12 So Manoah asked him, "When your words are fulfilled, what is to be the rule that governs the boy's life and work?"
12 And Manoah said, Now let thy words come to pass. How shall we order
12 And Manoah said, "Now when your words come true, what is to be the child's manner of life, and what is his mission?"
12 Manoah said, "So. When what you say comes true, what do you have to tell us about this boy and his work?"
12 Manoah said, "Now let Your words come to pass! What will be the boy's rule of life, and his work?"
12 So Manoah asked him, "When your words come true, what kind of rules should govern the boy's life and work?"
17 Then Manoah inquired of the angel of the Lord, "What is your name, so that we may honor you when your word comes true?"
17 And Manoah said unto the angel of the Lord, What is thy name, that when thy sayings come to pass we may do thee honour?
17 And Manoah said to the angel of the Lord, "What is your name, so that, when your words come true, we may honor you?"
17 Then Manoah asked the angel of God, "What's your name? When your words come true, we'd like to honor you."
17 Then Manoah said to the Angel of the Lord, "What is Your name, that when Your words come to pass we may honor You?"
17 Then Manoah asked the angel of the Lord, "What is your name? For when all this comes true, we want to honor you."
(Read Judges 13:15-23)
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, Hebrews 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.
131 Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord, so the Lord delivered them into the hands of the Philistines for forty years.
131 And the children of Israel did evil
131 And the people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, so the Lord gave them into the hand of the Philistines for forty years.
131 And then the People of Israel were back at it again, doing what was evil in God's sight. God put them under the domination of the Philistines for forty years.
131 Again the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord delivered them into the hand of the Philistines for forty years.
131 Again the Israelites did evil in the Lord 's sight, so the Lord handed them over to the Philistines, who oppressed them for forty years.
(Read Judges 13:1-7)
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.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Judges 13:12
Commentary on Judges 13:8-14
(Read Judges 13:8-14)
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.