Judges 13:12

Manoah, the future father of Samson, asked the angelic messenger, *“Now when your words come to pass, what shall be the boy’s mode of life and his vocation?” (v.12)* This question comes after Manoah and his wife received the promise of a son destined to deliver Israel from the Philistines, a child who would be uniquely set apart. In seeking divine guidance on how to raise this special child, Manoah displayed both reverence and a deep desire to fulfill God’s call for the boy. The question highlights the gravity of Samson’s future role, showing that Israel’s deliverer must be brought up with careful attention to God’s instructions, including the Nazirite vow that was placed upon him before birth (Judges 13:5) citeturn0file5.

The angel’s announcement occurred around 1100 BC, during a turbulent era in Israel’s history when the Philistine threat was pervasive. Manoah and his wife lived in the tribal allotment of Dan, and Samson himself was from the tribe of Dan (Judges 13–16) citeturn0file6. Throughout the Old Testament, similar calls of consecration were given to God’s chosen instruments (Numbers 6), but Samson’s dedication was especially noteworthy, as it was decreed from the womb and accompanied by miraculous signs. By asking *“what shall be the boy’s mode of life and his vocation?” (v.12)* Manoah underlined his recognition that this child carried the responsibility of delivering God’s people, and he wanted every detail on how best to obey and honor the Lord in raising him.

This verse also foreshadows the importance of wholehearted obedience. Manoah’s eagerness to understand God’s plan recalls the many times in Scripture when destiny and duty intersect, such as when other parents in Israel’s history prayed for wisdom in raising children set apart for special tasks. Although Samson’s life story weaves through times of triumph and failure, the foundational instruction requested by Manoah here stands out as a model for all parents seeking God’s way.

Samson’s father humbly requests guidance for raising a divinely promised deliverer, revealing the essential principle that godly leadership is birthed in faithful obedience.