Judges 13:19 - Printer Friendly

ESV: So Manoah took the young goat with the grain offering, and offered it on the rock to the LORD, to the one who works wonders, and Manoah and his wife were watching.

NIV: Then Manoah took a young goat, together with the grain offering, and sacrificed it on a rock to the LORD. And the LORD did an amazing thing while Manoah and his wife watched:

NASB: So Manoah took the young goat along with the grain offering and offered it on the rock to the Lord; and He performed wonders while Manoah and his wife looked on.

CSB: Manoah took a young goat and a grain offering and offered them on a rock to the Lord, who did something miraculous while Manoah and his wife were watching.

NLT: Then Manoah took a young goat and a grain offering and offered it on a rock as a sacrifice to the Lord. And as Manoah and his wife watched, the Lord did an amazing thing.

KJV: So Manoah took a kid with a meat offering, and offered it upon a rock unto the LORD: and the angel did wondrously; and Manoah and his wife looked on.

NKJV: So Manoah took the young goat with the grain offering, and offered it upon the rock to the Lord. And He did a wondrous thing while Manoah and his wife looked on—

Culture of the Old Testament era included a deep respect for hospitality. After hearing good news from a visitor (Judges 13:2–14), Manoah and his wife offer food (Judges 13:15–18). They don't seem to realize this is not merely a "man of God," but is in fact "the angel of the LORD," almost surely God Himself in a temporary form. This "man" has suggested they offer a goat and other food as a burnt offering, instead.

Manoah and his wife follow a typical practice of their time: using a large rock as a kind of altar. Manoah sacrificed the young goat on the rock. He also includes the grain they would have otherwise used to prepare the meal for a grain offering. This is an offering of celebration and honor for the Lord and his goodness. They offer it all to the "one who works wonders," like the miraculous wonder of giving a child to a formerly barren woman and her husband (Judges 13:24–25).

This is a meaningful moment of worship to Yahweh, the God of Israel, in the book of Judges. Much of the book has focused on Israel's service and worship of the false gods of Canaan and surrounding cultures. Now, in response to God's goodness, two Israelites offer worship to the One True God while standing alongside the "angel of the LORD" Himself. It's a moment of blessing for everyone involved.

The verse ends by stating clearly that both "Manoah and his wife were watching." This seems like an odd detail, but it sets up what happens in the next verse. What occurs is not a misunderstanding or trick of the light—it's a clear supernatural act which undeniably proves the truth of all that's been said (Judges 13:20–21).

Judges 13:8–25 explains how Manoah learned of his wife's interaction with a messenger from God. He prays for more understanding, so he can properly fulfill his obligations. The angel of the Lord appears, again, and repeats his instructions. The child is to be consecrated as a Nazirite for his entire life. Manoah prepares a sacrifice, and the angel disappears into the flames. This further confirms the truth of the message. Manoah and his wife name their child Samson, who shows signs of blessing and the influence of God's Spirit from an early age.

The Lord appoints another deliverer for Israel, this time in response to oppression under the Philistines. An impressive stranger appears to Manoah and his wife, announcing they will have a son. This child is to be set apart as a Nazarite from before birth until death. His mother must not drink wine or strong drink or eat any unclean thing. This visitor then disappears into the flames of a burnt offering. The couple realizes they have seen a manifestation of Yahweh, Himself. Samson is born and soon shows signs of God's influence.

After Jephthah's rescue (Judges 11—12) this passage begins with another generation sinning against God. As is the pattern of the book of Judges, this leads to oppression. Israel is subject to forty years of misery under the Philistines. God appears to the wife of Manoah in the territory of Dan. She is commanded to consecrate her unborn son as a Nazarite, and that this child will begin to save Israel from the Philistines. Samson is born and is blessed by God. This is as pure as Samson's life will be—the rest of his story is an awkward, scandalous example of the Lord using flawed people to accomplish His great purposes.

The Book of Judges describes Israel's history from the death of Joshua to shortly before Israel's first king, Saul. Israel fails to complete God's command to purge the wicked Canaanites from the land (Deuteronomy 7:1–5; 9:4). This results in a centuries-long cycle where Israel falls into sin and is oppressed by local enemies. After each oppression, God sends a civil-military leader, labeled using a Hebrew word loosely translated into English as "judge." These appointed rescuers would free Israel from enemy control and govern for a certain time. After each judge's death, the cycle of sin and oppression begins again. This continues until the people of Israel choose a king, during the ministry of the prophet-and-judge Samuel (1 Samuel 1—7).