Annotations upon the remaining historicall part of the Old Testament. The second part. to wit, the books of Joshua, Judges, the two books of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles, and the books of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther : wherein first, all such passages in the text are explained as were thought likely to be questioned by any reader of ordinary capacity : secondly, in many clauses those things are discovered which are needfull and usefull to be known ... and thirdly, many places that might at first seem to contradict one another are reconciled ... / by Arthur Jackson.

CHAP. XIII.

Vers. 1. ANd the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the Lord, &c.] This Apostacie of the children of Israel was doubtlesse in the dayes of Ibzan the next Judge after Jephthah, chap. 12. vers. 8. as may appear by the com∣putation of those fourtie years wherein the Philistines oppressed Israel, mentioned in the following words. And the Lord delivered them into the hand of the Phili∣stines fourtie years; for the twenty years wherein Samson judged Israel must neces∣sarily be accounted one half of these fourtie years of the Philistines oppression, as is evident chap. 15. vers. 20. And he judged Israel in the dayes of the Philistines twenty years: and the other half to wit the other twenty years must needs begin be∣fore Samson was born, to wit, about the fifth yeare of Ibzans judging Israel; for when the Angel appeared to Samsons mother, the Philistines oppressed Israel: whence he tells her for her comfort, verse 5. that he should deliver Israel out of the hands of the Philistines. And indeed Jephthahs slaying two and fourty thousand of the Ephraimites, chap. 12. vers. 6. must needs be a great weakning to the Israelites in those parts, and was like enough to encourage the Philistines to invade their land within a short time after Jephthah was dead.

Vers. 2. And there was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah.] So that Samson the sonne of this Manoah, was of the tribe of Dan: This tribe bordering upon the land of the Philistines was most expo∣sed to their incursions, and therefore God was pleased now to raise up a Judge for the Israelites out of this tribe, to wit, Samson the sonne of this Manoah, to whose exploits against the Philistines, some conceive that Jacob had respect in that his pro∣phecy concerning this tribe, Gen. 49.16, 17. Dan shall Judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel; Dan shall be a serpent in the way, an adder in the path that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward.

Vers. 3. And the Angel of the Lord appeared unto the woman, and said unto her, behold now thou art barren, &c.] He first mentions her barrennesse, that the following tydings concerning her conceiving with child, might be the more joyfully received by her; it is a great question among Expositours, what this Angel of the Lord was, that now appeared to Manoahs wife, some conceiving that it was a cre∣ated Angel, and that because as they say, he afterwards chargeth Manoah not to sa∣crifice to him, but to the Lord, vers. 16. If thou wilt offer a burnt offering, thou must offer it unto the Lord. And others again conceiving, that it was the very sonne of God, that great Angel of the covenant, and that because, vers. 18. he saith, his name was secret, or wonderfull, but especially, because vers. 22. Manoah saith, they had seen God, and vers. 23. his wife calls him the Lord, that is, the Jehovah; and indeed, though these be not unanswerable proofes, yet considering that it is un∣questionably evident in other places, that in these times the sonne of God did usual∣ly appear to other the servants of God, I should judge it most probable, that it was he that did now also appear in the shape of a man to the wife of Manoah.

Vers. 4. Drink not wine nor strong drink, and eat not unclean any thing. Because her child was to be a Nazarite from the wombe, as it follows, vers. 5. therefore she might not eat or drink those things that were unlawfull for the Nazarites, to wit,

neither whilst she was with child, nor whilst she gave suck, in regard that all that time, that which she did eat or drink was for the nourishment of her child too. In∣deed by the unclean meat forbidden her, may be meant any meat forbidden in the Law, Levit. 11. for it is no wonder though the Angel charges her to beware of such meats which were unlawfull for any Israelite to eat, as well as Nazarites; first, because it is likely in these times so full of confusion and disorder, both this and many other of Gods Laws, were altogether disregarded by the people in generall: & secondly, be∣cause though such meats were unlawfull for any Israelite, yet much more for Naza∣rites. But yet here I rather think such meats are meant, as were unclean for the Naza∣rites though not for others, such as were grapes moist or dryed, yea any meats that were made of the vine tree, from the kernel even to the husk: Num. 6.3, 4. He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink, and shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he eat any liquour of grapes, nor eat moist grapes or dried. All the dayes of his separation, shall he eat nothing that is made of the vine tree, from the kernel even to the husk. Concerning which Law, see the note there.

Vers. 5. The child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb. This is a com∣mandment not a prediction, as is also the other clause before, no rasour shall come on his head; for we see his hair was afterwards cut off, chap. 16.19. And she made him sleep upon her knees, and she called for a man and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head, and she began to afflict him, and his strength went from him.

And he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.] It is said here that Samson should begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Phili∣stines: first, because the Israelites were many years oppressed by the Philistines, and the Lord sent them no saviour, till at length Samson when he came of age, was stir∣red up by the spirit of God to undertake this work, and so he was the first that did any thing towards the foiling of the Philistines: secondly, because though he did not wholy vanquish them (for after Samsons death they did often infest & annoy the Israelites) yet did he so farre weaken them, especially by the last blow that he gave them at his death, when he slew all their Princes and many of the people, that they scarse ever recovered their former strength: and thirdly, because the work of shaking off the yoke of the Philistines that was begun by Samson, was followed on after∣wards in the dayes of Eli, Samuel, and Saul (for they never were after this in bon∣dage to the Philistines) till at length they were perfectly subdued by David.

Vers. 6. A man of God came unto me, and his countenance was like the counte∣nance of an Angel of God, very terrible.] That is, his countenance was very ve∣nerable, and full of reverend Majesty, and such as wrought a kind of astonishment and fear in me.

Vers. 7. For the child shall be a Nazarite to God from the womb, to the day of his death.] Others that took upon them the vow of a Nazarite, were onely such for a time, namely, so long as they had vowed to consecrate themselves unto the Lord, in this strict way of singular holinesse, which was therefore called the dayes of their separation; see the notes Num. 6.3, 4, 5. But now Samson was in an extraordina∣ry way separate to be a Nazarite, to wit, by the appointment and command of God, and not by his own voluntary vow, and therefore he was to be a Nazarite all his

life, from the womb to the day of his death; and herein was Samson above other Nazarites, a type of Christ, who was from his first conception perfectly sanctified: Luke 2.35. That holy thing which shall be born of thee (saith the Angel to the vir∣gin Mary) shall be called the sonne of God, and so continued all his dayes, holy, harmlesse, undefiled, and separate from sinners, Heb. 7.26. and that to the end he might be the saviour of Gods people: for the better manifestation whereof, it was that God by his providence did so order it, that he was (though upon another occa∣sion) called a Nazarene, Matht. 2.23. And he came and dwelt in a city called Na∣zareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Prophets, He shall be cal∣led a Nazarene.

Vers. 10. And the woman made haste, and ran and shewed her husband, &c.] Knowing how earnestly her husband had prayed unto the Lord, that he would a∣gain send that man of God to them, that had at first brought her the tidings of her conception; no sooner did she now see him again, but as taking this to be an answer of his prayer, and therefore not doubting but he would stay till she came back again, and withall longing to make glad the heart of her husband, she made haste and ran, as the text saith, to tell her husband of it.

Vers. 16. Though thou detain me, yet I will not eat of thy bread; and if thou wilt offer a burnt-offering, thou must offer it unto the Lord.] Manoah had said in the foregoing verse, I pray thee, let us detain thee untill we shall have made ready a kid for thee: now because those words may be meant, especially as they are in the originall, either his preparing a kid merely for him to eat, or else for preparing a kid for a sacrifice, to wit, of a peace-offering (for with such sacrifices they used to feast their friends, after they had offered the fat unto the Lord) accordingly the An∣gel of the Lord answers Manoah in these words: for first, he absolutely refuseth to eat of any provision that he should make ready for him, Though thou detain me, I will not eat of thy bread; and this he saith, not because Angels in those assumed bo∣dies wherein they appear to men, cannot eat; for we see the contrary expressely af∣firmed, concerning the Angels that appeared to Abraham, when as yet they would not be known to be any other but men, Gen. 18.8. He took butter and milk, and the calf which he had distressed and set it before them—and they did eat, but be∣cause he now desired to lead on Manoah by degrees, to apprehend him to be more then a man, which as yet Manoah had not conceived: and then secondly, he addes, and if thou wilt offer a burnt offering, thou must offer it to the Lord: wherein he inti∣mates to Manoah, that he vvould not have him think of providing a sacrifice, that he might eat of it; yet if he had a mind to offer a burnt offering, he should approve of that; onely he then gives him vvarning to take heed of having any other thought then to offer it to the Lord Jehovah onely. As concerning the reason vvhy he gives him that expresse caveat, that he should be sure that he did not think of offering his burnt offering to any but the Lord; I conceive it to be onely, because many of the Israelites did at this time vvorship the idol-gods of the heathens, and therefore the Angel took this occasion to bid him to beware of that. Many Expositours indeed con∣ceive, that the Angel that novv appeared to Manoah, being a created Angel, spake this purposely to beat off Manoah from thinking to offer any sacrifice to him: and others that hold it was the Sonne of God that novv appeared to him, understand

these words as if he had said, If you think of offering me a burnt offering, you must of∣fer it to me as the true God, not as to a created angel: but first, because there is nothing said before, whereby it may be gathered that Manoah intended to offer a sacrifice to the Angel: and secondly, because it is manifest that as yet he took him to be a man as himself was, some prophet sent unto him from God, as it follows in the next words, Manoah knew not that he was an angel of the Lord: I see not why we should think that the angel spake these words with respect to himself, but rather to give him warning of the idolatrie that was then too rise in the land.

Vers. 17. What is thy name, that when thy sayings come to passe we may do thee honour?] That is, that we may make report to others concerning this thy foretel∣ling future things, and so both we and they may esteem and honour thee as a pro∣phet of the most high God. This I conceive is chiefly intended; though withall it may be meant of some bountifull reward wherewith (by way of gratitude) he meant to honour him, that is, to testifie their honourable and high esteem of him.

Vers. 18. Why askest thou thus farre after my name, seeing it is secret?] Or see∣ing it is wonderfull, as it is in the margin of our Bibles, for the word in the Origi∣nall signifieth both secret and wonderfull. If we hold that this was a created angel that now appeared to Manoah, there is no necessitie that we should thereupon make enquirie, as many Papists have very busily done, whether the holy angels in heaven have all of them their severall names, whereby they are distinguished and known, when the angels would impart any thing one to another concerning any particular angel. For though there is no question to be made but the angels both can and do impart what they would make known both one to another and one concerning an∣other, yet because they do this not by words or vocall expressions, but as spirits in a spirituall manner, and such as we are not able to conceive; how is it possible that we should determine any thing concerning their names? Sufficient it is for us to know that even in this regard the angel might well answer Manoah, that his name was secret or wonderfull, that is, that it was a thing not to be revealed, and there∣fore not to be enquired into; or a thing too wonderfull for him to understand, or that as the other angels so he also had no other name but this, that he was one of those ministring spirits whom God did continually employ in the effecting of many wonderfull works for his people, with respect whereto therefore it may well be that vers. 19. it is expressely noted, that the angel did wondrously. But now granting what was formerly said, that this angel of the Lord was the Sonne of God, the great angel of the Covenant, it must needs seem the lesse strange that he should tell Manoah that his name was secret and not to be searched into, or wonderfull and incomprehen∣sible: and that because first, as he is very God, his name, that is, his essence or being is infinitely above our understanding, it is a secret we must not prie into, it is too wonderfull for us, onely we know of him what by his word and works he hath been pleased to reveal to us, and that is enough to astonish any man that will seriously ponder it with himself: and secondly, as he was appointed of God to be in our na∣ture the mediatour between God and man, there was nothing in him nor nothing that was to be done by him, but was every way wonderfull; whence it is that the prophet said of him, His name shall be called wonderfull, Isa. 9.6.

Vers. 19. So Manoah took a kid with a meat-offering, and offered it, &c.] Nei∣ther

the person sacrificing, nor the place where they offered this sacrifice were war∣rantable by the law; but the allowance of the angel, vers. 16. If thou wilt offer a burnt offering, thou must offer it unto the Lord, was warrant sufficient.

Vers. 20. For it came to passe when the flame went up towards heaven from off the altar, &c.] Because there is no mention made either of wood or of fire that was brought by Manoah for the offering of this sacrifice, therefore many Expositours hold, that by the ministerie of the angel there came fire out of the rock to consume the burnt offering, as it was before in Gideons sacrifice, chap. 6.21. But that can∣not certainly be concluded from thence. However, it was doubtlesse the angels ascending up in the flame of the altar, that was the principall miraculous work, whereby the angel did discover what he was to Manoah and his wife; and methinks too, this is one of the strongest evidences to make it most probable that this angel was the Sonne of God, and that because his going up to heaven in the flame of the sa∣crifice, did most sweetly represent and shadow forth the office of Christ, the great Angel of the covenant, whose work it is to present all our services before God, and to procure them to be graciously accepted of him.

Vers. 22. And Manoah said unto his wife, We shall surely die, &c.] See the note chap. 6.22.

Vers. 23. But his wife said unto him, If the Lord were pleased to kill us▪ he would not have received a burnt offering, &c.] By three severall arguments doth Manoahs wife comfort him: first, from Gods accepting of their sacrifice; and that she takes for granted, because the angel advised them to offer that their sacrifice, vers. 16. If thou wilt offer a burnt offering, thou must offer it unto the Lord: and secondly, because he had made known Gods accepting of it, both by that his mira∣culous ascending up to heaven in the flame of it, whereby they might see that their sacrifice went up with him into the presence of God; and also (as Expositours gene∣rally conceive) by causing fire miraculously to ascend out of the rock, and consume the sacrifice as formerly in that of Gideons. Judg. 6.21. The angel of the Lord put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unlea∣vened cakes, and there arose fire out of the rock, & consumed the flesh and the unlea∣vened cakes: secondly, from those wonders God had shewed them; neither, saith she, would he have shewed us all these things, that is, all these miraculous signes of Gods favour towards us, to wit, the strange burning of the sacrifice, and ascending of the angel in the flame thereof: and thirdly from his imparting those secrets to them con∣cerning their child, Nor, saith she; would he as at this time have told us such things as these, that is, neither would he thus beforehand in a time of such great distresse, have told us such comfortable tidings concerning the birth and education of our child, and the worthy service he should do for the deliverance of his Church and people.

Vers. 24. And the child grew, and the Lord blessed him.] That is, he indued him with admirable strength of body, courage of mind, and all other gifts requisite for those worthy services God had appointed him to do.

Vers. 25. And the spirit of the Lord began to move him at times in the camp of Dan, &c.] The camp of Dan was either the place of Samsons dwelling, so called by occasion of that which we find written, concerning the expedition of the Danites

against Laish, which it seems was before the dayes of Samson, chap. 18.11, 12. And there went from thence of the familie of the Danites out of Zorah, and out of Eshtaol six hundred men appointed with weapons of warre. And they went up and pitched in Kiriath-jearim in Judah: wherefore they call that place Mahaneh-Dan unto this day: or else it may be meant of a camp which the Danites had formed at present in this place, having raised an army to withstand the incursions of the Phi∣listines, who did sorely now oppresse them; where Samson serving in his young years, began to give proof of the noble acts he should afterwards do. For the spirit of God began now and then at times to come upon him, and to put him upon strange and admirable exploits, even beyond the ordinary courage and strength of man.