y God's providence, that should be a goodly
child, of great strength; by whom, when he was grown up to man's estate,
the Philistines should be afflicted. He exhorted her also not to poll
his hair, and that he should avoid all other kinds of drink, [for so had
God commanded,] and be entirely contented with water. So the angel, when
he had delivered that message, went his way, his coming having been by
the will of God.

3. Now the wife informed her husband when he came home of what the angel
had said, who showed so great an admiration of the beauty and tallness
of the young man that had appeared to her, that her husband was
astonished, and out of himself for jealousy, and such suspicions as are
excited by that passion: but she was desirous of having her husband's
unreasonable sorrow taken away; accordingly she entreated God to send
the angel again, that he might be seen by her husband. So the angel came
again by the favor of God, while they were in the suburbs, and appeared
to her when she was alone without her husband. She desired the angel to
stay so long till she might bring her husband; and that request being
granted, she goes to call Manoah. When he saw the angel he was not yet
free from suspicion, and he desired him to inform him of all that he had
told his wife; but when he said it was sufficient that she alone knew
what he had said, he then requested of him to tell who he was, that when
the child was born they might return him thanks, and give him a present.
He replied that he did not want any present, for that he did not bring
them the good news of the birth of a son out of the want of any
thing. And when Manoah had entreated him to stay, and partake of his
hospitality, he did not give his consent. However he was persuaded, at
the earnest request of Manoah to stay so long as while he brought him
one mark of his hospitality; so he slew a kid of the goats, and bid
his wife boil it. When all was ready, the angel enjoined him to set the
loaves and the flesh, but without the vessels, upon the rock; which when
they had done, he touched the flesh with the rod which he had in his
hand, which, upon the breaking out of a flame, was consumed, together
with the loaves; and the angel ascended openly, in their sight, up to
heaven, by means of the smoke, as by a vehicle. Now Manoah was afraid
that some danger would come to them from this sight of God; but his wife
bade him be of good courage, for that God appeared to them for th