Judges 13 Chapter Introduction

Structure and Formatting

This chapter begins the account of Samson, which continues through chapter 16.

Religious and Cultural Concepts in This Chapter

Warning not to cut Samson’s hair

The angel of Yahweh gave Samson’s parents special instructions about how they were to raise the boy they would have. They were to make a Nazirite vow, a special type of vow dedicating Samson to Yahweh. Part of this vow prohibited cutting the person’s hair. The person also could not drink beer or wine or even eat grapes. Samson’s mother was to observe those prohibitions even while she was pregnant, since anything she ate or drank would also nourish the baby in her womb. (See: nazirite, and oath)

Translation Issues in This Chapter

The angel of Yahweh

A character whom the author calls “the angel of Yahweh” figures prominently in this chapter. See the discussion of this phrase in the Introduction to Judges and see how you translated the phrase “the angel of Yahweh” in Chapters 2, 5, and 6.