Judges 13

Judges 13:1

Fourty years] These fourty years of Oppression by the Philistines fall in with the times of Sampson and Eli, 131 and are a part thereof.

Judges 13:3

Angel] The Angel of the Lord, is called by Manoah, Elohim, God, ver. 22. And by his wife, Jehovah, ver. 23. He whose Name is Wonderful, ver. 18, 19. Esay IX. 6.

Judges 13:5

Nazarite] Of Nazarites, see the Observations on Num. VI. 2.

Begin] Sampson did but begin only. For the Philistines prevailed, and Lorded it over Israel, all the dayes of Sampson, Ch. XIV. 4. of Eli, of Samuel partly, 1. Sam. VII. 8. 13 and of Saul; slaine by them. This deliverance was not perfected till Davids dayes.

Judges 13:7

Drink no Wine] The mother is thus forbidden, ver. 14. Likely because the infant was to receive hutriment and suck from her.

Judges 13:23

If the Lord] A good plea, and comfort, And a good example for our imitation to comfort us in sundry cases and conditions.

Judges 13:24

Sampson] Sampson’s Birth hath relation to that, Ch. X. 7. where the Philistines are mentioned before the Ammonites. And he began to deliver Israel being young; and died about fourty.

Judges 13:25

To move him] Inspire him with magnanimous, heroical thoughts, and indow him with miraculous strength.