Judges 13:22, 23: Who Is This Angel of the Lord? (Part 4)

Verse 22:[1] And Manoah said unto his wife, (Gen. 32:30; Ex. 33:20; Deut. 5:26; Judg. 6:22) We shall surely die, because we have seen God.

[We shall die] See what things were said on Judges 6 (Grotius), and on Judges 13:22 (Menochius).

[Because we have seen God[2]] That is, the eternal Word, whom in this place he calls Elohim (Junius). Or, an Angel (Piscator, Drusius, Lapide); as it is evident from the immediately preceding words. For the name Elohim is also attributed to the Angels (Piscator).

Verse 23:[3] But his wife said unto him, If the LORD were pleased to kill us, he would not have received a burnt offering and a meat offering at our hands, neither would he have shewed us all these things, nor would as at this time have told us such things as these.

[And he would not have shewn to us all these things] Namely, what was to be done concerning the boy that was going to be born (Bonfrerius).

[Neither would He have said the things that are going to come] You would more rightly distinguish it from the former, as if it were a new argument, in such a way that this is referred to the more remote future events, for example, that he shall begin to deliver Israel[4] (Bonfrerius).

[וְכָעֵ֕ת לֹ֥א הִשְׁמִיעָ֖נוּ כָּזֹֽאת׃] Verbatim: and according to the time he would not have cause us to hear according to this (Vatablus), or, as those things (Montanus, Glassius), that is, at this time, and these things. It is a twofold כ/Kaph of truth. Sometimes the thing itself is denoted by particles of similitude. Thus, in Numbers 11:1, the people were כְּמִתְאֹנְנִים, as those complaining, that is, clearly complaining, as Junius rightly observes. Thus, in Deuteronomy 9:10, On the tables was כְּכָל־הַדְּבָרִים, as, or according to, all the words, etc., that is, there were on them all these words (Glassius’ “Grammar” 505). Nor at this time would He have said such things to us (Pagnine, similarly Junius and Tremellius, Syriac, Arabic); nor according to the time would He have announced this to us (Tigurinus, similarly Munster); at the appointed time He would not hear us, as this (Jonathan); nor would He ever have heeded us in this way (Castalio).

As at this time: Or, at this time; the particle כְּ/as noting here, not likeness, but the truth and reality of the thing, as it doth Numbers 11:1; Deuteronomy 9:10, and elsewhere. This expression seems to have some emphasis in it, to enhance God’s mercy to them, as being afforded them in a time of such public and grievous calamity; and in a time when the word of the Lord was precious, and there was no open vision, as it was afterwards, 1 Samuel 3:1.

[1] Hebrew: וַיֹּ֧אמֶר מָנ֛וֹחַ אֶל־אִשְׁתּ֖וֹ מ֣וֹת נָמ֑וּת כִּ֥י אֱלֹהִ֖ים רָאִֽינוּ׃

[2] Hebrew: כִּ֥י אֱלֹהִ֖ים רָאִֽינוּ׃.

[3] Hebrew: וַתֹּ֧אמֶר ל֣וֹ אִשְׁתּ֗וֹ לוּ֩ חָפֵ֙ץ יְהוָ֤ה לַהֲמִיתֵ֙נוּ֙ לֹֽא־לָקַ֤ח מִיָּדֵ֙נוּ֙ עֹלָ֣ה וּמִנְחָ֔ה וְלֹ֥א הֶרְאָ֖נוּ אֶת־כָּל־אֵ֑לֶּה וְכָעֵ֕ת לֹ֥א הִשְׁמִיעָ֖נוּ כָּזֹֽאת׃

[4] Verse 5.