His countenance—very terrible— The French version has it very well, fort venerable, a countenance full of majesty; such as was that of St. Stephen, when he appeared before the Sanhedrim at Jerusalem, Acts 6:15. His Judges saw his face, as it had been the face of an angel. It does not appear, that either Manoah, or his wife, at first conceived this sacred messenger to be any other than some prophet commissioned by God to them.
REFLECTIONS.—There is no end of Israel's evil, or of God's mercy. Once more the heavy hand of the Philistines is upon them; and during forty years, more or less, they bear the punishment of their sins under these oppressors, till God, in the person of Samson, raises up a deliverer for them.
1. His tribe and parentage: of Dan, which bordered nearest on the Philistines, and of parents who had long been childless. Note; (1.) Where is the greatest danger, and the least prospect of relief, there God often chooses to display his power and glory. (2.) The fruit of the womb is a heritage and gift which cometh of the Lord.
2. An angel appears to Manoah's wife, even the glorious angel of the everlasting covenant, who now comes in the fashion of a man, as afterwards really partaking of the same nature.
3. The message that he brings her is most welcome and unexpected, and the charge that he delivers strict and solemn. He compassionately mentions her misfortune of barrenness; this shall be her grief no longer; she shall conceive and bear a son, who, being appointed for singular service, must be a Nazarite, not only from his birth, but also from his conception; for which, and during her pregnancy, she must not touch any thing that comes of the vine, nor eat any unclean thing; nor is a razor ever to come on his head, God intending by him to begin his people's deliverance. Note; (1.) God sees and compassionates our secret griefs. (2.) They who would preserve themselves in holiness for God, must deny themselves the indulgence of their appetites. (3.) The offspring usually partakes of the parents' bodily habit. Temperate parents have healthy children, while the curse of lewdness and luxury descends often on the fruit of the womb. (4.) The beginnings of salvation are glorious; how much more the completion of it. (5.) Samson is the type of him who foretold his birth; he was thus holy, undefiled, and separate from sinners, conceived of the Holy Ghost, a Nazarite purer than snow, raised up not only to begin, but to perfect the salvation of his people.
4. With a transport of joy, she flies to carry her husband an account of what had passed. Struck at the majestic and venerable appearance of the messenger, she describes his countenance as luminous, like Moses's face, or bright with divine irradiation as an angel. His words she repeats, but neither dared ask his name nor whence he came. Note; (1.) We should call those who are near and dear to us to partake in our joys. (2.) True yoke-fellows should communicate their experiences for their mutual comfort and edification.