MANOAH, or Manue, Father of Samson, of the Tribe of Dan, and of the City of Zorah. Upon a Time an Angel of the Lord appearing to the Wife of Manoah, and having promised her a Son; Manoah, whether Judg. xiii. 1, 2, 3, &c.moved by a Fit of Jealousy, or influenced by Sentiments of Gratitude towards this Angel1, desired of the Lord that he might see him that had appeared to his Wife, that he might know from him what he should do with this Son when born. The Lord heard his Prayer, and the Angel appeared again to his Wife, being then in the Fields. She ran presently to her Husband to acquaint him, that the Man she had seen before was come again. Manoah went to him and asked him, Is it you that spake to my Wife? When that shall be accomplished that you have foretold us, what must we do with the Child? He answered, let your Wife abstain from every Thing that I have commanded her; let her eat nothing that is unclean, and refrain from Wine and strong Drink. Manoah said to the Angel; My Lord, I pray you be pleased to let us prepare you a Kid. To which the Angel replied, However urgent you may be, I must not eat any Food; but you may offer it for a Burnt-Sacrifice to the Lord. Manoah said to him, not knowing him to be an Angel, What is your Name, that we may pay you Honour and Acknowledgment, if that shall happen that you have foretold? He answered, Why ask you my Name, which is a Secret2? the Wine for the Libations; and having put them upon the Fire which he had lighted on a Stone, he observed with his Wife what would come to pass. Josephus3, who is followed by the greatest Part of Commentators, believes that the Angel touched the Flesh with a Rod that he had in his Hand, upon which there came forth a Flame that consumed the Burnt-Sacrifice: Which is a Circumstance not expressly mentioned in Scripture. As the Smoke began to ascend, the Angel also rose up in the midst of the Flame, and ascended towards Heaven. Then Manoah perceived that it was an Angel, and said to his Wife, we shall certainly die since we have seen the Lord. But his Wife answered him, If the Lord would have killed us, he would not have conferred so many Favours upon us; he would not have received our Burnt-Offering; nor would have declared to us the Birth of a Son. This happened in the Year of the World 2848, and Samson was born in 2849, before Christ 1151, and before the Vulgar Æra 1155.
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