_THE ISRAELITES ARE OPPRESSED FORTY YEARS BY THE PHILISTINES: AN ANGEL APPEARS TO THE WIFE OF MANOAH, AND PROMISES HER A SON: HE APPEARS AGAIN TO THE HUSBAND AND WIFE, AND ASCENDS, IN THE MIDST OF THE FLAME OF THE BURNT OFFERING, TOWARDS HEAVEN: SAMSON IS BORN._ _Before Christ 1175._... [ Continue Reading ]
THE ANGEL OF THE LORD APPEARED UNTO THE WOMAN— The same angel as appeared to Gideon, Joshua, Moses, &c. See the observations on those appearances, Joshua 13:22 of this chapter: See also Vitringae Observat. Sacrae, tom. 1. It is observable, that some of the greatest men of the Jewish nation were born... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW, THEREFORE, BEWARE, &C.— As Samson was to be a perfect _Nazarite unto God, from the womb to the day of his death,_ Joshua 13:7 his mother is commanded to live as the Nazarites did, (Numbers 6.) while she carried him in her womb, and, most likely, while she nursed him; because a child in the womb... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS COUNTENANCE—VERY TERRIBLE— The French version has it very well, _fort venerable,_ a countenance _full of majesty;_ such as was that of St. Stephen, when he appeared before the Sanhedrim at Jerusalem, Acts 6:15. His Judges _saw his face, as it had been the face of an angel._ It does not appear, t... [ Continue Reading ]
THE OTHER DAY— There is nothing for _other_ in the Hebrew. Houbigant renders it, _on that day,_ following the Chaldee, Syriac, and Arabic.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND MANOAH SAID, NOW LET THY WORDS COME TO PASS, &C.— Houbigant renders this, _And Manoah said, when that shall come to pass which thou hast spoken, what shall be the method of educating the child?_ words plainly alluding to those in the 8th verse. REFLECTIONS.—1. Manoah rejoices at the news, and s... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IF THOU WILT OFFER A BURNT-OFFERING, THOU MUST OFFER IT UNTO THE LORD— Manoah, as we observed, supposing this divine personage to be a prophet, was desirous to entertain him in a hospitable manner, and agreeably to his extraordinary commission; See Genesis 18:3 and ch. Joshua 6:18 but the angel... [ Continue Reading ]
SEEING IT IS SECRET— More properly rendered in the margin, _wonderful;_ compare Isaiah 9:6 where this same name of wonderful is applied to Christ, the wonderful _Word_ incarnate for the redemption of mankind.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE ANGEL DID WONDEROUSLY— There is nothing for _angel_ in the original, which might easily be construed thus: "So Manoah took a kid, with a meat-offering, and offered upon a rock unto the Lord; and he did wonderfully, Manoah and his wife looking on: for it came to pass," &c. ver. 20 in which ve... [ Continue Reading ]
MANOAH SAID—WE SHALL SURELY DIE— See ch. Joshua 6:22 and the places there referred to. REFLECTIONS.—We have here a continuation of what passed at this interview. 1. Manoah entreats him to prolong his stay, and take some refreshment with him before he departs. _Note;_ When God sends his messengers... [ Continue Reading ]
IF THE LORD WERE PLEASED TO KILL US, HE WOULD NOT HAVE RECEIVED A BURNT-OFFERING AND A MEAT-OFFERING AT OUR HANDS, &C.— Such was the argumentation of Manoah's wife against the fear and diffidence of her husband; and it might very well have become the most masculine understanding. God Almighty will b... [ Continue Reading ]
CALLED HIS NAME SAMSON— It is not easy to determine the derivation of this word. That of those who derive it from שׁמשׁ _Shemesh,_ the _Sun,_ seems the most probable; Samson's birth being, as some say, the elevation of the Hebrews; so David is called _a light of Israel._ It cannot escape the notice... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD BEGAN TO MOVE HIM— The Chaldee renders it, _the spirit of fortitude,_ or _courage._ Very early the Spirit of God gave marks of his presence with him, by some extraordinary things superior to human power, which it enabled him to do, as a kind of prelude to that heroic courage w... [ Continue Reading ]