SAMSON’S MOTHER

The two biblical stories that refer to Nazarite vows taken by women involve mothers and sons. The first is the story found in the Book of Judges of the unnamed barren wife of Manoah from the tribe of Dan.

The story reads as follows:

There was a certain man from Zorah, of the stock of Dan, whose name was Manoah. His wife was barren and had borne no children. An angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her you have borne no children; but you shall conceive and bear a son. Now be careful not to drink wine or any other intoxicant, or to eat anything unclean. For you are going to conceive and bear a son; let no razor touch his head, for the boy is to be a nazarite to God from the womb on. He shall be the first to deliver Israel from the Philistines. (Judges 13: 2-5)

The story might be viewed as remarkable simply insofar as an angel appears to the barren mother to announce the birth of her child and his unusual upbringing and destiny. Tikva Frymer Kensky develops this idea even further:

In the middle of the Book of Judges comes a cycle of stories about an extraordinary biblical hero of Israel- Samson. His story begins in the pattern of a biblical hero, when a divine envoy comes to his mother to announce the conception. But within its conformity to this pattern, the annunciation scene differs dramatically, a sign that the child will himself differ dramatically from the usual biblical hero. This annunciation centers on the mother (who is not named) and the relationship she forges with the envoy from God. This angel behaves like other angels, appearing suddenly and prophesying. But he then gives the mother specific instructions. She is to abstain from alcohol during her pregnancy, so that Samson will be consecrated as a Nazarite already in the womb. The Nazarites were especially devoted to God; their status was marked by long hair and abstenance from alcohol. It is not clear what Nazarites were expected to do, but the prophet Amos considers their importance to Israel on a par with that of the prophets (Amos 2:11). Samson was a very unusual Nazarite. Other people took vows to become Nazarites and could undo those vows (Num. 6). But Samson’s Nazarite state is promised to his mother before he is born, and she knows it is permanent, “from the womb until the day of his death” (Judg. 13:7). Her statement hints that breaking the Nazarite status will lead to Samson’s death.

Until this point the paradigm for annunciation to a mother of a momentous birth, which includes the ultimate destiny of her unborn sons is that of Rebecca. The matriarch goes to consult with God about her difficult pregnancy and is told that she is carrying twins who will father nations. Rebecca is unique in that she knows how to raise two such different sons.

Manoah’s wife is told that her son will be the first to deliver Israel from the Philistines. This is no simple challenge for her son and no simple challenge for his mother. Her long awaited child will be one of extreme intensity, passion and might.

In this story a special celestial messenger comes to her. As Rabbi Adin Steinzaltz points out,^[1]Joshua Berman, “Medieval Monasticism and the Evolution of Jewish Interpretation to the Story of Jephthah’s Daughter“, JQR 95:2 (Spring 2005) pp 229-230. such an honor is not bestowed upon Moses’ mother, or David’s mother. Nor were either of these mothers instructed as to how to raise their sons. Additionally, Samson’s mother must begin the process in utero.

Strictly adhering to these directions constitutes an act of faith, believing that she will have a holy son. It in turn leads to another great act of faith; since Samson isn’t exactly what his mother and father had planned.

Mothering Samson presented serious challenges. And yet, as R. Steinzaltz points out:

He becomes a spiritual leader, a judge, and a prophet in terms that Jeremiah describes, “ Before I created you in the womb, I selected you; before you were born, I consecrated you” (“bterem etzorcha bveten yedaaticha bterem tezei mrechem hikdashticha.”) However, not at all in the classic sense. Unlike other prophets who are the conduits of divine inspiration expressed in their speech, Samson has it expressed through his power. His leadership is found in his hands, his might, and his courage.

The paradoxical relationship between his spirituality and his physicality may explain why an angel had to appear and disappear within the flame to mark the unusual nature of the son this mother would dedicate to this atypical service of the Lord.

The story of Samson highlights this foundational idea in biblical literature that all of the powers in the world emanate from divine power.

These biblical stories are about women who agreed to nazarite vows. Helena became a nazarite for her son, and Samson’s mother took on the practices to be granted a son and to begin his holy status as a nazarite. Hannah was similar to Samson’s mother in the first regard.

CHILD DEDICATION

Hannah’s case, a barren mother who prays for a child and finally receives one, only to dedicate the child to the service of God, is reminiscent of the story of Sarah, a barren woman who’s only child, Isaac, is then almost sacrificed in the story of the akedah. Josh Berman points out that a life of seclusion is a form of sacrifice.

Another example of dedicating a child, is the story of Jephthah’s Daughter.