Editing Samson (section)

===Birth===
{{see also|Nazirite}}
[[File:Eustache Le Sueur - The Sacrifice of Manoah, 1640-1650.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1|''The Sacrifice of Manoah'' (1640–50) by  [[Eustache Le Sueur]]]]
According to the account in the [[Book of Judges]], Samson lived during a time of repeated conflict between [[Land_of_Israel|Israel]] and [[Philistia]], when God was disciplining the Israelites by giving them "into the hand of the [[Philistines]]".<ref>{{Bibleref |Judges|13|HE}}</ref> [[Manoah]] was an Israelite from [[Zorah]], descended from the [[Tribe of Dan|Danites]],<ref>{{bibleverse ||Judges|13:2|HE}}</ref> and [[Manoah's wife|his wife]] had been unable to conceive.<ref name= "cha">{{cite book|title= Chronicle of the Old Testament Kings: the Reign-By-Reign Record of the Rulers of Ancient Israel|last= Rogerson|first= John W.|year=1999|publisher= Thames & Hudson |location= London |isbn= 0500050953 |page= [https://archive.org/details/chronicleofoldte00john/page/58 58]|url= https://archive.org/details/chronicleofoldte00john/page/58}}</ref><ref name="ppp"/> The [[Angel of the Lord]] appears to Manoah's wife and proclaims that the couple would soon have a son who would begin to deliver the Israelites from the Philistines.<ref name="qqq">{{wwbible|Old Testament, 317}}</ref>

The Angel of the Lord states that Manoah's wife was to abstain<ref>{{bibleverse||Judges|13:7|HE}}</ref> from all [[alcoholic drink]]s, [[unclean food]]s, and her promised child was not to shave or cut his hair. He was to be a [[Nazirite]] from birth. In ancient Israel, those wanting to be especially dedicated to God for a time could take a Nazirite vow which included abstaining from wine and spirits, not cutting hair or shaving, and other requirements.<ref name="cha"/><ref name= "ppp"/><ref name="qqq"/> Manoah's wife believes the Angel of the Lord; her husband was not present, so he prays and asks God to send the messenger once again to teach them how to raise the boy who is going to be born.

After the Angel of the Lord returns, Manoah asks him his name, but he says, "Why do you ask my name? It is beyond understanding."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://biblehub.com/niv/judges/13.htm|title=Judges 13 NIV|website=biblehub.com}}</ref> Manoah then prepares a sacrifice, but the Angel of the Lord will only allow it to be for God. He touches it with his staff, miraculously engulfing it in flames, and then ascends into the sky in the fire. This is such dramatic evidence of the nature of the Messenger that Manoah fears for his life, since it was said that no one could live after seeing God. However, his wife convinces him that, if God planned to slay them, he would never have revealed such things to them. In due time, their son Samson is born, and he is raised according to the angel's instructions.<ref name="ppp"/><ref name="qqq"/>