1. The Israelites again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, who therefore delivered them into the power of the Philistines for forty years.
2. There was a certain man from Zorah, of the clan of the Danites, whose name was Manoah. His wife was barren and had borne no children.
3. An angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her: Though you are barren and have had no children, you will conceive and bear a son.
4. Now, then, be careful to drink no wine or beer and to eat nothing unclean,
5. for you will conceive and bear a son. No razor shall touch his head, for the boy is to be a nazirite for God from the womb. It is he who will begin to save Israel from the power of the Philistines.