Judges 13:20

20 And it came to pass when the flame went up above the altar toward heaven, that the angel of the Lord went up in the flame; and Manoe and his wife were looking, and they fell upon their face to the earth.

Judges 13:20 Meaning and Commentary

Judges 13:20

For it came to pass, when the flame went up towards heaven
from off the altar
That is, from the rock, which served instead of an altar, and from whence perhaps the fire sprung which consumed both the burnt offering and the meat offering, the flame of which went up to heaven; this rock or altar having no covering, but was "sub dio", open to the heavens:

that the angel of the Lord ascended in the flame of the altar;
making use of the smoke, as Josephus ^F18 says, as a vehicle in which he openly went up to heaven:

and Manoah and his wife looked on it;
on the flame and smoke, and the angel in it as he ascended; just as the disciples of Christ looked steadfastly on him as he went up to heaven, when a cloud received him out of their sight, ( Acts 1:9 Acts 1:10 )

and fell on their faces to the ground;
with astonishment and surprise at what they saw, through fear and reverence of the divine Being, of whose presence they were now sensible, and as worshipping of him, and praying to him.

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FOOTNOTES:

F18 Ibid. (Antiqu. l. 5. c. 8. sect. 3.)

Judges 13:20 In-Context

18 And the angel of the Lord said to him, Why dost thou thus ask after my name; whereas it is wonderful?

19 And Manoe took a kid of the goats and its meat-offering, and offered it on the rock to the Lord; and wrought a distinct work, and Manoe and his wife were looking on.

20 And it came to pass when the flame went up above the altar toward heaven, that the angel of the Lord went up in the flame; and Manoe and his wife were looking, and they fell upon their face to the earth.

21 And the angel appeared no more to Manoe and to his wife: then Manoe knew that this an angel of the Lord.

22 And Manoe said to his wife, We shall surely die, because we have seen God.