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[279]
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 their benefit.
Flavius Josephus. The Works of Flavius Josephus. Translated by. William Whiston, A.M. Auburn and Buffalo. John E. Beardsley. 1895.
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