For
the birth of God as a human being, God was interested in the condition of the mother's womb. For even a
great, but imperfect, judge
of Israel, Samson, God was directive about the state of the mother during the pregnancy. The
request for the mother to be
pure is repeated for emphasis.
Judges
13:3f
An angel of the LORD appeared to the woman and said to her, "Though you are barren and have had no
children, yet you will
conceive and bear a son. Now, then, be careful to take no wine or strong drink and to eat
nothing unclean."
Judges
13:7
"But he (the angel) said to me, 'You will be with child and will bear a son. So take neither wine nor strong
drink, and eat nothing
unclean. For the boy shall be consecrated to God from the womb, until the day of his death.'
"