Difference between revisions of "Manoah"

<p> A name eminent in Scripture, from the manifestation that the Lord made to him in a time when visions of God were rare. (See &nbsp;Judges 13:1-25) The name seems to be derived from Nuaeh, rest. When the reader hath turned to the chapter which relates this wonderful transaction, and read it, I beg him to pause over it, and consider the several interesting circumstances connected with it; and then let him judge for himself, who this person could be that appeared to the man and his wife but, the Lord Jesus Christ. It is certain, as far as we can judge, that both Manoah and his wife regarded their heavenly visitor but as a created angel, until that when in the flame of the sacrifice he ascended with it. But when they behold him thus go up in the flame, to give an acceptableness to their poor sacrifice, then they knew that it was that [[Glorious]] [[Holy]] One whom JEHOVAH had sworn into his office as High [[Priest]] for ever. The man knew by this that it was JEHOVAH the Son, and not a created angel; and as such, he said, "We shall surely die, because we have seen God," agreeably to the Lord's own declaration, "Thou canst not see my face and live?" (&nbsp;Exodus 33:20) </p> <p> There is one beauty more in this transaction, and which serves to confirm this blessed doctrine, that this supposed angel was Christ; and that is, that when Manoah asked his name, the angel of the Lord said unto him, "Why askest thou my after name seeing it is secret?" In the margin of the Bible it is rendered, "seeing it is wonderful." And the name [[Wonderful]] is Christ's well-known name (&nbsp;Isaiah 9:6) Reader, what think you of the subject? Was it not Jesus, as if longing for the time of his coming to tabernacle openly with his people? </p>

<p> '''Mano'ah''' ''(Rest).'' The father of Samson; a Danite, native of the town of Zorah. &nbsp;Judges 13:2. (B.C. 1161) ''See '' [[Samson]] ''.'' </p>

<p> the father of Samson, was of the tribe of Dan, and a native of the city of Zorah, &nbsp;Judges 13:6-23 . See [[Samson]] . </p>

<p> ''''' ma ''''' - ''''' nō´a ''''' ( מנוח , <i> ''''' mānōaḥ ''''' </i> , "rest"): A man of Zorah and of the family of the Danites. Manoah was the father of Samson, and his life-story is but imperfectly told in the history of the conception, birth and early life of his son. No children had been born to Manoah and his wife, and the latter was considered barren (&nbsp; Judges 13:2 ). [[Finally]] it was revealed to her by an angel of the Lord that she would conceive and bear a child. She was cautioned against strong drink and "unclean" food, for her child was to be born and reared a Nazirite to the end that he might save [[Israel]] out of the hands of the [[Philistines]] (&nbsp;Judges 13:3-5 ). That Manoah was a devout man seems certain in view of the fact that, upon hearing of the angel's visit, he offered a prayer for the angel's return, in order that he and his wife might be instructed as to the proper care of the child to be born (&nbsp;Judges 13:8 ). The request was granted and the angel repeated the visit and the instructions (&nbsp;Judges 13:9-13 ). Manoah with true hospitality would have the guest remain and partake of food. The angel refused, but commanded a sacrifice unto Yahweh. When Manoah had prepared the sacrifice and lit it on the altar, the angel ascended in the flame from the altar and appeared no more (&nbsp;Judges 13:15-21 ). The child was born according to the promise and was named Samson. Manoah and his wife appear twice in the narrative of Samson's early life - once as they protestingly accompanied him to sue for the hand of a Philistine woman of Timnah in marriage, and again when they went with him to Timnab for the wedding. </p> <p> Josephus richly embellishes this Scriptural narrative concerning Manoah, but offers no further light upon the occupation or character of Manoah. At the death of Samson, his brothers went down to [[Gaza]] and brought back the body and buried it by the side of Manoah in the family tomb near Zorah (&nbsp;Judges 16:31 ). In <i> Samson Agonistes </i> Milton gains dramatic effect by having Manoah survive Samson and in deep sorrow assist at his burial. </p>

<p> (Heb. Manoach,: '''''מָנוֹח''''' '', Rest,'' as in &nbsp;Genesis 8:9, and often; Sept. '''''Μανωέ''''' ; Josephus '''''Μανώχης''''' , Ant, v. 8, 2 [where the Biblical narrative is greatly embellished]; Vulg. ''Manue),'' the father of Samson, of the tribe of Dan, and a native of Zorah (&nbsp;Judges 13:2-22; &nbsp;Judges 16:31). B.C. 1185. "The narrative of the Bible (&nbsp;Judges 13:1-23), of the circumstances which preceded the birth of Samson, supplies us with very few and faint traits of Manoah's character or habits. He seems to have had some occupation which separated him during part of the day from his wife, though that was not field-work, because it was in the field that his wife was found by the angel during his absence. He was hospitable, as his forefather [[Abraham]] had been before him; he was a worshipper of Jehovah, and reverent even to a degree of fear. We hear of Manoah once again in connection with the marriage of Samson and the Philistine of Timnath. His father and his mother remonstrated with him thereon, but to no purpose (&nbsp;Judges 14:2-3). They then accompanied him to Timnath, both on the preliminary visit (&nbsp;Judges 14:5-6) and to the marriage itself (&nbsp;Judges 14:9-10). Manoah appears not to have survived his son: not he, but Samson's brothers, went down to Gaza for the body of the hero, and bringing it up to the family tomb between Zorah and Eshtaol, reunited the father to the son (16:31) whose birth had been the subject of so. many prayers and so much anxiety. Milton, however, does not take this view. In Samson Agonistes Manoah bears a prominent part throughout, and lives to bury his son.' (See Samson). </p>