13:24 Manoah’s wife 3 gave birth to a son and named him Samson. 4 The child grew and the Lord empowered 5 him.
1 sn A concubine was a slave woman in ancient Near Eastern societies who was the legal property of her master, but who could have legitimate sexual relations with her master. A concubine’s status was more elevated than a mere servant, but she was not free and did not have the legal rights of a free wife. The children of a concubine could, in some instances, become equal heirs with the children of the free wife. After the period of the Judges concubines may have become more of a royal prerogative (2 Sam 21:10-14; 1 Kgs 11:3).
2 sn The name Abimelech means “my father is king.”
3 tn Heb “the woman.” For clarity this has been specified in the translation as “Manoah’s wife.”
4 tn The name appears to mean “sun-like” or “solar.”
5 tn Traditionally, “blessed.”