שופטים, פרק י״ג, פסוק ג׳

The sudden appearance of an angel to a childless woman marks a dramatic turning point, bringing news that will alter her reality and ignite the dawn of Israel's salvation. She is told that although she is currently unable to have children, she will soon conceive and give birth to a son [ביאור שטיינזלץ, מצודת דוד].

Commentators explore why the angel approaches the woman rather than her husband and why her inability to bear children is so heavily emphasized. One perspective suggests that the couple had an ongoing disagreement regarding which of them was actually infertile. Her husband, a deeply righteous man, believed the condition lay with her, while she believed it lay with him. The angel appears to her privately to settle the matter, confirming that she is the one unable to conceive. This private revelation is deliberately chosen to preserve peace in the home, correcting her without causing embarrassment in front of her husband. Furthermore, recognizing the sheer magnitude of the miracle would compel her to carefully follow the strict instructions she was about to receive [צוארי שלל].

Another approach views this encounter as a legal safeguard designed to secure her son's future status as a Nazirite. There was a concern that the woman might initially accept the prohibition against drinking wine but later regret it and seek a way to cancel her vow. To prevent this, she is granted a clear, undeniable gift—a child. By emphasizing her current state of infertility, the angel ensures she cannot later claim she was already naturally pregnant and owed nothing to the divine encounter. Because the profound benefit of this miracle directly answers her personal need—since her husband could have theoretically married someone else to have children—the message is delivered directly to her. This private encounter also highlights that the child will be born through her merit, granting her the rare authority, typically held by a father, to commit her son to the Nazirite lifestyle [ראשון לציון, אהבת יהונתן].

The strict conditions placed upon the child from the womb are deeply connected to his future challenges. God foresaw the child's future vulnerabilities, particularly his weakness for women. To prepare him for his destiny, he is subjected to the Nazirite restrictions before he is even born. The avoidance of wine and impurity, along with the prohibition against cutting his hair, are intended to sanctify him, distance him from material lusts, and train him in a life of restraint. Importantly, his legendary physical strength is not a biological result of growing his hair. Rather, it is a divine, miraculous power granted solely in the merit of his holy vow. This is proven by the fact that the moment his hair is eventually cut, his strength vanishes instantly. Had his power been a natural bodily function, it would have diminished gradually rather than disappearing all at once [רלב״ג].