CHAPTER XIII _The Israelites corrupt themselves, abut are delivered into the_ _hands of the Philistines forty years_, 1. _An Angel appears to the wife of Manoah, foretells the birth of_ _her son, and gives her directions how to treat both herself and_ _her child, who was to be a deliverer of Is... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 13:2. _A CERTAIN MAN OF ZORAH_] A town in the tribe of Judah, but afterwards given to Dan.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 13:3. _THE ANGEL OF THE LORD_] Generally supposed to have been the same that appeared to Moses, Joshua, Gideon, c., and no other than the second person of the ever-blessed Trinity.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 13:4. _BEWARE - DRINK NOT WINE_] As Samson was designed to be a _Nazarite from the womb_, it was necessary that, while his mother carried and nursed him, _she_ should live the life of a Nazarite, neither drinking wine nor any inebriating liquor, nor eating any kind of forbidden meat. Se... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 13:5. _HE SHALL BEGIN TO DELIVER ISRAEL_] Samson only _began_ this deliverance, for it was not till the days of David that the Israelites were completely redeemed from the power of the Philistines.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 13:6. _BUT I ASKED HIM NOT WHENCE HE_ WAS, _NEITHER TOLD HE ME_ _HIS NAME_] This clause is rendered very differently by the Vulgate, the negative NOT being omitted: _Quem cum interrogassem quis esset,_ _et unde venisset, et quo nomine vocaretur, noluit mihi dicere; sed_ _hoc respondit_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 13:9. _THE ANGEL OF GOD CAME AGAIN_] This second appearance of the angel was probably essential to the peace of Manoah, who might have been jealous of his wife had he not had this proof that the thing was of the Lord.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 13:15. _UNTIL WE SHALL HAVE MADE READY A KID_] Not knowing his quality, Manoah wished to do this as an act of hospitality.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 13:16. _I WILL NOT EAT OF THY BREAD_] As I am a spiritual being, I subsist not by earthly food. _AND IF THOU WILT OFFER A BURNT-OFFERING_] Neither shall I receive that homage which belongs to God; thou must therefore offer thy burnt-offering to Jehovah.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 13:18. _SEEING IT_ IS _SECRET?_] It was because it was _secret_ that they wished to know it. The angel does not say that it was _secret_, but הוא פלאי _hu peli, it is WONDERFUL_; the very character that is given to Jesus Christ, Isaiah 9:6: _His name shall be called_, פלא Wonderful; and... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 13:19. THE ANGEL _DID WONDROUSLY_] He acted according to his name; he, being _wonderful_, performed wonderful things; probably causing fire to arise out of the rock and consume the sacrifice, and then ascending in the flame.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 13:22. _WE SHALL SURELY DIE, BECAUSE WE HAVE SEEN GOD._] Judges 1:6, :22.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 13:23. _IF THE LORD WERE PLEASED TO KILL US, C._] This is excellent reasoning, and may be of great use to every truly religious mind, in cloudy and dark dispensations of Divine Providence. It is not likely that God, who has preserved thee so long, borne with thee so long, and fed and s... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 13:24. _AND CALLED HIS NAME SAMSON_] The original שמשון _shimshon_, which is from the root שמש _shamash, to serve_, (whence _shemesh, the sun_,) probably means either a _little sun_, or a _little servant_; and this latter is so likely a name to be imposed on an only son, by maternal fon... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 13:25. _THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD BEGAN TO MOVE HIM_] He felt the degrading bondage of his countrymen, and a strong desire to accomplish something for their deliverance. These feelings and motions he had from the Divine Spirit. _CAMP OF DAN_] Probably the place where his parents dwelt; fo... [ Continue Reading ]