Regenerate
Last week, we delved into the haftara of Parashat Naso, focusing on the story of the angel of G-d appearing to the wife of Manoâach, a man from the tribe of Dan. The angel delivered a message to the woman, whose name is Tzlilponet according to Talmudic sources, foretelling the birth of a son who would save the Israelites from Philistine oppression. Despite the pivotal role she played in this divine encounter, her name is not mentioned in Scripture.
The Talmudic tradition of referring to only three men as Patriarchs and four women as Matriarchs sheds light on this omission. The Patriarchs are esteemed ancestors, while the Matriarchs’ greatness is subsumed in their husbands’. The Matriarchs are named because of their importance, whereas later women who performed great deeds are not singled out. Tzlilponet’s encounter with the angel exemplifies her exceptional qualities, as she saw the angel before her husband did and understood the significance of the message delivered.
Manoâach, though deemed an ignoramus in the eyes of the Gemara, followed his wife’s counsel, indicating her wisdom surpassing his own. The mention of Manoâach by name, rather than his wife, can be attributed to his tribal lineage connecting him to the tribe of Dan, from which a national redeemer was prophesied to arise. This lineage underscores the importance of his role in the narrative, despite his wife’s pivotal involvement.
The blessing bestowed upon Dan by Jacob, foretelling his role as a judge among the tribes of Israel, aligns with the angel’s message to Tzlilponet about her son’s future as a deliverer of the Israelites. This connection to tribal lineage and prophecy likely influenced the focus on Manoâach’s name in the narrative.
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