Transcript
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We've reached the Haftorah of Parshat
Naso. It deals with the beginning of a
unique story in the history of the
Jewish people during a time when they
were struggling under Philistine [music]
rule. In this reality, a divine message
is revealed in a simple home announcing
the birth of someone who will save the
Jewish nation. The story begins with a
man from Zorah, from the tribe of Dan,
whose name was Manoah. [music]
He lived with his wife, but for years
they were unable to have children.
[music] The woman was barren and this
reality was an inseparable part of their
lives. One day, when she was alone,
something [music] extraordinary
happened.
An angel of God appeared to her. The
sight was impressive and inspired great
[music] awe. The angel turns to her and
tells her clearly, "Until now you have
not given birth, but from now on you are
going to become [music] pregnant and
give birth to a son." Along with the
good news, he gives her precise
instructions.
She must be very careful [music]
not to drink new or old wine
and not to eat anything impure. He goes
on to explain that the child to be born
will be a Nazirite to God from his
mother's [music] womb and that no razor
shall come upon his head, meaning his
hair will not be cut. This will be a
sign [music] of his special holiness.
She is told that this boy will save the
Jewish people from the hands of the
Philistines. [music]
The woman receives these words with awe
and great seriousness. Immediately
afterward, she [music] goes to her
husband Manoah and tells him everything
that happened. She describes the man
[music] she saw and says that his
appearance was like that of an angel of
God, very awe-inspiring. She notes that
she didn't [music] ask him where he came
from, nor did she ask for his name. She
repeats to Manoah exactly what was said,
[music] that she is going to give birth
to a son and that she must be careful
with wine and certain foods because the
child will be a Nazarite [music] to God
from the womb until the day of his
death.
Manoah hears this [music] and
immediately turns to God in prayer,
asking that the man of God who was sent
to his wife come again so they can
[music] receive clear guidance on how to
raise the child who will be born. His
prayer is answered. The angel returns
[music] and appears again to the woman
while she is sitting in the field, and
Manoah is not with her.
The woman quickly gets [music] up, runs
to Manoah, and tells him that the man
has appeared to her again. Manoah gets
up [music] and follows her until he
reaches the angel. He turns to him and
asks if [music] he is the man who spoke
with his wife, and the angel replies, "I
am." Manoah asks to understand [music]
more clearly what the boy's rule and
actions will be. In other words, [music]
how he should be raised and what his
life will be like. The angel repeats
what was already [music] told to the
woman.
She must be careful to avoid everything
that was forbidden to her, not to eat
anything that comes from the vine, not
to drink wine, [music]
and not to eat anything impure.
Manoah, wanting [music] to honor the
guest, offers to delay him and prepare a
young goat for him.
But the angel tells him that if he
detains him, he will not eat his food.
And if he wants to [music] offer a burnt
offering, he should offer it to God.
Manoah still does not realize that this
is an angel of God. He turns to him and
[music] asks his name so that when his
words come true, they will be able to
honor him. The angel replies with a
question, "Why do you [music] ask my
name, for it is hidden." This answer
leaves the matter beyond ordinary
understanding. Manoah takes [music] the
young goat and the flour offering and
offers them on the altar.
And then something wondrous [music]
happens.
As the rises from the altar toward the
heavens, the angel ascends in the flame.
Manoah and his wife [music] see this
sight and fall face down to the ground.
From that moment, the angel no longer
appears [music] to them. Then Manoah
realizes that it was indeed an angel of
God, and he turns to his wife and says
in great fear that they will surely die
[music] because they have seen God. But
his wife replies to him clearly, "If God
had wanted to punish them, [music]
he wouldn't have accepted their
offerings. He wouldn't have showed them
all these things and wouldn't have
[music] revealed this message to them."
Time passes and everything happens
exactly as foretold. The woman gives
[music] birth to a son and names him
Shimshon. The boy grows up and God
blesses him. Even in his youth, the
spirit [music] of God began to stir
within him. In the camp of Dan, between
Zorah and Eshtaol, this is how the story
of Shimshon's [music] life begins. From
a simple reality that turned into a
moment of clear and precise divine
[music] revelation.
