Summary of Haftarat Nasso
The haftarah portion introduces the Samson narratives, a cycle of stories (Judges13-16) that relate the adventures and misadventures of Israel’s heroic strongmen. The haftarah opens with an angel of the LORD appearing to the barren wife of Manoah the Danite. He announces that she will conceive a son. While carrying the child she must observe the prohibitions of a Nazirite because the child is to be a Nazirite his entire life.
The angel declares that her son “shall begin to deliver Israel from the hands of the Philistines” (13:5). The woman reports the encounter to her husband Manoah who prays that the angel reappear and give instructions concerning the child. The angel reappears to the woman who fetches her husband. Manoah asks, “What shall be the boy’s mode of life and his vocation?” (13:22). The angel repeats his instructions. Manoah asks for the visitor’s name, but the angel avoids the question. Manoah invites the angel to a meal. The angel refuses but recommends a burnt offering. Manoah and his wife offer a burnt offering and the angel ascends in the flames. Convinced that he has seen God, Manoah is afraid for their lives, but his wife assures him that if God intended to kill them, He would not have accepted their sacrifice or made the prophecy. Samson is born, and the LORD blesses him and the Spirit of the LORD stirs with him.
The sages selected this introduction to the Samson stories for Haftarat Nasso because of the corresponding Torah portions contains the laws of the nazirite vow. Numbers Rabbah 10:5 offers copious commentary on Judges 13:2-25 while discussing Parashat Nasso, an indication that the passage served as the synagogue’s lectionary to accompany Nasso for a long time.
From FFOZ’s Voice of the Prophets
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