manoah Summary and Overview

rest, a Danite, the father of Samson (Judg. 13:1-22, and 14:2-4).

(rest), the father of Samson; a Danite, native of the town of Zorah. #Jud 13:2| (B.C. 1161) [SAMSON]

MANO'AH (rest), a native of the town of Zorah, in the tribe of Dan, and the father of Samson, whose birth is recorded in Jud 13:1-23. Manoah is again mentioned, Jud 14:2-4 at the occasion of Samson's marriage, but seems to have died before the son, whose body was brought up from Gaza by his brethren, not, as Milton has it, by his father. Jud 16:31.

A Danite of Zorah, father of Samson (Judges 13). The Angel of Jehovah appeared unto his wife, announcing that a son should be born to her, to be reared as a Nazarite. On her telling Manoah he entreated Jehovah to send again "the man of God" (as Manoah supposed him to be) to "teach what they should do unto the child to be born." God graciously granted his wish, and he asked the Angel, "how shall we order the child, and how shall we do unto him?" So parents ought to seek God's direction, how to rear their children for God. The Angel directed him and all parents: "of all that I said ... beware, ... all that I commanded ... observe" (compare John 2:5). Manoah begged Him to stay until he got ready a kid. The divine Angel told him (as Manoah thought He was a man and knew not He was the Angel of Jehovah, and He being jealous for God's honor would not accept it as man; compare Mark 10:18) he must offer his burnt offering to Jehovah. Manoah then asked His name. The Angel replied, "it is secret" ("wonderful," margin; Isaiah 9:6); compare Genesis 32:29; Exodus 34:5-7; it is a secret known to God's children (Psalm 25:14; Revelation 2:17; Revelation 3:12). "He did wondrously" according to His name, for He made a flame rise from the rock to consume the offering and (compare Judges 6:21) ascended in the flame; compare Mark 4:41; Mark 5:42; Mark 7:37; Acts 1:9; John 3:13. Manoah feared he should die, as having seen God (Exodus 33:20). His wife with greater spiritual instinct replied: "if Jehovah were pleased to kill us, He would not have received a burnt offering at our hands, neither would He have showed us all these things, nor as at this time have told us such things." Manoah and his wife remonstrated with Samson on choosing a Philistine as his wife (Judges 14:2-3); but they accompanied him to the marriage feast at Timnath. Manoah probably died before his son; since not Manoah but Samson's brothers brought Samson's body to the tomb between Zorah and Eshtaol.