◄ Judges 13:25 ►
And the Spirit of the LORD began to stir him at Mahaneh-dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.
Study Bible
And the Spirit of the LORD began to stir him
The phrase "the Spirit of the LORD" refers to the divine empowerment given by God to individuals for specific tasks. In the context of Judges, this empowerment is often seen in the judges who deliver Israel from oppression. The Spirit's stirring indicates the beginning of Samson's divine mission. This is similar to other instances in the Old Testament where the Spirit empowers individuals, such as Gideon (Judges 6:34) and David (1 Samuel 16:13). The stirring suggests an internal prompting or awakening to action, signifying God's direct involvement in Samson's life and mission.

at Mahaneh-dan
Mahaneh-dan, meaning "camp of Dan," is a location associated with the tribe of Dan. This site is significant as it marks the place where the tribe of Dan settled during their migration (Judges 18:12). The mention of Mahaneh-dan highlights the tribal context of Samson's story, as he was from the tribe of Dan. This location serves as a geographical marker for the beginning of Samson's activities and is a reminder of the tribal divisions and settlements in Israel during the period of the judges.

between Zorah and Eshtaol
Zorah and Eshtaol are towns in the territory of Dan, near the border with Judah. These locations are significant in Samson's narrative, as they are part of his homeland. Zorah is noted as Samson's birthplace (Judges 13:2), and Eshtaol is frequently mentioned in connection with his early life and burial (Judges 16:31). The mention of these towns situates the narrative in a specific geographical context, emphasizing the local origins of Samson's mission. This area is also archaeologically significant, with evidence of ancient settlements that provide insight into the period's cultural and historical background.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The Spirit of the LORD
Refers to the divine presence and power of God, which begins to move in Samson, indicating the start of his divine mission.

2. Samson
The central figure in this passage, chosen by God to begin the deliverance of Israel from the Philistines. His life is marked by extraordinary physical strength and a Nazirite vow.

3. Mahaneh-dan
A location between Zorah and Eshtaol, significant as the place where the Spirit of the LORD begins to stir Samson. It is a camp of the tribe of Dan.

4. Zorah and Eshtaol
Towns in the territory of Dan, marking the geographical context of Samson's early life and the beginning of his calling.

5. The Philistines
The oppressors of Israel during this period, against whom Samson is called to act.
Teaching Points
Divine Empowerment
Just as the Spirit of the LORD stirred Samson, believers today are empowered by the Holy Spirit to fulfill God's purposes. We should seek and rely on this divine empowerment in our daily lives.

God's Timing
The stirring of Samson by the Spirit marks the beginning of his mission. God's timing is perfect, and we must be patient and attentive to His leading in our lives.

Preparation for Service
Samson's stirring at Mahaneh-dan signifies preparation for his future role. We should be open to God's preparation in our lives, even when it seems like a time of waiting.

Geographical Significance
The mention of specific locations reminds us that God works in real places and times. Our own contexts are significant in God's plan.

Spiritual Warfare
Samson's life foreshadows the spiritual battles believers face. We must be equipped with the Spirit to stand against spiritual opposition.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the stirring of the Spirit in Samson's life encourage you to seek the Holy Spirit's guidance and empowerment in your own life?

2. In what ways can you discern God's timing and preparation in your current circumstances, similar to how Samson was prepared for his mission?

3. How do the geographical locations mentioned in Judges 13:25 enhance your understanding of God's work in specific contexts? Can you identify a "Mahaneh-dan" in your life where God is beginning to stir you?

4. Compare the empowerment of the Spirit in Samson's life with the empowerment of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament. How does this comparison inspire you in your spiritual journey?

5. Reflect on a time when you faced spiritual opposition. How can the account of Samson encourage you to rely on the Holy Spirit in future spiritual battles?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Judges 14:6, 19; 15:14
These verses describe other instances where the Spirit of the LORD comes powerfully upon Samson, enabling him to perform feats of strength.

1 Samuel 10:6, 10
Similar to Samson, the Spirit of the LORD comes upon Saul, indicating divine empowerment for leadership and action.

Acts 1:8
The promise of the Holy Spirit empowering believers for witness, paralleling the empowerment seen in the Old Testament.
Sermons
Cheer for the Faint-HeartedSpurgeon, Charles HaddonJudges 13:1-25
Education of ChildrenW. A. Scott, D. D.Judges 13:1-25
Fears RemovedW. Jay.Judges 13:1-25
God and His PeopleThomas Kirk.Judges 13:1-25
God's Past Mercies a Ground of Hope for the FutureW. A. Scott, D. D.Judges 13:1-25
Manoah and His WifeHomilistJudges 13:1-25
Manoah and His WifeR. Halley, D. D.Judges 13:1-25
Manoah's WifeJ. Parker, D. D.Judges 13:1-25
Manoah's Wife and Her Excellent ArgumentSpurgeon, Charles HaddonJudges 13:1-25
Money Bequeathed by Parents to Their ChildrenW. Arnot.Judges 13:1-25
Mysteries of ProvidenceA. P. Peabody.Judges 13:1-25
Past Tokens of Divine Favour an Encouragement Against FearsJudges 13:1-25
Some Lessons of CatastrophesJohn Jamieson, M. A., Arthur Ritchie.Judges 13:1-25
The Angelic Appearances to Manoah and His WifeH. J. Bevis.Judges 13:1-25
The Spectacle of Life and the Opposite Conclusions Drawn from ItW. W. Newton.Judges 13:1-25
The Spirit WorldHomilistJudges 13:1-25
Unrecognised AngelsWm. Ewen, B. D.Judges 13:1-25
From Weakness to StrengthJ. Vaughan, M. A.Judges 13:24-25
Fulfilment of PromiseA.F. Muir Judges 13:24, 25
Man Under the Influence of the Divine SpiritC. E. Searle, M. A.Judges 13:24-25
SamsonW. A. Scott, D. D.Judges 13:24-25
SamsonW. G. Blaikie, D. D.Judges 13:24-25
SamsonW. J. Heaton.Judges 13:24-25
Samson, the JudgeBp. S. Wilberforce.Judges 13:24-25
Samson: Inferior Influences Over Large MindsE. Monro, M. A.Judges 13:24-25
Samson's GiftS. A. Tipple.Judges 13:24-25
The Place of Samson in Jewish HistoryProfessor W. G. Elmslie.Judges 13:24-25
The Young SamsonW.F. Adeney Judges 13:24, 25
People
Dan, Danites, Manoah, Samson
Places
Eshtaol, Mahaneh-dan, Pirathon, Zorah
Topics
Beginneth, Camp, Dan, Eshtaol, Esh'ta-ol, Mahaneh, Mahaneh-dan, Ma'haneh-dan, Move, Spirit, Stir, Zorah
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Judges 13:25

     3110   Holy Spirit, titles of
     3272   Holy Spirit, in OT
     7967   spiritual gifts, responsibility

Judges 13:2-25

     5652   babies

Judges 13:24-25

     5658   boys
     6634   deliverance

Library
The Wonderful.
Isaiah ix:6. HIS name shall be called "Wonderful" (Isaiah ix:6). And long before Isaiah had uttered this divine prediction the angel of the Lord had announced his name to be Wonderful. As such He appeared to Manoah. And Manoah said unto the angel of Jehovah, What is thy name, that when thy sayings come to pass we may do thee honor. And the angel of Jehovah said unto Him "why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it is Wonderful" (margin, Judges xiii:17-18). This angel of Jehovah, the Person who …
Arno Gaebelein—The Lord of Glory

Of the Name of God
Exod. iii. 13, 14.--"And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you." We are now about this question, What God is. But who can answer it? Or, if answered, who can understand it? It should astonish us in …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Gen. xxxi. 11
Of no less importance and significance is the passage Gen. xxxi. 11 seq. According to ver. 11, the Angel of God, [Hebrew: mlaK halhiM] appears toJacob in a dream. In ver. 13, the same person calls himself the God of Bethel, with reference to the event recorded in chap. xxviii. 11-22. It cannot be supposed that in chap xxviii. the mediation of a common angel took place, who, however, had not been expressly mentioned; for Jehovah is there contrasted with the angels. In ver. 12, we read: "And behold …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

Characters and Names of Messiah
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. S uch was the triumphant exultation of the Old Testament Church! Their noblest hopes were founded upon the promise of MESSIAH; their most sublime songs were derived from the prospect of His Advent. By faith, which is the substance of things hoped for, they considered the gracious declarations …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 1

Mothers, Daughters, and Wives in Israel
In order accurately to understand the position of woman in Israel, it is only necessary carefully to peruse the New Testament. The picture of social life there presented gives a full view of the place which she held in private and in public life. Here we do not find that separation, so common among Orientals at all times, but a woman mingles freely with others both at home and abroad. So far from suffering under social inferiority, she takes influential and often leading part in all movements, specially …
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life

The Incarnation.
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that hath been made. In Him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in the darkness; and the darkness apprehended it not. There came a man, sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for witness, that he might bear witness of the light, that all might believe through him. He was …
Marcus Dods—The Expositor's Bible: The Gospel of St. John, Vol. I

A Cloud of Witnesses.
"By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even concerning things to come. By faith Jacob, when he was a-dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff. By faith Joseph, when his end was nigh, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.... By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they had been compassed about for seven days. By faith Rahab the harlot perished not with them that were disobedient, …
Thomas Charles Edwards—The Expositor's Bible: The Epistle to the Hebrews

The Doctrine of God
I. THE EXISTENCE OF GOD: (Vs. Atheism). 1. ASSUMED BY THE SCRIPTURES. 2. PROOFS OF THE EXISTENCE OF GOD. a) Universal belief in the Existence of God. b) Cosmological:--Argument from Cause. c) Teleological:--Argument from Design. d) Ontological:--Argument from Being. e) Anthropological:--Moral Argument. f) Argument from Congruity. g) Argument from Scripture. II. THE NATURE OF GOD: (Vs. Agnosticism) 1. THE SPIRITUALITY OF GOD: (Vs. Materialism). 2. THE PERSONALITY OF GOD: (Vs. Pantheism). 3. THE UNITY …
Rev. William Evans—The Great Doctrines of the Bible

A Treatise of the Fear of God;
SHOWING WHAT IT IS, AND HOW DISTINGUISHED FROM THAT WHICH IS NOT SO. ALSO, WHENCE IT COMES; WHO HAS IT; WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS; AND WHAT THE PRIVILEGES OF THOSE THAT HAVE IT IN THEIR HEARTS. London: Printed for N. Ponder, at the Peacock in the Poultry, over against the Stocks market: 1679. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom," and "a fountain of life"--the foundation on which all wisdom rests, as well as the source from whence it emanates. Upon a principle …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Of the Power of Making Laws. The Cruelty of the Pope and his Adherents, in this Respect, in Tyrannically Oppressing and Destroying Souls.
1. The power of the Church in enacting laws. This made a source of human traditions. Impiety of these traditions. 2. Many of the Papistical traditions not only difficult, but impossible to be observed. 3. That the question may be more conveniently explained, nature of conscience must be defined. 4. Definition of conscience explained. Examples in illustration of the definition. 5. Paul's doctrine of submission to magistrates for conscience sake, gives no countenance to the Popish doctrine of the obligation …
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion

Annunciation to Zacharias of the Birth of John the Baptist.
(at Jerusalem. Probably b.c. 6.) ^C Luke I. 5-25. ^c 5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judæa [a Jewish proselyte, an Idumæan or Edomite by birth, founder of the Herodian family, king of Judæa from b.c. 40 to a.d. 4, made such by the Roman Senate on the recommendation of Mark Antony and Octavius Cæsar], a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course [David divided the priests into twenty-four bodies or courses, each course serving in rotation one week in the temple …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Judges
For the understanding of the early history and religion of Israel, the book of Judges, which covers the period from the death of Joshua to the beginning of the struggle with the Philistines, is of inestimable importance; and it is very fortunate that the elements contributed by the later editors are so easily separated from the ancient stories whose moral they seek to point. That moral is most elaborately stated in ii. 6-iii. 6, which is a sort of programme or preface to iii. 7-xvi. 31, which constitutes …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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