John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 1. And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord , etc.] Committed idolatry, which was the evil they were prone unto, and were frequently guilty of: and the Lord delivered them into the hands of the Philistines forty years : which according to Josephus are to be reckoned from the death of the last judge, and the time of Samson’s birth; or rather from some time after the death of Jephthah, particularly taking in the two last years of Ibzan, when the Ephraimites having been weakened through the slaughter of them by Jephthah, might encourage the Philistines to break in upon them; from which time to the birth of Samson were twenty years, and twenty more may be allowed before he could begin to deliver Israel out of their hands; so that the oppression lasted forty years. According to others, it began at the same time as the oppression of the Ammonites did, though it lasted longer, ( Judges 10:7).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-7 - Israel did evil: then God delivered them again into the hands of the Philistines. When Israel was in this distress, Samson was born. Hi parents had been long childless. Many eminent persons were born of suc mothers. Mercies long waited for, often prove signal mercies; and by them others may be encouraged to continue their hope in God's mercy The angel notices her affliction. God often sends comfort to his people very seasonably, when they feel their troubles most. This deliverer of Israel must be devoted to God. Manoah's wife was satisfied that the messenger was of God. She gave her husband a particular account, bot of the promise and of the precept. Husbands and wives
should tell eac other their experiences of 
