The divine promise to Manoah was in due time fulfilled in the birth of a son, to whom the name of Samson was given. As the boy grew up it became evident that he possessed extraordinary physical strength. This was not, however, as Samson and his parents well knew, dependent upon his well-knit sinews, but upon his condition as a Nazarite, of which his unshorn hair was a symbol. Had Samson obeyed the divine commands as faithfully as his parents had done, his would have been a nobler and happier destiny. But association with idolaters corrupted him. The town of Zorah being near the country of the Philistines, Samson came to mingle with them on friendly terms. Thus in his youth intimacies sprang up, the influence of which darkened his whole life. A young woman dwelling in the Philistine town of Timnath engaged Samson's affections, and he determined to make her his wife. To his God-fearing parents, who endeavored to dissuade him from his purpose, his only answer was, "She pleaseth me well." The parents at last yielded to his wishes, and the marriage took place. 563

Guds løfte til Manoa blev opfyldt til tiden, og han fik en søn, som blev kaldt Samson. Da drengen voksede op, viste det sig, at han var i besiddelse af usædvanlige fysiske kræfter. Men både Samson og hans forældre var klar over, at hans kræfter ikke skyldtes hans svulmende muskler, men at han var nasiræer, hvilket hans uklippede hår var et symbol på. Hvis Samson havde adlydt de guddommelige påbud lige så trofast som hans forældre, ville han have fået en smukkere og lykkeligere lod. Men han blev fordærvet, fordi han havde samkvem med afgudsdyrkere. Zora lå ikke så langt fra filisternes land, og Samson færdedes mellem filisterne som en ven. Derved knyttede han nær forbindelse med dem, allerede mens han var ung, og denne indflydelse kastede en mørk skygge over hele hans liv. Samson blev forelsket i en ung kvinde, som boede i filisterbyen Timna, og besluttede at tage hende til ægte. Hans gudfrygtige forældre forsøgte at råde ham fra det, men han svarede blot: "Det er hende, jeg synes om!" Forældrene føjede ham til sidst, og brylluppet blev holdt.