NOTES for Jdg 13:2-7
2 And there was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren, and bare not. |
3 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto the woman, and said unto her, Behold now, thou art barren, and bearest not: but thou shalt conceive, and bear a son. |
4 Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink not wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing: |
5 For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no rasor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines. |
6 Then the woman came and told her husband, saying, A man of God came unto me, and his countenance was like the countenance of an angel of God, very terrible: but I asked him not whence he was, neither told he me his name: |
7 But he said unto me, Behold, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and now drink no wine nor strong drink, neither eat any unclean thing: for the child shall be a Nazarite to God from the womb to the day of his death. |
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Today we read the story of Samson's birth. In the Bible there is more than one situation in which God chooses a barren woman so that she becomes the mother of the one He has chosen for special service. Later, speaking with the Blessed Virgin Mary, the archangel Gabriel will give as an example Saint Elizabeth, who conceived John the Baptist although she was old and barren.
For a person at that time, the birth of a child to a barren woman was a miracle not much smaller than birth from a virgin, since barrenness was perceived as a verdict. God intervenes in the situation. He cancels this "verdict." And it is important to Him to demonstrate openly that the birth of this particular person was needed by Him, that this person was chosen in a special way, and therefore a miracle is connected with his birth. And the miracles connected with the birth of His servants prepare people at least a little for the main miracle, the birth of the Son of God.
Readings for 19 December 2025
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