Albert Barnes Commentary Judges 13
Albert Barnes Commentary
Judges 13
Albert Barnes Commentary
Judges 13
"And the children of Israel again did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah; and Jehovah delivered them into the hand of the Philistines forty years." — Judges 13:1 (ASV)
The Philistines have been mentioned as oppressors of Israel in (Judges 3:31); (Judges 10:7), (Judges 10:11); and the Israelite worship of the gods of the Philistines is spoken of in (Judges 10:6). But this is the first time that we have any detailed history in connection with the Philistines. They continued to be the prominent enemies of Israel until the time of David.
Forty years - The Philistine dominion began before the birth of Samson (Judges 13:5), and was in force during Samson’s twenty years’ judgeship (Judges 14:4); (Judges 15:20). The 40 years are, therefore, about coincident with Samson’s life.
"And there was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren, and bare not." — Judges 13:2 (ASV)
Zorah - See the marginal reference.
His wife was barren - To mark more distinctly the high providential destiny of the child that was eventually born. Compare the similar circumstances of the birth of Isaac, Jacob, Samuel, and John the Baptist.
"for, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come upon his head; for the child shall be a Nazirite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to save Israel out of the hand of the Philistines." — Judges 13:5 (ASV)
A Nazarite - See the marginal reference and note. The common Nazarite vow was for a limited time, like Paul’s (Acts 18:18; Acts 21:23–26). Others, like Samuel (1 Samuel 1:11), were Nazarites for life.
"Then the woman came and told her husband, saying, A man of God came unto me, and his countenance was like the countenance of the angel of God, very terrible; and I asked him not whence he was, neither told he me his name:" — Judges 13:6 (ASV)
A man of God - The designation of a prophet, of frequent use in the books of Samuel and Kings (1 Samuel 2:27; 1 Samuel 9:6–8, 10; 1 Kings 12:22; 1 Kings 13:1, 5-6, 11), and applied to Timothy by Paul in the New Testament (1 Timothy 6:11; 2 Timothy 3:17).
His countenance - Rather, “his appearance,” as the word is rendered in Daniel 10:18.
"And Manoah said, Now let thy words come to pass: what shall be the ordering of the child, and [how] shall we do unto him?" — Judges 13:12 (ASV)
This translates to: “What shall be the manner (or ordering) of the child, and what shall be his work (or exploits)?” The original message of the Angel had given information on these two points:
- how the child was to be brought up, namely, as a Nazarite;
- what he should do, namely, begin to deliver Israel.
Manoah desires to have the information repeated (compare 1 Samuel 17:26–27 and 1 Samuel 17:30). Accordingly, in Judges 13:13, the Angel refers to, and expands upon, his former instructions.
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