted) מִיָּדֵ֙נוּ֙ (from our hands) עֹלָ֣ה (a burnt offering) וּמִנְחָ֔ה (and a grain offering), וְלֹ֥א (and not) הֶרְאָ֖נוּ (would He have shown us) אֶת־ (-) כָּל־ (all) אֵ֑לֶּה (these things) וְכָעֵ֕ת (and at this time), לֹ֥א (and not) הִשְׁמִיעָ֖נוּ (would He have told us) כָּזֹֽאת׃ (as this).

24  וַתֵּ֤לֶד (And bore) הָֽאִשָּׁה֙ (the woman) בֵּ֔ן (a son), וַתִּקְרָ֥א (and she called) אֶת־ (-) שְׁמ֖וֹ (his name) שִׁמְשׁ֑וֹן (Samson). וַיִּגְדַּ֣ל (And grew) הַנַּ֔עַר (the child), וַֽיְבָרְכֵ֖הוּ (and blessed him) יְהוָֽה׃ (YHWH). 25  וַתָּ֙חֶל֙ (And began) ר֣וּחַ (the Spirit) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH) לְפַעֲמ֖וֹ (to move upon him) בְּמַחֲנֵה־ (at Mahaneh-) דָ֑ן (dan), בֵּ֥ין (between) צָרְעָ֖ה (Zorah) וּבֵ֥ין (and between) אֶשְׁתָּאֹֽל׃פ (Eshtaol).