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.
Robert Hawker's Poor Man's Portion: '"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 skewed us all these things."—Judges 13:23
Precious faith this of the wife of Manoah, and sound and conclusive reasoning. My soul, hath the Father, who gave thee Jesus for a Saviour, accepted thee in Jesus? Hath the Father, who sent his dear Son to be the Saviour of the world, accepted Jesus for thy Saviour? Hath the Holy Ghost shewed thee the glorious things of redemption in his blood, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace? And hath he given thee to believe in the record…
George Swinnock's Christian Man's Calling: 'It is not said, I will make a help for him—for so beasts are helps to men, therefore called Jumenta a juvando—but "I will make a fit or meet help;" in the original it is as before him, that is, answering to him, Genesis 2:18. The wife to the husband, must be as the lock to the key, answerable and suitable, or else of no use. Rebecca provided such meat as Isaac loved: a wife should observe her husband's disposition, and carry herself accordingly. If he be sad and troubled, she must endeavour to satisfy and comfort him. When Manoah was grieved, saying "We shall die, because we have seen God;" his wife cheered him…
John Calvin's Institutes: 'Hence that dread and amazement with which, as Scripture uniformly relates, holy men were struck and overwhelmed whenever they beheld the presence of God. When we see those who previously stood firm and secure so quaking with terror, that the fear of death takes hold of them, nay, they are, in a manner, swallowed up and annihilated, the inference to be drawn is, that men are never duly touched and impressed with a conviction of their insignificance, until they have contrasted themselves with the majesty of God. Frequent examples of this consternation occur both in the Book of Judges and the Prophetical Writings; [Judges 13:22; Isaiah 6:5; Ezekiel 1:28; 3:14; Job 9:4, etc.; Genesis 17:27; 1 King…
Matthew Henry: 'We have an account of the impressions which this vision made upon Manoah and his wife. While the angel did wondrously, they looked on, and said nothing (so it becomes us carefully to observe the wondrous works of God, and to be silent before him); but when he had gone, having finished his work, they had time to make their reflections. 1. In Manoah's reflection upon it there is great fear, Judges 13:22. He had spoken with great assurance of the son they should shortly be the joyful parents of (Judges 13:8, 12), and yet is now put into such a confusion by that very thing which should have strengthened and encouraged his faith that he counts upo…