If the Reader will connect what is here said of this angel, with what is said of him in Judges 13:18, where the angel declares his name to be Secret, or as it might have been translated Wonderful: and then will call to mind what the Holy Ghost hath said of the Lord Jesus, by his servant the prophet Isaiah, that his name should be called Wonderful; such views will leave the Reader but little room to doubt who the angel was. See Isaiah 9:6. And if the Reader will go further, and read Judges 13:22, he will then have a further evidence. For it appears that neither Manoah nor his wife considered this visitor was any other than as a created angel, until that he ascended in the flame of the altar, and then they knew that it was God himself: and under this impression the man cried out, We shall surely die, because we have seen God. Had he not been convinced that this was Jehovah, he would not have so expressed himself: for it was upon the authority of God's own words which the Lord had said before to Moses, that he grounded this assurance! Thou canst not see my face, for there shall no man see me and live. Exodus 33:20
This view of the subject will open to us most precious information to guide through all the parts of it. I pray the Reader, therefore, to preserve it in remembrance. The angel introduceth himself to the woman's notice as demanding particular attention, not only from the seeming interest be took in what concerned her, but also in intimating that he knew her barrenness. It was a calamity to any of the Israelites to be barren. Write this man childless; was one of God's severe judgments. Jeremiah 22:30, It is worthy observation, that as Isaac was a child of promise; so was Samson. And was he not in this, a type and figure of the promised seed? Paul found great comfort in being of the class of the children of promise. Galatians 4:28.