It's a fascinating passage, brimming with insights about responsibility, destiny, and the power of prayer.

The passage opens with a discussion of the nazirite vow, a voluntary commitment to abstain from wine, haircuts, and contact with the dead (Numbers 6:2). But it's not just about the individual taking the vow. Bamidbar Rabbah emphasizes the community's role. We're told that the court has a responsibility to ensure the nazirite upholds their vow. Why? Because, as it says, "the great are cautioned regarding the lesser, and they will be punished due to them if they do not rebuke them." It's a stark reminder that we are all interconnected, responsible for one another. As it says, "the entire Jewish people are guarantors for one another."

This idea of interconnectedness is powerful, isn't it? It challenges us to look beyond ourselves and consider the impact our actions – or inactions – have on those around us.

Then, the text shifts gears, introducing us to the story of Samson, specifically his birth. It begins, "There was [vayhi] a certain man from Tzora…" (Judges 13:2). Now, Rabbi Levi makes a rather striking observation. He says, "Every place that vayhi is stated, it is nothing other than an expression of suffering." He then lists a series of examples: Vayhi in the days of Ahashverosh – there was Haman. Vayhi in the days when the judges judged – there was a famine. It's a powerful claim that highlights the often-turbulent nature of human history.

But, in contrast, Rabbi Yudan offers a different perspective. He says that when vayhi appears regarding the righteous, it signifies the equivalent of thirty-one righteous men, the numerical value of the Hebrew letters in the word vayhi. (Vav – 6, yod – 10, heh – 5, yod – 10 = 31). This suggests that even amidst suffering, righteousness can shine brightly, perhaps acting as a counterbalance.

The passage then delves into the details of Manoah, Samson's father. We learn that he was "a certain [ehad] man," and that this word, ehad, implies greatness. Just as God is One, unique and without equal, so too were figures like Abraham and Elkana considered ehad in their generations.

The narrative highlights the initial tension between Manoah and his wife regarding their infertility. He blamed her, she blamed him. But an angel appears to Manoah's wife, revealing that she is barren, not him. This divine intervention not only resolves their conflict but also sets the stage for Samson's miraculous birth. Because she saw the angel, she is called Hatzlelponi, because she addressed [pona] the angel.

The angel then lays out the rules for Samson's nazirite status, even before his birth: no wine, no impure foods, and no razor shall touch his head. The text explicitly states that God knew Samson would be drawn to what he saw, so he was given the constraints of the nazirite vow. "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you" (Jeremiah 1:5).

Interestingly, the passage emphasizes the role of prayer. Manoah entreats God, and his prayer is compared to a pitchfork that "overturns the attribute of cruelty to the attribute of mercy." (Judges 13:8) This is a beautiful image, illustrating the transformative power of heartfelt supplication.

Finally, the text concludes with Manoah's attempt to learn the angel's name, a request that is met with the enigmatic response: "Why do you ask my name? It is inscrutable [vehu feli]." (Judges 13:18) This could mean that Manoah would never see the angel again. Or, perhaps, the angel's name is tied to his specific mission, changing with each divine task. Or maybe the name of the angel is feli itself, connecting him to the wonder and miracle of Samson's birth and nazirite vow.

This passage from Bamidbar Rabbah 10 is a rich tapestry of ideas, weaving together themes of responsibility, destiny, prayer, and the enigmatic nature of the divine. It leaves us pondering our roles in the lives of others, the power of our prayers, and the mysteries that lie beyond our understanding. It makes you wonder, doesn't it, what "rules" are laid out for us, and how we can best fulfill our own unique missions in this world.