Today, we read the story of the birth of Samson the tragic hero, in Judges 13.
As usual, Judges begins Samson's story with the background, blaming the Israelites for worshipping idols.
And the people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD gave them into the hand of the Philistines for forty years (Judges 13:1).
This was the last and the worse situation the Israelites had experienced in this era of confederation. Cushan-rishathaim oppressed them for 8 years (Judges 3:8) and Othniel delivered them. Eglon the Moab king oppressed them for 18 years (Judges 3:14) and Ehud delivered them. Jabin the king of Canaan oppressed them for 20 years (Judges 4:3) and Deborah delivered them. The Midians oppressed them for 7 years (Judges 6:1) and Gideon delivered them. The Ammonites oppressed them for 18 years (Judges 10:8) and Jephthah delivered them. Now, the Israelites suffered under the Philistines for 40 years, the longest so far. The era of Judges would soon end and the Israelites wanted no more ad hoc heroes to deliver them. They would demand a king.
As usual, Judges begins Samson's story with the background, blaming the Israelites for worshipping idols.
And the people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD gave them into the hand of the Philistines for forty years (Judges 13:1).
This was the last and the worse situation the Israelites had experienced in this era of confederation. Cushan-rishathaim oppressed them for 8 years (Judges 3:8) and Othniel delivered them. Eglon the Moab king oppressed them for 18 years (Judges 3:14) and Ehud delivered them. Jabin the king of Canaan oppressed them for 20 years (Judges 4:3) and Deborah delivered them. The Midians oppressed them for 7 years (Judges 6:1) and Gideon delivered them. The Ammonites oppressed them for 18 years (Judges 10:8) and Jephthah delivered them. Now, the Israelites suffered under the Philistines for 40 years, the longest so far. The era of Judges would soon end and the Israelites wanted no more ad hoc heroes to deliver them. They would demand a king.
In Zorah, there was a man called Manoah of the tribe of Dan. His wife was barren (Judges 13:2). Though she remains anonymous throughout the story, she demonstrated more sensibility than her husband Manoah. And Manoah said to his wife, "We shall surely die, for we have seen God."
But his wife said to him, "If the LORD had meant to kill us, he would not have accepted a burnt offering and a cereal offering at our hands, or shown us all these things, or now announced to us such things as these." (Judges 13:22-23).
I only know that Samson was a Nazirite and he should observe certain rules stipulated in Numbers 6:2-21, such as no hair-cutting, no wine, no defiled food etc. I did not know that Samson's mother had to do the same. Therefore, when I read the following verses for the first time, I thought the angel was referring to Samson. Actually, it was not.
And the angel of the LORD appeared to the woman and said to her, "Behold, you are barren and have no children; but you shall conceive and bear a son.
Therefore beware, and drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean,
for lo, you shall conceive and bear a son. No razor shall come upon his head, for the boy shall be a Nazirite to God from birth; and he shall begin to deliver Israel from the hand of the Philistines." (Judges 13:3-5)
Looking back, I can now see that the instructions were included inside "you shall conceive and bear a son". These instructions were meant for her as well. As the mother of a Nazirite whose whole life was consecrated to God, Samson's mother had to observe the same rules during, at least her pregnancy if not for her whole life. Here again, the ambiguity of the angel's word caused a misunderstanding. The angel said "a Nazirite to God from birth". Yet Samson's mother understood it differently.
but he said to me, 'Behold, you shall conceive and bear a son; so then drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean, for the boy shall be a Nazirite to God from birth to the day of his death.' (Judges 13:7)
The angel had left it open for Samson to opt out any time after a fixed period of time. There was a time for the completion of this separation from the world (Numbers 6:13). Perhaps it was the wishful thinking of Samson's mother to see her son being a Nazirite for his whole life. Which understanding was the correct one, the angel's or the mother's?
I support the understanding of Samson's mother. Remember, she had been barren before the angel appeared. So, this child was a gift from God. Out of gratefulness, it was only natural for her to offer this son to God.
But his wife said to him, "If the LORD had meant to kill us, he would not have accepted a burnt offering and a cereal offering at our hands, or shown us all these things, or now announced to us such things as these." (Judges 13:22-23).
I only know that Samson was a Nazirite and he should observe certain rules stipulated in Numbers 6:2-21, such as no hair-cutting, no wine, no defiled food etc. I did not know that Samson's mother had to do the same. Therefore, when I read the following verses for the first time, I thought the angel was referring to Samson. Actually, it was not.
And the angel of the LORD appeared to the woman and said to her, "Behold, you are barren and have no children; but you shall conceive and bear a son.
Therefore beware, and drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean,
for lo, you shall conceive and bear a son. No razor shall come upon his head, for the boy shall be a Nazirite to God from birth; and he shall begin to deliver Israel from the hand of the Philistines." (Judges 13:3-5)
Looking back, I can now see that the instructions were included inside "you shall conceive and bear a son". These instructions were meant for her as well. As the mother of a Nazirite whose whole life was consecrated to God, Samson's mother had to observe the same rules during, at least her pregnancy if not for her whole life. Here again, the ambiguity of the angel's word caused a misunderstanding. The angel said "a Nazirite to God from birth". Yet Samson's mother understood it differently.
but he said to me, 'Behold, you shall conceive and bear a son; so then drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean, for the boy shall be a Nazirite to God from birth to the day of his death.' (Judges 13:7)
The angel had left it open for Samson to opt out any time after a fixed period of time. There was a time for the completion of this separation from the world (Numbers 6:13). Perhaps it was the wishful thinking of Samson's mother to see her son being a Nazirite for his whole life. Which understanding was the correct one, the angel's or the mother's?
I support the understanding of Samson's mother. Remember, she had been barren before the angel appeared. So, this child was a gift from God. Out of gratefulness, it was only natural for her to offer this son to God.
This topic of Nazirite brings to mind the last prophecy quoted by Matthew about the birth of Jesus.
And he went and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, "He shall be called a Nazarene." (Matthew 2:23)
No such prophecy has been located in the canonical Old Testament. Not giving up before putting up a fight, some scholars suggest that "Nazarene" might actually be "Nazirite". In such case, Jesus must be a Nazirite for life. Then, the BVM must follow the example of Samson's mother not to drink wine, to touch defiled things etc. at least during her pregnancy. Jesus would not cut his hair but worse of all, he should not touch things unclean such as corpse and he should not drink wine! That would make some miracles and the establishment of the Holy Eucharist during the Last Supper impossible, unless Jesus had been a Nazirite for only a limited period of time, say during his childhood.
But that is not reasonable. A Nazirite is separated from the world and is totally dedicated to God for only a period of time. But Jesus is God Himself. It is not meaningful for Jesus to be dedicated to the Father only for a period of time.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God (John 1:1-2)
From eternity, the Word has been with God. Therefore, the suggestion that Jesus was a Nazirite for a limited period of time is not likely to stand.
And he went and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, "He shall be called a Nazarene." (Matthew 2:23)
No such prophecy has been located in the canonical Old Testament. Not giving up before putting up a fight, some scholars suggest that "Nazarene" might actually be "Nazirite". In such case, Jesus must be a Nazirite for life. Then, the BVM must follow the example of Samson's mother not to drink wine, to touch defiled things etc. at least during her pregnancy. Jesus would not cut his hair but worse of all, he should not touch things unclean such as corpse and he should not drink wine! That would make some miracles and the establishment of the Holy Eucharist during the Last Supper impossible, unless Jesus had been a Nazirite for only a limited period of time, say during his childhood.
But that is not reasonable. A Nazirite is separated from the world and is totally dedicated to God for only a period of time. But Jesus is God Himself. It is not meaningful for Jesus to be dedicated to the Father only for a period of time.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God (John 1:1-2)
From eternity, the Word has been with God. Therefore, the suggestion that Jesus was a Nazirite for a limited period of time is not likely to stand.
Dear Lord, You sent Judges to save Your people. But in the end, You came to sacrifice Yourself to make all mankind Your people. We adore You and praise Your holy name forever. Amen.
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