Bible Commentaries
Judges 13

Verse 1

children = sons.

did evil again = Hebrew added to commit.

evil. Hebrew. ra'a'. App-44 .

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

forty years. 1120-1080.

Verse 2

man. Hebrew. 'ish. App-4 .

Verse 3

the Angel = Messenger. From verses: Judges 13:18 , Judges 13:19 , Judges 13:22 , the same that appeared to Gideon (Judges 6:12 ).

Verse 4

drink. Compare Numbers 6:2 , Numbers 6:3 .

Verse 5

lo. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .

the child. Hebrew. na'ar.

a Nazarite unto God = one separate unto Elohim.

Verse 6

A Man. Hebrew. 'ish. App-14 . This was according to the woman's apprehension.

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .

countenance = appearance.

terrible = awe-inspiring.

Verse 8

my LORD* = ' Ad ona*. Should be "Jehovah". This is one of the 134 changes indicated in the Massorah. App-32 .

Verse 9

God = The God: ha-'Elohim. App-4 .

came. Some codices, with three early printed editions, read "appeared".

Verse 10

And. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton ( App-6 ) in this verse.

Verse 12

How shall we order the child, and how shall we do unto him? Hebrew "What shall be the rule of (Genitive of relation = concerning) the boy, and what shall be his work? "

Verse 14

commanded = forbade. The verb zivvah is a Homonym here and Deuteronomy 4:23 , where it is correctly rendered "forbid". Elsewhere "command".

Verse 15

a kid = a kid of the goats.

Verse 16

bread. Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Species). App-6 . Put for all kinds of food.

offer = prepare. App-43 .

offer it = cause it to ascend. App-43 .

Verse 18

secret. Hebrew wonderful. Same as Isaiah 9:6 .

Verse 19

wonderously = a wonderful thing.

Verse 20

the flame went up. See note on Genesis 4:4 .

the altar. The rock is deemed the altar.

Verse 23

received. It is the acceptance of our Substitute by God which saves, not our acceptance of Him. This was sound reasoning.

Verse 24

called his name = called him. Figure of speech Pleonasm. App-6 .

grew. Israel waited twenty years for deliverance. Compare Judges 15:20 ; Judges 16:31 .

Verse 25

the Spirit. Hebrew. ruach. App-9 .

began. They had yet to wait. Compare Judges 15:20 .

move him = stir him with trouble. See Genesis 41:8 . Psalms 77:3 .Daniel 2:1 , Daniel 2:3 .

at times = to and fro.

the camp of Dan , where Israel lay in a fortified place. Compare Judges 18:12 .

Eshtaol. On the borders of Judah.