The reason why Manoah offers to host his divine visitor to a meal is not stated. In the case of Gideon the reason was stated: Gideon wanted a sign to authenticate the messenger and his message (Judges 6:16–18). In Manoah’s case, could his offer be inspired by a common practice in ancient Near Eastern religions, where giving food to a deity or his representative served as the basis for the supplicant’s expectation that the deity would act on his behalf?1 Or is this an expression of typical Near Eastern hospitality—feeding strangers (think of Abraham in Genesis 18:1–33; see also Judges 19:16–21)? Could be Manoah’s way of thanking the messenger for the good news that his barren wife would bear a son?2 We just cannot be sure. But the response of the angel in Judges 13:16 suggests that Manoah’s motive is unwholesome, and may in fact be manipulative.
15 Manoah said to the angel of the LORD, “Please let us detain you and prepare a young goat for you.”