Judges 13:16 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

And if thou wilt offer a burnt-offering, thou must offer it unto the Lord— Manoah, as we observed, supposing this divine personage to be a prophet, was desirous to entertain him in a hospitable manner, and agreeably to his extraordinary commission; See Genesis 18:3-4 and ch. Joshua 6:18 but the angel told him, that though he should comply with his request, and stay, yet he would not eat of his food; insinuating thereby who he was "But, continues he, (not and, as we render it,) if thou wilt offer a burnt-offering, if thou hast a mind to express thy thankfulness, thou mayest offer a burnt-offering unto the Lord." A prophet, as Manoah took this to be, might authorize men to sacrifice, though they were not priests, or at the tabernacle; as Elijah did at Mount Carmel. The next words of this verse might be more properly connected with the 17th, thus: Now Manoah knew not that he was an angel of the Lord; therefore he said unto him, &c.