Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 13:20
For it came to pass, when the flame went up toward heaven from off the altar, that the angel of the LORD ascended in the flame of the altar. And Manoah and his wife looked on [it], and fell on their faces to the ground.
20. in the Flame of the altar ] as though it were His native element, Exo 3:2. The sign may well have suggested a more spiritual view of Jehovah’s nature (Kittel l.c.). The flame is that kindled by Manoah; contrast Jdg 6:21.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The flame; either arising from the fire which Manoah brought for the offering, or produced by the angel out of the rock in a miraculous manner.
From off the altar, i.e. from that part of the rock which served instead of an altar, upon which the sacrifice was laid.
The angel ascended in the flame, to manifest his nature and essence to be spiritual, because not capable of hurt by the fire; and celestial.
Fell on their faces; partly in reverence to that glorious presence manifested in so wonderful a manner; and partly out of a religions horror and fear of death upon this occasion, as is expressed Jdg 13:22, for the prevention whereof they fell down in way of supplication to God.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
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 r 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, Ac 1:9
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.
r Ibid. (Antiqu. l. 5. c. 8. sect. 3.)
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(20) From off the altar.The rock (tsor) of Jdg. 13:19 is now hallowed into an altar (mizbeach).
Fell on their faces.Comp. Lev. 9:24; Num. 14:5; Eze. 1:28.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
‘ For so it was that when the flame went up towards heaven from off the altar, the Angel of Yahweh ascended in the flame of the altar, and Manoah and his wife looked on, and they fell on their faces to the ground.’
Notice the stress again on the dual witness. This incident was seen as so remarkable that such an emphasis was necessary. For as the fire burned, consuming the burnt offering, the Angel of Yahweh seemed to merge with the sacrificial flames and ascended upwards, disappearing from sight. He had returned to Yahweh to whom the offering was offered. Such was the mystery of it that both man and wife fell on their faces to the ground in awe and wonder.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Jdg 13:20 For it came to pass, when the flame went up toward heaven from off the altar, that the angel of the LORD ascended in the flame of the altar. And Manoah and his wife looked on [it], and fell on their faces to the ground.
Ver. 20. When the flame went up toward heaven. ] As it doth naturally. God can draw up our spirits as a heave offering. Exo 29:27 As we see the flame ascend, we are to think of it as of a sheet let down by God from heaven, to take up our love and affections in, like the flame of this sacrifice wherein the angel ascended.
That the angel of the Lord ascended in the flame of the altar.
And fell on their faces to the ground.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
the flame went up. See note on Gen 4:4.
the altar. The rock is deemed the altar.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
when the flame: 2Ki 2:11, Psa 47:5, Heb 1:3
fell on: Gen 17:3, Lev 9:24, 1Ch 21:16, 1Ch 21:26, Eze 1:26, Eze 1:28, Dan 10:9, Mat 17:6
Reciprocal: Gen 15:17 – smoking Gen 17:17 – fell Gen 17:22 – General Gen 35:13 – General Jdg 6:21 – rose up 1Ki 18:39 – they fell Joh 1:18 – he hath