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¹ And the sons of Israel again did the thing that was wicked in the sight of Yahweh, - so Yahweh delivered them up into the hand of the Philistines, forty years.

² And there was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, and, his name, was Manoah; and, his wife, was barren, and had borne no child.

³ And the messenger of Yahweh appeared unto the woman, - and said unto her - Lo! I pray thee, thou, art barren, and hast borne no child, but thou shalt conceive, and shalt bear a son.

⁴ Now, therefore, beware, I pray thee, and do not drink wine or strong drink, - nor eat anything unclean;

⁵ for lo! thou, art about to conceive and bear a son, and no, razor, shall come on his head, for, one separate unto God, shall the boy be from his birth, - and, he, shall begin to save Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.

⁶ So the woman came in, and told her husband, saying, A man of God, came unto me, and, his, appearance, was as the appearance of the messenger of God, reverend exceedingly, - and I asked him not whence he was, and, his name, he told me not.

⁷ But he said unto me, Lo! thou art about to conceive, and bear a son, - now, therefore, do not drink wine or strong drink, nor eat anything unclean, for, one separate unto God, shall the boy be, from his birth until the day of his death.

⁸ Then Manoah made entreaty unto Yahweh, and said: Pardon, O My Lord! the man of God whom thou didst send, I pray thee, let him come again unto us, that he may teach us what we are to do, unto the boy that is to be born.

⁹ And God hearkened unto the voice of Manoah, - and the messenger of God came again unto the woman, as, she, was sitting in the field, Manoah her husband, not being with her.

¹⁰ So the woman made haste, and ran, and told her husband, - and said unto him, Lo! the man, hath appeared unto me, who came the other day unto me.

¹¹ Then Manoah arose, and followed his wife, - and came unto the man, and said unto him - Art, thou, the man that spake unto the wife? And he said - I am.

¹² And Manoah said, Now, let thy words come to pass, - What shall be the rule for the boy, and his work?

¹³ And the messenger of Yahweh said unto Manoah, - Of all that I said unto the woman, let her beware.

¹⁴ Of nothing that cometh of the vine, may she eat, nor wine nor strong drink, let her drink, nor, anything unclean, let her eat, - all that I commanded her, let her observe.

¹⁵ And Manoah said unto the messenger of Yahweh, - I pray thee, let us detain thee, that we may make ready for thy presence, a kid.

¹⁶ But the messenger of Yahweh said unto Manoah - Though thou detain me, yet will I not eat of thy food, and, though thou make ready an ascending-sacrifice, unto Yahweh, must thou cause it to ascend. For Manoah had not discerned that, the angel of Yahweh, he was.

¹⁷ Then said Manoah unto the messenger of Yahweh, What is thy name, - that, when thy word cometh to pass, we may do thee honour?

¹⁸ And the messenger of Yahweh said unto him, Wherefore is it, that thou shouldst ask after my name, - seeing that, it, is Wonderful?

¹⁹ So Manoah took the kid, and the meal-offering, and caused them to ascend upon the rock unto Yahweh, who was about to do, wondrously, while Manoah and his wife were looking on.

²⁰ And it came to pass, when the flame ascended from off the altar, towards the heavens, that the messenger of Yahweh ascended in the flame of the altar, - while Manoah and his wife were looking on. Then fell they on their faces, to the earth.

²¹ And the messenger of Yahweh did no more appear unto Manoah or unto his wife. Then, Manoah knew that, the messenger of Yahweh, he was.

²² And Manoah said unto his wife, We shall, die, - for, upon God, have we looked.

²³ But his wife said unto him, If Yahweh had been pleased to put us to death, he would not have received at our hand, an ascending-sacrifice and a meal-offering, nor would he have shewed us all these things, - and, at such a time, have let us hear the like of this!

²⁴ So the woman hare a son, and called his name Samson, - and the boy grew, and Yahweh blessed him.

²⁵ And the spirit of Yahweh began to urge him to and fro, in the camp of Dan, - between Zorah and Eshtaol.