Judges 13:16

16 The angel of the LORD replied, "Even if I stay, I will not eat any of your food. But if you still want to prepare a burnt offering, you must offer it to the Lord." Manoah didn't realize it was the angel of the Lord.

Judges 13:16 Meaning and Commentary

Judges 13:16

And the angel of the Lord said unto Manoah
In answer to his request:

though thou detain me, I will not eat of thy bread;
that is, should he be prevailed upon to stay awhile with him, until an entertainment should be got ready, he would not eat of any of his provisions; for "bread" is put for all eatables, or whatsoever he might provide for the entertainment:

and if,
or "but if" F14

thou wilt offer a burnt offering, thou must offer it unto the Lord;
if he meant to provide not a festival entertainment, but a sacrifice, then he should take care that he did not offer it to strange gods, as was now very much the custom with Israel in this their time of apostasy, ( Judges 13:1 ) but to the true Jehovah, and not to a servant of his, a prophet or an angel, but to himself:

for Manoah knew not that he was an angel of the Lord;
he took him to be a man, a prophet sent of God, and not an angel; and much less the uncreated one, to whom as such only the sacrifice could be offered.


FOOTNOTES:

F14 (Maw) "si autem", V. L. "quod si", Tigurine version; "sin autem", Junius & Tremellius; "si vero", Piscator.

Judges 13:16 In-Context

14 She must not eat anything that comes from grapevines. She must not drink any kind of wine. She must not eat anything that is 'unclean.' She must do everything I have commanded her to do."
15 Manoah spoke to the angel of the Lord. He said, "We would like you to stay and eat. We want to prepare a young goat for you."
16 The angel of the LORD replied, "Even if I stay, I will not eat any of your food. But if you still want to prepare a burnt offering, you must offer it to the Lord." Manoah didn't realize it was the angel of the Lord.
17 Then Manoah asked the angel of the LORD a question. "What is your name?" he said. "We want to honor you when your word comes true."
18 The angel replied, "Why are you asking me what my name is? You would not be able to understand it."
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