Judges 13
DOYLYJudges 13:17
- — What is thy name, &c.] Manoah, still taking him for a Prophet, probably asked him his name, in order that he might shew his gratitude by making him some suitable present. Bp. Patrick.
Judges 13:18
- — it is secret [?] Rather, as in the margin, “it is wonderful,” or admirable. Bp. Patrick.
Judges 13:19
- — did wonderously [?] Wrought a great miracle, according to the name, which he had just given himself; for he caused fire from heaven to consume the provisions, as an acceptable offering to God, and then ascended up himself in the flame, and vanished out of sight. Pyle.
This was a significant sign to this pious couple, that He was the Angel of the Lord Himself, ver. 16, who formerly had appeared to Gideon, and set fire to his sacrifice upon the rock, and now vanished in the flame, by a fuller manifestation of His divinity. His name wonderful is repeated among the magnificent titles, applied in prophecy to the great Deliverer of the faithful, when His future birth was announced by Isaiah: “His name shall be called Wonderful, &c.” Is. ix. 6; or “He shall be great,” as in the application of this prophecy to Christ, by the angel Gabriel, Luke i. 32, at the annunciation of the Virgin Mary. And from the fears of death expressed on seeing Him by Manoah, ver. 22, and intimated by Gideon before, chap. vi. 22, 23, it appears that He was the same God who told Moses, “There shall no man see Me and live,” Exod. xxiii. 20.—or, the Son of God. Dr. Hales.
Judges 13:23
- — If the Lord were pleased] She argued that such gracious appearances, on so comfortable a message, with
Judges 13:24
- — Samson:] The meaning of this name is uncertain: it is probably derived from the Hebrew Shemesh, the sun, denoting him to be the light and strength of Israel. Bp. Patrick.
Judges 13:25
- — the Spirit of the Lord began to move him] To perform extraordinary things, as specimens of singular strength and valour. Dr. Wells.
— in the camp of Dan between Zorah &c.] The sense is, “In the camp of Dan, and between Zorah and Eshtaol:” for that place did not lie near the two latter, but in or near the tribe of Judah. Pyle. The camp of Dan was so called from the Israelites encamping there in their expedition against Laish: it is the same as Mahanah-dan, chap. xviii. 12. Dr. Wells.
Chap. XIV. ver. 1.—to Timnath.] Timnath was a city in the tribe of Dan, but had fallen, it is probable, into the possession of the Philistines, (near to whose country it lay,) who at this time oppressed the Israelites, and made them their tributaries. Bp. Patrick.