And the angel of the LORD said unto Manoah, Though thou detain me, I will not eat of thy bread: and if thou wilt offer a burnt offering, thou must offer it unto the LORD. For Manoah knew not that he was an angel of the LORD.
The angel of the LORD said to Manoah, 'Even if you ask me to stay, I won't eat your food. But if you want to make a burnt offering, you must offer it to the LORD.' Manoah didn't realize that this was an angel of the LORD.
The angel politely refuses Manoah's hospitality but redirects him to worship God instead, while Manoah remains unaware he's speaking with a heavenly messenger.
📚 Historical Context
In the time of the Judges, Israel was enduring cycles of rebellion against God followed by oppression from enemies like the Philistines. Manoah, the father of Samson, received a divine visit from an angel who announced his wife's barrenness would end with the birth of a special child, but the angel refused everyday food and directed worship to God alone. Unaware of the visitor's angelic identity, Manoah was being taught the importance of offering sacrifices directly to the Lord.
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