¹¹ The angel of the Lord^(A) came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah^(B) that belonged to Joash^(C) the Abiezrite,^(D) where his son Gideon^(E) was threshing^(F) wheat in a winepress^(G) to keep it from the Midianites.

³² And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon,^(A) Barak,^(B) Samson^(C) and Jephthah,^(D) about David^(E) and Samuel^(F) and the prophets,

² So this allotment was for the rest of the people of Manasseh^(A)—the clans of Abiezer,^(B) Helek, Asriel,^(C) Shechem, Hepher^(D) and Shemida.^(E) These are the other male descendants of Manasseh son of Joseph by their clans.

³ The angel of the Lord^(A) appeared to her^(B) and said, “You are barren and childless, but you are going to become pregnant and give birth to a son.^(C)

² But he answered them, “What have I accomplished compared to you? Aren’t the gleanings of Ephraim’s grapes better than the full grape harvest of Abiezer?^(A)

¹⁸ He replied, “Why do you ask my name?^(A) It is beyond understanding.^[a]” ¹⁹ Then Manoah took a young goat, together with the grain offering, and sacrificed it on a rock^(B) to the Lord. And the Lord did an amazing thing while Manoah and his wife watched: ²⁰ As the flame^(C) blazed up from the altar toward heaven, the angel of the Lord ascended in the flame. Seeing this, Manoah and his wife fell with their faces to the ground.^(D)

¹⁴ The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have^(A) and save^(B) Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?”

¹⁵ “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan^(C) is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.^(D)”

¹⁶ The Lord answered, “I will be with you^(E), and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive.”