Judges 13
Commentary from 8 fathers
And there was a man of Saraa, of the family of the kindred of Dan, and his name was Manoe, and his wife was barren, and bore not.
καὶ ἦν ἀνὴρ εἷς ἀπὸ Σαραὰ ἀπὸ δήμου συγγενείας τοῦ Δανί, καὶ ὄνομα αὐτῷ Μανωέ, καὶ γυνὴ αὐτοῦ στεῖρα καὶ οὐκ ἔτεκε.
И҆ бѧ́ше мꙋ́жъ є҆ди́нъ ѿ сараѝ, ѿ пле́мене да́нова, и҆́мѧ же є҆мꙋ̀ манѡ́е: и҆ жена̀ є҆мꙋ̀ бѧ́ше непло́ды и҆ не ражда́ше.
2–7After the spirit of the Hebrews had been so subdued by the pressure of a long subjection that no one dared with a manly spirit to rouse them to liberty, Samson, fore-ordained by the Divine oracle, was raised up to them. A great man he was, not one of the multitude, but first among the few, and beyond controversy far excelling all in bodily strength. And he is to be regarded by us with great admiration from the beginning, not because in his early abstinence from vice he gave signal proofs of temperance and sobriety, nor on account of his long preserving as a Nazarite his locks unshorn, but because from his very youth, which in others is an age of softness, he achieved illustrious deeds of virtue, perfect beyond the measure of human nature. By these he gained credence to the Divine prophecy, that it was not for nothing that such grace had gone before upon him, that an Angel came down by whom his birth beyond their hopes was announced to his parents, to be the leader and protector of his countrymen, now for a length of years harassed by the tyranny of the Philistines.
His father was of the tribe of Dan, a man fearing God, born of no mean rank, and eminent above others, his mother was barren of body, but in virtues of the mind not unfruitful; seeing that in the sanctuary of her soul she was counted worthy to receive the visit of an Angel, obeyed his command and fulfilled his prophecy. Not enduring however to know the secrets even of God apart from her husband she mentioned to him that she had seen a man of God, of beautiful form, bringing her the Divine promise of future offspring, and that she, confiding in this promise, was led to share with her husband her faith in the heavenly promises.
Letter 19.10-11
Thus Jacob, the patriarch Joseph, Samson, [who was] the bravest of the chieftains, and Samuel, [who was] the most distinguished of the prophets, [all] had as their progenitors [mothers who were] for a long time barren in body but always fruitful in virtues. In this way their dignity would be known from the miraculous nativity of those who were born, and it might be proven that they would be famous in their lives, since at the very outset of their lives they transcended the norms of the human condition.
Homilies on the Gospels 2.19
And an angel of the Lord appeared to the woman, and said to her, Behold, thou art barren and hast not born; yet thou shalt conceive a son.
καὶ ὤφθη ἄγγελος Κυρίου πρὸς τὴν γυναῖκα, καὶ εἶπε πρὸς αὐτήν· ἰδοὺ σὺ στεῖρα καὶ οὐ τέτοκας, καὶ συλλήψῃ υἱόν.
И҆ ꙗ҆ви́сѧ а҆́гг҃лъ гдⷭ҇ень къ женѣ̀ и҆ речѐ къ не́й: сѐ, ты̀ непло́ды и҆ не ражда́ла є҆сѝ, и҆ зачне́ши и҆ роди́ши сы́на:
And now be very cautious, and drink no wine nor strong drink, and eat no unclean thing;
καὶ νῦν φύλαξαι δὴ καὶ μὴ πίῃς οἶνον καὶ μέθυσμα καὶ μὴ φάγῃς πᾶν ἀκάθαρτον·
и҆ нн҃ѣ блюди́сѧ, и҆ не пі́й вїна̀ и҆ сїке́ра, и҆ не ꙗ҆́ждь всѧ́кагѡ нечи́стагѡ:
for behold, thou art with child, and shalt bring forth a son; and there shall come no razor upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazarite to God from the womb; and he shall begin to save Israel from the hand of the Phylistines.
ὅτι ἰδοὺ σὺ ἐν γαστρὶ ἔχεις καὶ τέξῃ υἱόν, καὶ σίδηρος ἐπὶ τὴν κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἀναβήσεται, ὅτι ναζὶρ Θεοῦ ἔσται τὸ παιδάριον ἀπὸ τῆς κοιλίας, καὶ αὐτὸς ἄρξεται σῶσαι τὸν ᾿Ισραὴλ ἐκ χειρὸς Φυλιστιΐμ.
ꙗ҆́кѡ сѐ, ты̀ во ᲂу҆тро́бѣ прїи́меши и҆ роди́ши сы́на: и҆ желѣ́зо на главꙋ̀ є҆гѡ̀ не взы́детъ, ꙗ҆́кѡ назѡре́й бг҃ови бꙋ́детъ сїѐ ѻ҆троча̀ ѿ чре́ва: и҆ се́й на́чнетъ спаса́ти і҆и҃лѧ и҆з̾ рꙋкѝ фѷлїсті́мли.
And the woman went in, and spoke to her husband, saying, A man of God came to me, and his appearance [was as] of an angel of God, very dreadful; and I did not ask him whence he was, and he did not tell me his name.
καὶ εἰσῆλθεν ἡ γυνὴ καὶ εἶπε τῷ ἀνδρὶ αὐτῆς λέγουσα· ἄνθρωπος Θεοῦ ἦλθε πρός με, καὶ εἶδος αὐτοῦ ὡς εἶδος ἀγγέλου Θεοῦ, φοβερὸν σφόδρα· καὶ οὐκ ἠρώτησα αὐτόν, πόθεν ἐστί, καὶ τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἀπήγγειλέ μοι.
И҆ вни́де жена̀ и҆ речѐ мꙋ́жꙋ своемꙋ̀, глаго́лющи: человѣ́къ бж҃їй прїи́де ко мнѣ̀, и҆ ѡ҆́бразъ є҆гѡ̀ ꙗ҆́кѡ ѡ҆́бразъ а҆́гг҃ла бж҃їѧ, стра́шенъ ѕѣлѡ̀: и҆ вопроша́хъ є҆го̀, ѿкꙋ́дꙋ є҆сѝ; и҆ и҆́мене своегѡ̀ не повѣ́да мѝ,
And he said to me, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bring forth a son; and now drink no wine nor strong drink, and eat no unclean thing; for the child shall be holy to God from the womb until the day of his death.
καὶ εἶπέ μοι· ἰδοὺ σὺ ἐν γαστρὶ ἔχεις καὶ τέξῃ υἱόν· καὶ νῦν μὴ πίῃς οἶνον καὶ μέθυσμα καὶ μὴ φάγῃς πᾶν ἀκάθαρτον, ὅτι Θεοῦ ἅγιον ἔσται τὸ παιδάριον ἀπὸ γαστρὸς ἕως ἡμέρας θανάτου αὐτοῦ.
и҆ речѐ мнѣ̀: сѐ, ты̀ во ᲂу҆тро́бѣ зачне́ши и҆ роди́ши сы́на: и҆ нн҃ѣ не пі́й вїна̀, ни сїке́ра, и҆ не ꙗ҆́ждь всѧ́кагѡ нечи́стагѡ, ꙗ҆́кѡ назѡре́й бг҃ꙋ бꙋ́детъ ѻ҆́трочищь ѿ ᲂу҆тро́бы да́же до днѐ сме́рти своеѧ̀.
And Manoe prayed to the Lord and said, I pray thee, O Lord my lord, [concerning] the man of God whom thou sentest; let him now come to us once more, and teach us what we shall do to the child about to be born.
καὶ προσηύξατο Μανωὲ πρὸς Κύριον καὶ εἶπεν· ἐν ἐμοί, Κύριε ᾿Αδωναϊέ, τὸν ἄνθρωπον τοῦ Θεοῦ, ὃν ἀπέστειλας, ἐλθέτω δὴ ἔτι πρὸς ἡμᾶς καὶ συμβιβασάτω ἡμᾶς τί ποιήσωμεν τῷ παιδίῳ τῷ τικτομένῳ.
И҆ помоли́сѧ манѡ́е ко гдⷭ҇ꙋ и҆ речѐ: во мнѣ̀, гдⷭ҇и, человѣ́къ бж҃їй, є҆го́же посла́лъ є҆сѝ, да прїи́детъ є҆щѐ къ на́мъ и҆ наста́витъ ны̀, что̀ сотвори́мъ ѻ҆троча́ти ражда́ющемꙋсѧ.
But he, informed of this, devoutly offered his prayers to God, that the grace of this vision might be conferred on him also, saying, "To me, Lord, let Thine Angel come."
I am of opinion therefore that it was not from jealousy of his wife, because she was remarkable for her beauty that he acted thus, as one writer has supposed, but rather that he was filled with desire of the Divine grace, and sought to participate in the benefit of the heavenly vision. For one whose mind was depraved could not have found such favour with the Lord, as that an Angel should return to his house, who, having given those monitions which the Divine announcement made requisite, was suddenly carried away in the form of a smoking flame. This sight, which terrified the man, the woman interpreted more auspiciously, and so removed his solicitude, in that to see God is a sign of good not evil.
Letter 19.11-12
And the Lord heard the voice of Manoe, and the angel of God came yet again to the woman; and she sat in the field, and Manoe her husband was not with her.
καὶ εἰσήκουσεν ὁ Θεὸς τῆς φωνῆς Μανωέ, καὶ ἦλθεν ὁ ἄγγελος τοῦ Θεοῦ ἔτι πρὸς τὴν γυναῖκα, καὶ αὕτη ἐκάθητο ἐν ἀγρῷ, καὶ Μανωὲ ὁ ἀνὴρ αὐτῆς οὐκ ἦν μετ᾿ αὐτῆς.
И҆ послꙋ́ша бг҃ъ моли́твы манѡ́евы: и҆ прїи́де па́ки а҆́гг҃лъ бж҃їй къ женѣ̀, сїѧ́ же сѣдѧ́ше на селѣ̀, и҆ манѡ́е мꙋ́жъ є҆ѧ̀ не бѧ́ше съ не́ю.
And the woman hasted, and ran, and brought word to her husband, and said to him, Behold the man who came in [the other] day to me has appeared to me.
καὶ ἐτάχυνεν ἡ γυνὴ καὶ ἔδραμε καὶ ἀνήγγειλε τῷ ἀνδρὶ αὐτῆς καὶ εἶπε πρὸς αὐτόν· ἰδοὺ ὦπται πρός με ὁ ἀνήρ, ὃς ἦλθεν ἐν ἡμέρᾳ πρός με.
И҆ потща́сѧ жена̀, и҆ те́кши ско́рѡ повѣ́да мꙋ́жꙋ своемꙋ̀, и҆ речѐ къ немꙋ̀: сѐ, ꙗ҆ви́сѧ мнѣ̀ мꙋ́жъ, и҆́же приходи́лъ въ де́нь ѡ҆́нъ ко мнѣ̀.
And Manoe arose and followed his wife, and came to the man, and said to him, Art thou the man that spoke to the woman? and the angel said, I [am].
καὶ ἀνέστη καὶ ἐπορεύθη Μανωὲ ὀπίσω τῆς γυναικὸς αὐτοῦ καὶ ἦλθε πρὸς τὸν ἄνδρα καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· εἰ σὺ εἶ ὁ ἀνὴρ ὁ λαλήσας πρὸς τὴν γυναῖκα; καὶ εἶπεν ὁ ἄγγελος· ἐγώ.
И҆ воста́въ и҆́де манѡ́е в̾слѣ́дъ жены̀ своеѧ̀, и҆ прїи́де къ мꙋ́жꙋ и҆ речѐ є҆мꙋ̀: ты́ ли є҆сѝ мꙋ́жъ глаго́лавый къ женѣ̀ (мое́й); И҆ речѐ а҆́гг҃лъ: а҆́зъ.
And Manoe said, Now shall [thy] word come to pass: what shall be the ordering of the child, and our dealings with him?
καὶ εἶπε Μανωέ· νῦν ἐλεύσεται ὁ λόγος σου· τίς ἔσται κρίσις τοῦ παιδίου καὶ τὰ ποιήματα αὐτοῦ;
И҆ речѐ манѡ́е: нн҃ѣ ᲂу҆̀бо да прїи́детъ сло́во твоѐ, кі́й бꙋ́детъ сꙋ́дъ ѻ҆троча́те, и҆ что̀ дѣла̀ є҆гѡ̀;
And the angel of the Lord said to Manoe, Of all things concerning which I spoke to the woman, she shall beware.
καὶ εἶπεν ὁ ἄγγελος Κυρίου πρὸς Μανωέ· ἀπὸ πάντων, ὧν εἴρηκα πρὸς τὴν γυναῖκα, φυλάξεται·
И҆ речѐ а҆́гг҃лъ гдⷭ҇ень къ манѡ́ю: ѿ всѣ́хъ, ꙗ҆̀же глаго́лахъ къ женѣ̀, да сохрани́тсѧ:
She shall eat of nothing that comes of the vine yielding wine, and let her not drink wine or strong liquor, and let her not eat anything unclean: all things that I have charged her she shall observe.
ἀπὸ παντός, ὃ ἐκπορεύεται ἐξ ἀμπέλου τοῦ οἴνου, οὐ φάγεται καὶ οἶνον καὶ μέθυσμα μὴ πιέτω καὶ πᾶν ἀκάθαρτον μὴ φαγέτω· πάντα ὅσα ἐνετειλάμην αὐτῇ, φυλάξεται.
ѿ всегѡ̀, є҆́же и҆схо́дитъ и҆з̾ вїногра́да, да не ꙗ҆́стъ, и҆ вїна̀ и҆ сїке́ра да не пїе́тъ, и҆ всѧ́кагѡ нечи́стагѡ да не ꙗ҆́стъ: и҆ всѧ̑, є҆ли̑ка заповѣ́дахъ є҆́й, да храни́тъ.
And Manoe said to the angel of the Lord, Let us detain thee here, and prepare before thee a kid of the goats.
καὶ εἶπε Μανωὲ πρὸς τὸν ἄγγελον Κυρίου· κατάσχωμεν ὧδέ σε καὶ ποιήσωμεν ἐνώπιόν σου ἔριφον αἰγῶν.
И҆ речѐ манѡ́е ко а҆́гг҃лꙋ гдⷭ҇ню: да ᲂу҆держи́мъ тѧ̀ здѣ̀, и҆ сотвори́мъ пред̾ тобо́ю ко́злище ѿ ко́зъ.
And the angel of the Lord said to Manoe, If thou shouldest detain me, I will not eat of thy bread; and if thou wouldest offer a whole-burnt-offering, to the Lord thou shalt offer it: for Manoe knew not that he [was] an angel of the Lord.
καὶ εἶπεν ὁ ἄγγελος Κυρίου πρὸς Μανωέ· ἐὰν κατάσχῃς με, οὐ φάγομαι ἀπὸ τῶν ἄρτων σου, καὶ ἐὰν ποιήσῃς ὁλοκαύτωμα, τῷ Κυρίῳ ἀνοίσεις αὐτό· ὅτι οὐκ ἔγνω Μανωὲ ὅτι ἄγγελος Κυρίου αὐτός.
И҆ речѐ а҆́гг҃лъ гдⷭ҇ень къ манѡ́ю: а҆́ще мѧ̀ понꙋ́диши, не бꙋ́дꙋ ꙗ҆́сти хлѣ́ба твоегѡ̀: но а҆́ще сотвори́ши всесожже́нїе гдⷭ҇еви, то̀ вознесѝ є҆̀. Не вѣ́дѧше бо манѡ́е, ꙗ҆́кѡ а҆́гг҃лъ гдⷭ҇ень то́й.
Therefore to God alone appertains worship, and this the very angels know, that though they excel other beings in glory, yet they are all creatures and not to be worshiped, but worship the Lord. Thus Manoah, the father of Samson, wishing to offer sacrifice to the angel, was thereupon hindered by him, saying, “Offer not to me, but to God.” On the other hand, the Lord is worshiped even by the angels; for it is written: “Let all the angels of God worship him.”
Discourses Against the Arians 2.16.23
And Manoe said to the angel of the Lord, What [is] thy name, that [when] thy word shall come to pass, we may glorify thee?
καὶ εἶπε Μανωὲ πρὸς τὸν ἄγγελον Κυρίου· τί τὸ ὄνομά σοι; ὅτι ἔλθοι τὸ ῥῆμά σου, καὶ δοξάσομέν σε.
И҆ речѐ манѡ́е ко а҆́гг҃лꙋ гдⷭ҇ню: что̀ и҆́мѧ твоѐ; да є҆гда̀ сбꙋ́детсѧ сло́во твоѐ, просла́вимъ тѧ̀.
And the angel of the Lord said to him, Why dost thou thus ask after my name; whereas it is wonderful?
καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ ὁ ἄγγελος Κυρίου· εἰς τί τοῦτο ἐρωτᾷς τὸ ὄνομά μου; καὶ αὐτό ἐστι θαυμαστόν.
И҆ речѐ є҆мꙋ̀ а҆́гг҃лъ гдⷭ҇ень: почто̀ сїѐ вопроша́еши и҆́мене моегѡ̀; и҆ то̀ є҆́сть чꙋ́дно.
Concerning the name Catholic I answered fully and in a conciliatory manner. For I said that it mattered to neither one of us what the other was called. But if you demanded to know the meaning of the name, whatever it might be, it is “wonderful”—whether it means “one in all” or “one above all” or, an interpretation I have not mentioned previously, “the king’s child”—that is, the Christian people. Certainly this name, which has endured for so many centuries, was not bestowed upon us by ourselves but by God. And truly I rejoice that, although you may have preferred other names, you agree that the name belongs to us. And what if you were to deny this? Then nature would cry out. Or if you still have doubts, let us say nothing about it. We will both be that which we are called, under the witness of the antiquity of the name. If, however, quite stubbornly you continue to ask, take care lest that “man of might” may exclaim to you, “Why do you ask my name? The name itself is wonderful.” I then sensibly added that we ought not to consider whence Catholics acquired this name, because neither was it traditionally considered to represent a charge against the Valentinians if they were named after Valentinus, nor against the Phrygians, if from Phrygia, nor against the Novatians, if after Novatian.
Letter 2.2
And so, too, the word that was spoken to Manoah shows the fact that the Divinity is not comprehensible by the significance of his name, because, when Manoah asks to know his name, that when the promise has come actually to pass, he may by name glorify his benefactor, he says to him, “Why do you ask this? It also is wonderful”; so that by this we learn that there is one name significant of the divine nature—the wonder, namely, that arises unspeakably in our hearts concerning it.
Against Eunomius 8.1
And Manoe took a kid of the goats and its meat-offering, and offered it on the rock to the Lord; and [the angel] wrought a distinct work, and Manoe and his wife were looking on.
καὶ ἔλαβε Μανωὲ τὸν ἔριφον τῶν αἰγῶν καὶ τὴν θυσίαν καὶ ἀνήνεγκεν ἐπὶ τήν πέτραν τῷ Κυρίῳ· καὶ διεχώρισε ποιῆσαι, καὶ Μανωὲ καὶ γυνὴ αὐτοῦ βλέποντες.
И҆ взѧ̀ манѡ́е ко́злища ѿ ко́зъ и҆ же́ртвꙋ, и҆ вознесѐ на ка́мень гдⷭ҇еви чꙋ̑днаѧ творѧ́щемꙋ: манѡ́е же и҆ жена̀ є҆гѡ̀ зрѧ́ста.
And it came to pass when the flame went up above the altar toward heaven, that the angel of the Lord went up in the flame; and Manoe and his wife were looking, and they fell upon their face to the earth.
καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῷ ἀναβῆναι τὴν φλόγα ἐπάνω τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου ἕως τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καὶ ἀνέβη ὁ ἄγγελος Κυρίου ἐν τῇ φλογὶ τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου, καὶ Μανωὲ καὶ ἡ γυνὴ αὐτοῦ βλέποντες καὶ ἔπεσαν ἐπὶ πρόσωπον αὐτῶν ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν.
И҆ бы́сть є҆гда̀ пла́мень взы́де вы́ше ѻ҆лтарѧ̀ да́же до небесѐ, и҆ взы́де а҆́гг҃лъ гдⷭ҇ень въ пла́мени ѻ҆лтарѧ̀: манѡ́е же и҆ жена̀ є҆гѡ̀ смотрѧ́ста, и҆ падо́ста лице́мъ свои́мъ на зе́млю.
For if an angel is able to use air, mist, cloud, fire, and any other natural substance or physical species; and a person [is able] to use, face, tongue, hand, pen, letters, or any other means for the purpose of communicating the secret things of his own mind: in a word, if, though he is human, he sends human messengers, and he says to one, “Go,” and he goes; and to another, “Come,” and he comes; and to his servant, “Do this,” and he does it”; with how much greater and more effectual power does God—to whom, as Lord, all things are subject—use both angel and man in order to declare whatever pleases him?
Explanations of the Psalms 78.5
And the angel appeared no more to Manoe and to his wife: then Manoe knew that this [was] an angel of the Lord.
καὶ οὐ προσέθηκεν ἔτι ὁ ἄγγελος Κυρίου ὀφθῆναι πρὸς Μανωὲ καὶ πρὸς τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ· τότε ἔγνω Μανωὲ ὅτι ἄγγελος Κυρίου οὗτος.
И҆ не приложѝ ктомꙋ̀ а҆́гг҃лъ гдⷭ҇ень ꙗ҆ви́тисѧ манѡ́ю и҆ женѣ̀ є҆гѡ̀. Тогда̀ ᲂу҆вѣ́дѣ манѡ́е, ꙗ҆́кѡ а҆́гг҃лъ гдⷭ҇ень є҆́сть.
And Manoe said to his wife, We shall surely die, because we have seen God.
καὶ εἶπε Μανωὲ πρὸς τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ· θανάτῳ ἀποθανούμεθα, ὅτι Θεὸν εἴδομεν.
И҆ речѐ манѡ́е къ женѣ̀ свое́й: сме́ртїю ᲂу҆́мремъ, ꙗ҆́кѡ бг҃а ви́дѣхомъ.
Must you not show respect for Manoah, the Old Testament judge.… Manoah was overwhelmed by the sight of God in a vision. “Wife,” he said, “we are lost, we have seen God”—meaning by this that even a vision of God is too much for human beings, let alone God’s nature.
Theological Orations 2 (28).19
But his wife said to him, If the Lord were pleased to slay us, he would not have received of our hand a whole-burnt-offering and a meat-offering; and he would not have shewn us all these things, neither would he have caused us to hear all these things as at this time.
καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ ἡ γυνὴ αὐτοῦ· εἰ ἤθελεν ὁ Κύριος θανατῶσαι ἡμᾶς, οὐκ ἂν ἔλαβεν ἐκ χειρὸς ἡμῶν ὁλοκαύτωμα καὶ θυσίαν καὶ οὐκ ἂν ἔδειξεν ἡμῖν ταῦτα πάντα καὶ καθὼς καιρὸς οὐκ ἂν ἠκούτισεν ἡμᾶς ταῦτα.
И҆ речѐ є҆мꙋ̀ жена̀ є҆гѡ̀: а҆́ще бы хотѣ́лъ гдⷭ҇ь ᲂу҆мертви́ти на́съ, не бы̀ взѧ́лъ ѿ рꙋ́къ на́шихъ всесожже́нїѧ и҆ же́ртвы, и҆ не бы̀ показа́лъ на́мъ си́хъ всѣ́хъ, и҆ не бы̀ слы̑шана сїѧ̑ сотвори́лъ на́мъ ꙗ҆́коже нн҃ѣ.
And the woman brought forth a son, and she called his name Sampson; and the child grew, and the Lord blessed him.
καὶ ἔτεκεν ἡ γυνὴ υἱὸν καὶ ἐκάλεσε τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Σαμψών· καὶ ἡδρύνθη τὸ παιδάριον, καὶ εὐλόγησεν αὐτὸ Κύριος.
И҆ родѝ жена̀ сы́на, и҆ наречѐ и҆́мѧ є҆мꙋ̀ самѱѡ́нъ. И҆ возмꙋжа̀ ѻ҆троча̀, и҆ блгⷭ҇вѝ є҆̀ гдⷭ҇ь:
And the Spirit of the Lord began to go out with him in the camp of Dan, and between Saraa and Esthaol.
καὶ ἤρξατο πνεῦμα Κυρίου συνεκπορεύεσθαι αὐτῷ ἐν παρεμβολῇ Δὰν καὶ ἀνὰ μέσον Σαραὰ καὶ ἀνὰ μέσον ᾿Εσθαόλ.
и҆ нача̀ дх҃ъ гдⷭ҇ень ходи́ти съ ни́мъ въ полцѣ̀ да́новѣ, посредѣ̀ сараѝ и҆ посредѣ̀ є҆сѳао́ла.
And why should i speak of all one by one? Samson, born by the divine promise, had the Spirit accompanying him, for we read: "The Lord blessed him, and the Spirit of the Lord began to be with him in the camp." And so foreshadowing the future mystery, he demanded a wife of the aliens, which, as it is written, his father and mother knew not of, because it was from the Lord. And rightly was he esteemed stronger than others, because the Spirit of the Lord guided him, under Whose guidance he alone put to flight the people of the aliens, and at another time inaccessible to the bite of the lion, he, unconquerable in his strength, tore him asunder with his hands. Would that he had been as careful to preserve grace, as strong to overcome the beast!
On the Holy Spirit 2, Introduction, 5
Above, you read that “the Lord blessed him, and the Spirit of the Lord began to go with him.” Farther on it is said, “And the Spirit of the Lord came upon him.” Again he says, “If I be shaven, my strength will depart from me.” After he was shaven, see what the Scripture says: “The Lord,” it says, “departed from him.”4You see, then, that he who went with him, himself departed from him. The same is, then, the Lord, who is the Spirit of the Lord, as also the apostle says: “The Lord is the Spirit, now where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”
On the Holy Spirit 2.1.17-18
The strength which Samson possessed, dearly beloved, came from the grace of God rather than by nature, for if he had been naturally strong his power would not have been taken away when his hair was cut. Where, then, was that most powerful strength, except in what the Scripture says: “The Spirit of the Lord walked with him”? Therefore, his strength belonged to the Spirit of the Lord. In Samson was the vessel, but the fullness was in the Spirit. A vessel can be filled and emptied. Moreover, every vessel has its perfection from something else, and so in Paul grace was commended when he was called a vessel of election.
Sermon 118.2
And the children of Israel yet again committed iniquity before the Lord; and the Lord delivered them into the hand of the Phylistines forty years.
ΚΑΙ προσέθηκαν ἔτι οἱ υἱοὶ ᾿Ισραὴλ ποιῆσαι τὸ πονηρὸν ἐνώπιον Κυρίου, καὶ παρέδωκεν αὐτοὺς Κύριος ἐν χειρὶ Φυλιστιΐμ τεσσαράκοντα ἔτη.
И҆ приложи́ша є҆щѐ сы́нове і҆и҃лєвы твори́ти ѕло̀ пред̾ гдⷭ҇емъ: и҆ предадѐ ѧ҆̀ гдⷭ҇ь въ рꙋ́кꙋ фѷлїсті́мскꙋ четы́редесѧть лѣ́тъ.