Shofetim 6:22

22 When Gid’on perceived that he was the Malach Hashem, Gid’on said, Alas, Adonoi Hashem! I have seen Malach Hashem face to face.

Shofetim 6:22 Meaning and Commentary

Judges 6:22

And when Gideon perceived he was an angel of the Lord
By the miracle wrought, and the manner of his departure:

Gideon said, alas! O Lord God;
woe to me, what will become of me, or befall me, I shall surely die:

for because I have seen an angel of the Lord face to face;
and whom he had reason to believe was the Lord himself, a divine Person, by the miracle wrought; and it was a commonly received notion even among good men, in those times, that the Lord was not to be seen by them and live, as appears from Jacob, Manoah, and others; at least the appearance of a divine Person, and even of any messenger from heaven, was startling, surprising, and frightful to them; which arose from a sense they had of the divine Being, and of their own sinfulness and frailty.

Shofetim 6:22 In-Context

20 And the Malach HaElohim said unto him, Take the basar and the matzot, and lay them upon this rock, and pour out the broth. And he did so.

21 Then the Malach Hashem put forth the tip of the staff that was in his yad, and touched the basar and the matzot; and there rose up eish from the rock, and consumed the basar and the matzot. Then the Malach Hashem departed out of his sight.

22 When Gid’on perceived that he was the Malach Hashem, Gid’on said, Alas, Adonoi Hashem! I have seen Malach Hashem face to face.

23 And Hashem said unto him, Shalom l’chah; fear not; thou shalt not die.

24 Then Gid’on built a Mizbe’ach there unto Hashem, and called it Hashem Shalom; unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Aviezri.