To indicate that there would be parallels between the life of Samson and our Lord Christ Jesus, when the Angel of Jehovah appeared to Manoah and his wife (the parents of Samson), he prophesied the birth of their son, Samson. When they offered a burnt offering and a tribute offering to God to celebrate this announcement and to give thanks for his coming birth, the Angel of Jehovah suddenly appeared in the midst of the flames and ascended with them into heaven.

	Samson	Jesus Christ
1.	His birth was announced to Samson’s mother by the Angel of Jehovah (Judges 13:3–5).	Our Lord’s birth was prophesied by the angel Gabriel to Mary, the mother of the humanity of Jesus (Luke 1:26–38). His birth was further prophesied by Isaiah in Isa. 7:14.
2.	The birth was unexpected by both parents as the mother was barren (Judges 13:2–3)	The birth was unexpected by both parents as Mary was a virgin (Luke 1:34).
3.	At the time of the announcement, Israel was in great turmoil, under the power of the Philistines (Judges 10:7–8 13:1).	At the time of the announcement, Israel was in great turmoil, under the power of Rome (Matt. 1:13, 16–18 Luke 1:5).
4.	The child was to be dedicated to God from birth and even prior to his birth, he would to known as one who would deliver his people (Judges 13:5)	The day of our Lord’s birth, an angel of the Lord announced, “Today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, Who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11). An angel appeared to Joseph in his dreams and revealed that Jesus would deliver the people from their sins (Matt. 1:21).
5.	The Angel of God primarily dealt with Manoah’s wife, rather than with Manoah (Judges 13:8–8, 16).	Mary was pregnant by means of the Holy Spirit; she remained a virgin, even until giving birth to the humanity of our Lord. Her husband did not take part in the conceiving of her Son (Matt. 1:18, 25 Luke 1:27, 30, 34–35).