Judges13
English Standard Version
1And the of what was in the of the Lord, so the Lord them into the of the for .
2There was a of , of the of the , whose was . And his was and had no .
3And the of the Lord to the and to her, Behold, you are and have not , but you shall and a .
4Therefore be and no or , and nothing ,
5for behold, you shall and a . No shall his , for the shall be a to from the , and he shall to from the of the .
6Then the and her , A of to me, and his was like the of the of , . I did not him where he was from, and he did not me his ,
7but he to me, Behold, you shall and a . So then no or , and , for the shall be a to from the to the of his .
8Then to the Lord and , , please the of whom you to us and us what we are to with the who will be .
9And to the of , and the of again to the as she in the . But her was not with her.
10So the and her , Behold, the who to me the other has to me.
11And and his and to the and to him, Are you the who to this ? And he , I am.
12And , Now when your , what is to be the , and what is his ?
13And the of the Lord to , Of all that I to the let her be .
14She may not of anything that from the , neither let her or , or any thing. All that I her let her .
15 to the of the Lord, Please let us you and a you.
16And the of the Lord to , If you me, I will not of your . But you a , then it to the Lord. (For did not that he was the of the Lord.)
17And to the of the Lord, What is your , so that, when your , we may you?
18And the of the Lord to him, Why do you my , seeing it is ?
19So the with the , and it on the to the Lord, to the one who , and and his were .
20And when the toward from the , the of the Lord in the of the . Now and his were , and they their to the .
21The of the Lord no to and to his . Then that he was the of the Lord.
22And to his , We shall , for we have .
23But his to him, the Lord had to us, he would not have a and a at our , or us all these things, or to us such things as .
24And the a and his . And the , and the Lord him.
25And the of the Lord to in , between and .
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Judges 13.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The Philistines, Samson announced. (1–7). The angel appears to Manoah. (8–14). Manoah's sacrifice. (15–23). Birth of Samson. (24, 25).
vv1-7
Israel did evil: then God delivered them again into the hands of the Philistines. When Israel was in this distress, Samson was born. His parents had been long childless. Many eminent persons were born of such 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, both of the promise and of the precept. Husbands and wives should tell each other their experiences of communion with God, and their improvements in acquaintance with him, that they may help each other in the way that is holy.
vv8-14
Blessed are those who have not seen, and yet, as Manoah, have believed. Good men are more careful and desirous to know the duty to be done by them, than to know the events concerning them: duty is ours, events are God's. God will guide those by his counsel, who desire to know their duty, and apply to him to teach them. Pious parents, especially, will beg Divine assistance. The angel repeats the directions he had before given. There is need of much care for the right ordering both of ourselves and our children, that we may be duly separate from the world, and living sacrifices to the Lord.
vv15-23
What Manoah asked for instruction in his duty, he was readily told; but what he asked to gratify his curiosity, was denied. God has in his word given full directions concerning our duty, but never designed to answer other questionings. There are secret things which belong not to us, of which we must be quite contented to be ignorant, while in this world. The name of our Lord is wonderful and secret; but by his wonderful works he makes himself known as far as is needful for us. Prayer is the ascent of the soul to God. But without Christ in the heart by faith, our services are offensive smoke; in him, acceptable flame. We may apply this to Christ's sacrifice of himself for us; he ascended in the flame of his own offering, for by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, Heb 9:12. In Manoah's reflections there is great fear; We shall surely die. In his wife's reflection there is great faith. As a help meet for him, she encouraged him. Let believers who have had communion with God in the word and prayer, to whom he has graciously manifested himself, and who have had reason to think God has accepted their works, take encouragement from thence in a cloudy and dark day. God would not have done what he has done for my soul, if he had designed to forsake me, and leave me to perish at last; for his work is perfect. Learn to reason as Manoah's wife; If God designed me to perish under his wrath, he would not give me tokens of his favour.
Key Words
בֵּן: a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
יִשְׂרָאֵל: Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
יָסַף: to add or augment (often adverbial, to continue to do a thing)
עָשָׂה: to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
רַע: bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)
עַיִן: an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)
נָתַן: to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
יָד: a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),
פְּלִשְׁתִּי: a Pelishtite or inhabitant of Pelesheth
אַרְבָּעִים: forty
Cross References
Judges 13Establishes the standard legal requirements for a Nazarite vow, which Samson was called to from birth.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Direct law specifying that no razor shall touch the head of a dedicated Nazarite.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Connects the Angel's 'secret' (or 'Wonderful') name with the Messianic title in Isaiah.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Parallel inquiry of a divine messenger's name, where the name is likewise withheld as secret.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Similar miraculous sign of fire consuming a sacrifice and the Angel's sudden departure.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallel terror of Gideon realizing he had seen the Angel of the Lord face-to-face.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The foundational law that no man can see God's face and live, prompting Manoah's terror.
Supported by Matthew Poole
New Testament parallel of John the Baptist, who was also forbidden wine from the womb.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Hannah's parallel vow dedicating her unborn son Samuel as a lifelong Nazarite.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Abrahamic precedent of offering hospitable food to travelers who were actually divine visitors.
Supported by Matthew Poole
New Testament Hall of Faith commendation of Samson as a divinely raised deliverer.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Confirms Samson only began deliverance, judging Israel twenty years during the forty-year Philistine oppression.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Geographical identification of Zorah on the border of Judah and Dan.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Illustrates how the Spirit of the Lord actively empowered Samson for acts of physical deliverance.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB