Samson’s birth is announced before Israel cries out

“And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD ; and the LORD delivered them into the hand of the…” The number forty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And there was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren…” Naming Danites and Manoah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the angel of the LORD appeared unto the woman, and said unto her, Behold now, thou art barren, and bearest not…” The line’s distinctive content terms include angel, appeared, barren. Its relationship to verses 2 and 4 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink not wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing:” The line’s distinctive content terms include drink, beware, pray. Its relationship to verses 3 and 5 shows what work it does in this passage.

“For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Then the woman came and told her husband, saying, A man of God came unto me, and his countenance was like the…” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“But he said unto me, Behold, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and now drink no wine nor strong drink, neither eat…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Then Manoah intreated the LORD , and said, O my Lord, let the man of God which thou didst send come again unto us, and…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And God hearkened to the voice of Manoah; and the angel of God came again unto the woman as she sat in the field: but…” Naming Manoah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the woman made haste, and ran, and shewed her husband, and said unto him, Behold, the man hath appeared unto me…” The line’s distinctive content terms include appeared, haste, husband. Its relationship to verses 9 and 11 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And Manoah arose, and went after his wife, and came to the man, and said unto him, Art thou the man that spakest unto…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And Manoah said, Now let thy words come to pass. How shall we order the child, and how shall we do unto him?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And the angel of the LORD said unto Manoah, Of all that I said unto the woman let her beware.” Naming Manoah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“She may not eat of any thing that cometh of the vine, neither let her drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And Manoah said unto the angel of the LORD , I pray thee, let us detain thee, until we shall have made ready a kid for…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And the angel of the LORD said unto Manoah, Though thou detain me, I will not eat of thy bread: and if thou wilt offer…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And Manoah said unto the angel of the LORD , What is thy name, that when thy sayings come to pass we may do thee…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it is secret?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“So Manoah took a kid with a meat offering, and offered it upon a rock unto the LORD : and the angel did wondrously…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“For it came to pass, when the flame went up toward heaven from off the altar, that the angel of the LORD ascended in…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“But the angel of the LORD did no more appear to Manoah and to his wife. Then Manoah knew that he was an angel of the…” Naming Manoah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Manoah said unto his wife, We shall surely die, because we have seen God.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“But his wife said unto him, If the LORD were pleased to kill us, he would not have received a burnt offering and a…” The line’s distinctive content terms include offering, burnt, hands. Its relationship to verses 22 and 24 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And the woman bare a son, and called his name Samson: and the child grew, and the LORD blessed him.” Naming Samson keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the Spirit of the LORD began to move him at times in the camp of Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol.” Naming Dan and Eshtaol keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.