Introduction:
Manoah is a significant biblical figure known primarily as the father of Samson, one of the judges of Israel. His account is found in the Book of Judges, specifically in chapters 13 to 16. Manoah's life and actions provide insight into the faith and obedience expected of God's people during the period of the judges.

Biblical Account:
Manoah was from the tribe of Dan and lived in the town of Zorah. He is introduced in Judges 13, where it is noted that his wife was barren. The narrative begins with the Israelites once again doing evil in the sight of the LORD, resulting in their oppression by the Philistines for forty years (Judges 13:1).

Divine Encounter:
The turning point in Manoah's life occurs when the Angel of the LORD appears to his wife, announcing that she will bear a son who is to be a Nazirite from birth. This child, Samson, is destined to begin the deliverance of Israel from the Philistines (Judges 13:3-5). The Angel instructs her to abstain from wine, strong drink, and unclean food, emphasizing the Nazirite vow that Samson is to uphold.

Manoah's Response:
Upon hearing his wife's account of the angelic visitation, Manoah prays to the LORD, seeking further guidance on how to raise the promised child. God answers his prayer, and the Angel of the LORD appears again to Manoah's wife. Manoah then meets the Angel and asks for instructions concerning the boy's future (Judges 13:8-12).

Sacrificial Offering:
Manoah, not fully realizing the divine nature of the visitor, offers hospitality and wishes to prepare a meal. The Angel declines, instructing Manoah instead to offer a burnt offering to the LORD. Manoah complies, and as the flame blazes up from the altar, the Angel of the LORD ascends in the flame, revealing His true identity. Manoah and his wife fall on their faces, overwhelmed by the realization that they have seen God (Judges 13:15-20).

Faith and Fear:
Manoah expresses fear, believing they will die because they have seen God. However, his wife reassures him, reasoning that the LORD would not have accepted their offering or revealed such things if He intended to kill them (Judges 13:22-23).

Father of Samson:
Manoah's wife gives birth to Samson, and the child grows under the LORD's blessing. Manoah's role as Samson's father is crucial, as he raises him according to the divine instructions given by the Angel. Although the biblical text does not provide extensive details about Manoah's later life, his initial obedience and faith set the stage for Samson's judgeship (Judges 13:24-25).

Legacy:
Manoah's account highlights themes of faith, obedience, and divine intervention. His interactions with the Angel of the LORD demonstrate a deep reverence for God and a willingness to seek His guidance. Manoah's life serves as a testament to the importance of parental responsibility in nurturing children according to God's will, especially in times of national distress and moral decline.Manoah

rest; a present

Manoah

(rest), the father of Samson; a Danite, native of the town of Zorah. (Judges 13:2) (B.C. 1161) [SAMSON]

Manoah

A native of Zorah, in the tribe of Dan, and the father of Samson, Jud 13:14; 16:31. In the prediction of his son's birth and achievements, we see the Angel of the covenant, who appeared to Abraham, Gideon, etc., and who never slumbers nor sleeps, caring for his oppressed people. So, too, he appeared to Jacob, and would not tell his mysterious name, Genesis 32:29; Jud 13:18; Isaiah 9:6; Luke 13:34.

Rest, a Danite, the father of Samson (Judges 13:1-22, and 14:2-4). MANOAH

ma-no'-a (manoach, "rest"): A man of Zorah and of the family of the Danites. Manoah was the father of Samson, and his life-story is but imperfectly told in the history of the conception, birth and early life of his son. No children had been born to Manoah and his wife, and the latter was considered barren (Judges 13:2). Finally it was revealed to her by an angel of the Lord that she would conceive and bear a child. She was cautioned against strong drink and "unclean" food, for her child was to be born and reared a Nazirite to the end that he might save Israel out of the hands of the Philistines (Judges 13:3-5). That Manoah was a devout man seems certain in view of the fact that, upon hearing of the angel's visit, he offered a prayer for the angel's return, in order that he and his wife might be instructed as to the proper care of the child to be born (Judges 13:8). The request was granted and the angel repeated the visit and the instructions (Judges 13:9-13). Manoah with true hospitality would have the guest remain and partake of food. The angel refused, but commanded a sacrifice unto Yahweh. When Manoah had prepared the sacrifice and lit it on the altar, the angel ascended in the flame from the altar and appeared no more (Judges 13:15-21). The child was born according to the promise and was named Samson. Manoah and his wife appear twice in the narrative of Samson's early life-once as they protestingly accompanied him to sue for the hand of a Philistine woman of Timnah in marriage, and again when they went with him to Timnab for the wedding.

Josephus richly embellishes this Scriptural narrative concerning Manoah, but offers no further light upon the occupation or character of Manoah. At the death of Samson, his brothers went down to Gaza and brought back the body and buried it by the side of Manoah in the family tomb near Zorah (Judges 16:31). In Samson Agonistes Milton gains dramatic effect by having Manoah survive Samson and in deep sorrow assist at his burial.

C. E. Schenk

4495. Manoach -- father of Samson
... 4494, 4495. Manoach. 4496 . father of Samson. Transliteration: Manoach Phonetic
Spelling: (maw-no'-akh) Short Definition: Manoah. ... Manoah. ...
/hebrew/4495.htm - 6k

Manoah. CM Power.
... 73 Manoah. CM Power. Power. The Lord, our God, is full of might, The winds
obey his will; He speaks,"and, in his heavenly height ...
//christianbookshelf.org/lorenz/the otterbein hymnal/73 manoah c m power.htm

Manoah. CM Eternity.
... 74 Manoah. CM Eternity. Eternity. Great God! how infinite art thou! What
worthless worms are we! Let the whole race of creatures ...
//christianbookshelf.org/lorenz/the otterbein hymnal/74 manoah c m eternity.htm

Manoah. CM Faithfulness.
... 72 Manoah. CM Faithfulness. Faithfulness. Begin, my tongue, some heavenly
theme, And speak some boundless thing; The mighty works ...
/.../lorenz/the otterbein hymnal/72 manoah c m faithfulness.htm

Concerning the Fortitude of Samson, and what Mischiefs He Brought ...
... 2. There was one Manoah, a person of such great virtue, that he had few men his
equals, and without dispute the principal person of his country. ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 8 concerning the fortitude.htm

The Otterbein Hymnal
... 70 Devizes. CM Psalm 119. 71 Devizes. CM Perfection of the Law and Testimony. 72
Manoah. CM Faithfulness. 73 Manoah. CM Power. 74 Manoah. CM Eternity. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/lorenz/the otterbein hymnal/

The Eighth Book Very Notably Overthrows the Blasphemy of The
... time when He was not, and shows the Son to be no new being, but from everlasting,
from His having said to Moses, "I am He that is," and to Manoah, "Why askest ...
/.../gregory/gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/section 1 the eighth book.htm

Scriptural Poems; Being Several Portions of Scripture Digested ...
... When Israel's sins th' Almighty did provoke, To make them subject to Philistine
yoke For forty years: in Zorah dwelt a man, His name Manoah, of the tribe of Dan ...
/.../scriptural poems being several portions.htm

The Story of Samson, the Strong Man
... In the tribe-land of Dan, which was next to the country of the Philistines, there
was living a man named Manoah. One day an angel came to his wife and said: ...
/.../marshall/the wonder book of bible stories/the story of samson the.htm

The Wonderful.
... As such He appeared to Manoah. And Manoah said unto the angel of Jehovah, What is
thy name, that when thy sayings come to pass we may do thee honor. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gaebelein/the lord of glory/the wonderful.htm

The Sympathy of God
... 'The angel of the Lord' appeared to Manoah and his wife, withheld his name from
them because it was 'wonderful' or 'secret,' accepted their sacrifice, and went ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/the sympathy of god.htm

Manoah (14 Occurrences)
...MANOAH. ...Manoah was the father of Samson, and his life-story is but imperfectly told
in the history of the conception, birth and early life of his son. ...
/m/manoah.htm - 13k

Manoah's (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Manoah's (1 Occurrence). ... For it had not come into
Manoah's mind that he was the angel of the Lord. (BBE). ...
/m/manoah's.htm - 6k

Detain (4 Occurrences)
... Judges 13:15 Manoah said to the angel of Yahweh, "I pray you, let us detain you,
that we may make a young goat ready for you." (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS ...
/d/detain.htm - 8k

Mano'ah (14 Occurrences)
Mano'ah. Manoah, Mano'ah. Manoah's . Multi-Version Concordance Mano'ah (14
Occurrences). ... (DBY RSV). Manoah, Mano'ah. Manoah's . Reference Bible.
/m/mano'ah.htm - 10k

Kid (42 Occurrences)
... Judges 13:15 And Manoah said unto the angel of the LORD, I pray thee, let us
detain thee, until we shall have made ready a kid for thee. ...
/k/kid.htm - 20k

Zorah (10 Occurrences)
... Judges 13:2 There was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose
name was Manoah; and his wife was barren, and didn't bear. ...
/z/zorah.htm - 11k

Wonderfully (12 Occurrences)
... Judges 13:19 And Manoah taketh the kid of the goats, and the present, and offereth
on the rock to Jehovah, and He is doing wonderfully, and Manoah and his wife ...
/w/wonderfully.htm - 10k

Wonderously (1 Occurrence)
... Judges 13:19 So Manoah took a kid with a meat offering, and offered it upon a rock
unto the LORD: and the angel did wonderously; and Manoah and his wife looked ...
/w/wonderously.htm - 6k

Wondrously (6 Occurrences)
... Judges 13:19 So Manoah took the young goat with the meal offering, and offered it
on the rock to Yahweh: and the angel did wondrously, and Manoah and his wife ...
/w/wondrously.htm - 8k

Realized (33 Occurrences)
... Judges 13:21 But the angel of Yahweh did no more appear to Manoah or to his wife.
Then Manoah knew that he was the angel of Yahweh. (See NIV). ...
/r/realized.htm - 15k

Who was Samson in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean that Jesus is our Wonderful Counselor (Isaiah 9:6)? | GotQuestions.org

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