XIII. THE BIRTH OF SAMSON. 1. Fresh apostasy of Israel. Judges 13:2. Appearance of an angel to the wife of Manoah, and prophecy that she is to bear a son, who is to be a Nazarite and a deliverer. Judges 13:6. She tells her husband. Judges 13:8. At the prayer of Manoah the angel again appears. Judges... [ Continue Reading ]
DID EVIL AGAIN. — Judges 3:7; Judges 4:1; Judges 6:1; Judges 10:6. OF THE PHILISTINES. — Hitherto the nation has only been cursorily mentioned (Judges 3:31; Judges 10:7); from this time to the reign of David they play an important part. They were not Canaanites, but foreign conquerors. The district... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE WAS A CERTAIN MAN.... — The narrative of the birth of Samuel (1 Samuel 1:1) is similarly introduced. ZORAN. — The name means “place of hornets.” In Joshua 15:33 it is mentioned with Eshtaol among the towns north-east of the Shephelah, and it belonged to Dan (Joshua 19:41). Robinson identifies... [ Continue Reading ]
THE ANGEL OF THE LORD. — On this expression see Judges 2:1. Rabbi Levi Ben Gershom says that this “messenger of the Lord” was Phinehas; but nothing can be clearer than that, as in Judges 6:11; Genesis 18:10; Luke 1:11, a supernatural being is meant.... [ Continue Reading ]
DRINK NOT WINE. — The mother is to share for a time in part of the Nazarite vow. STRONG DRINK. — _Sheekar_ (LXX., _Sikera_) means _intoxicating liquor not made from grapes_ (Luke 1:15). EAT NOT ANY UNCLEAN THING. — Leviticus 11. The law applied to all Israelites, but is to be specially observed by... [ Continue Reading ]
NO RAZOR SHALL COME ON HIS HEAD. — The law of the Nazarite is laid down in Numbers 6, and when that chapter is read as the _Parashah_ (or first lesson) in the synagogue-worship, this account of the birth of Samson, the first recorded Nazarite, is read as the _Haphtarah_ (or second lesson). SHALL BE... [ Continue Reading ]
A MAN OF GOD. — Angels always appeared in human form, and Manoah’s wife, though awe-struck by the majesty of the angel’s appearance, did not know him to be other than a prophet. Josephus, writing to please the coarse tastes of Gentile readers, describes the messenger as a tall and beautiful youth, w... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CHILD SHALL BE A NAZARITE. — Comp. Luke 1:15. Since Samuel was also a Nazarite, we see that the distress of the people had led mothers to meditate on the old law of life-dedication to God. In Samson’s case this vow was imposed on him from his birth, perhaps to teach the Israelites a moral lesson... [ Continue Reading ]
AND TEACH US. — Manoah, yearning for the deliverance of his race, desired further guidance as to the training of the child, which he receives in Judges 13:13.... [ Continue Reading ]
HOW SHALL WE ORDER THE CHILD...? — The literal rendering is given in the margin, _What shall be the ordering_ (_mishpat;_ LXX., _krima_)_ of the child, and his work? _... [ Continue Reading ]
The object of this message only seems to have been to give certainty to Manoah. ANY THING THAT COMETH OF THE VINE. — In Numbers 6:3 it is emphatically added, “He shall separate himself from wine... and shall drink no vinegar of wine... neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat moist grap... [ Continue Reading ]
A KID FOR THEE. — Literally, _before thy face._ The narrative is closely analogous to that of the appearance of the angel to Gideon, and there is the same uncertainty in the terms used, so that we cannot certainly decide whether Manoah’s object was to offer a sacrifice or to offer hospitality. The v... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU MUST OFFER IT UNTO THE LORD. — Rather, _a burnt offering unto the Lord thou mayest offer it._ (Comp. Judges 6:20.) Angels invariably discourage and reprove that “worship of angels” (Colossians 2:18), which was the tendency of early Gnostic sects (_Daniel 10_; Revelation 19:10; Revelation 22:8).... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT IS THY NAME? — Comp. Genesis 32:29; Exodus 3:13; Proverbs 30:4. WE MAY DO THEE HONOUR. — Especially by a gift, which is the commonest Eastern notion of the word (_Numbers 22:17_; Jos. _Antt. v._ 8, § 3).... [ Continue Reading ]
SEEING IT IS SECRET. — The word _is peli,_ which in Isaiah 9:5 is rendered “wonderful.” The word is an adjective, not the actual name of the angel. The only angel who names himself in Scripture is Gabriel.... [ Continue Reading ]
DID WONDEROUSLY. — With a reference to the _word pelî_ in the previous verse. (Comp. Judges 6:20.)... [ Continue Reading ]
FROM OFF THE ALTAR. — The rock (_tsor_) of Judges 13:19 is now hallowed into an altar (_mizbeach_). FELL ON THEIR FACES. — Comp. Leviticus 9:24; Numbers 14:5; Ezekiel 1:28.... [ Continue Reading ]
WE SHALL SURELY DIE. — See on Judges 6:22. WE HAVE SEEN GOD. — _As seeing Him who is invisible;_ by seeing a manifestation of Him in human form, “Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me and live” (Exodus 33:20). (Comp. Genesis 32:30; Deuteronomy 5:24.)... [ Continue Reading ]
SAMSON. — Josephus renders the word “strong” (ἰσχυρός)_,_ deriving it from a root (_shameem_)_,_ and perhaps not unwilling to suggest an analogy between Samson and the Greek Hercules. St. Jerome, rendering it “strength of the sun,” derives it from _shemesh, “_sun,” and _on, “_strength.” It is more p... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD. — Judges 3:10. The Targum of Jonathan paraphrases it rightly, “The spirit of courage from Jehovah.” Amos (Amos 2:11) ranks Nazarites with prophets. “Different as may be their mode of action, they agree in a belief, which strings up every power to its highest tension, that the... [ Continue Reading ]