The Bible In Paintings, #71: GOD PROMISES SAMSON’S BIRTH

Bing Images ^ | c. 2200 BC -- c. 95 AD | by the Father, Son & Holy Spirit

[Hebrews 11:6]

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GOD’S ADVANCE PROMISES
OF EXTRAORDINARY BIRTHS

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ISAAC, to ABRAHAM & SARAH
a barren woman: Genesis 17

SAMSON, to MANOAH & MANOAH’S WIFE
a barren woman: Judges 13

JOHN, to ZECHARIAH & ELIZABETH
a barren woman: Luke 1

JESUS, to JOSEPH & MARY
a virgin: Luke 1

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GOD PROMISES
SAMSON’S BIRTH

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J U D G E S . . 1 3
New International Version, emphases added
Abrdgd – the complete text is in your Bible, OR:
TO READ JUDGES 13 IN FULL, Click Here
TO HEAR MAX McLEAN READING IT, Click Here
TO HEAR A DRAMATIZATION OF IT, Click Here
TO WATCH AN OVERVIEW OF JUDGES, Click Here

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c. 1 1 0 0 . . B. C.

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2 A certain man Manoah had a wife who was childless, unable to give birth. 3 The angel of the Lord appeared to her and said, “You are going to become pregnant and give birth to a son, whose head is never to be touched by a razor because the boy is to be a Nazirite, dedicated to God from the womb. He will take the lead in delivering Israel from the hands of the Philistines.”

6 Then the woman went to her husband and told him, “A man of God came to me. He looked like an angel of God, very awesome.”

8 Then Manoah prayed to the Lord: “I beg you to let the man of God you sent to us come again to teach us how to bring up the boy who is to be born.”

9 God heard Manoah, and the angel of God came again. 11 Manoah said, “Are you the man who talked to my wife?”

“I am,” he said.

12 So Manoah asked him, “When your words are fulfilled, what is to be the rule that governs the boy’s life and work?”

13 The angel of the Lord answered, “Your wife must not eat anything that comes from the grapevine, nor drink any wine or other fermented drink nor eat anything unclean.”

15 Manoah said to the angel of the Lord, “We would like you to stay until we prepare a young goat for you.”

16 The angel of the Lord replied, “Even though you detain me, I will not eat any of your food. But if you prepare a burnt offering, offer it to the Lord.” (Manoah did not realize that it was the angel of the Lord.)

17 Then Manoah inquired of the angel of the Lord, “What is your name, so that we may honor you when your word comes true?”

18 He replied, “Why do you ask my name? It is beyond understanding.” 19 Then Manoah took a young goat, together with the grain offering, and sacrificed it on a rock to the Lord. And the Lord did an amazing thing while Manoah and his wife watched: 20 As the flame blazed up from the altar toward heaven, the angel of the Lord ascended in the flame. Seeing this, Manoah and his wife fell with their faces to the ground. 21 When the angel of the Lord did not show himself again to Manoah and his wife, Manoah realized that it was the angel of the Lord.

24 The woman gave birth to a boy and named him Samson. He grew and the Lord blessed him, 25 and the Spirit of the Lord began to stir him.

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by NICHOLAS OF VERDUN
“An Angel Announces the Birth of Samson to the Barren Wife of Manoah”

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by CARLO SARACENI
“An Angel Appearing to the Wife of Manoah”

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by JACOPO TINTORETTO
“The Annunciation to Manoah’s Wife,”

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by FERDINAND BOL
“An Angel of the Lord Appeared to Manoah's Wife
and Told Her that She Would Give Birth to a Son”

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by JAN PYNAS
“Manoah and His Wife Meeting the Angel”

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by JEAN BONDOL
“The Birth of Samson”

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by SALOMON KONINCK
“Manoah's Sacrifice”

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by REMBRANDT

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by PIETER LASTMAN
“Sacrifice of Manoah”

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by BENJAMIN WEST
“The Sacrifice of Manoah”

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by EUSTACHE LE SUEUR
“The Sacrifice of Manoah”

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by PIETER SYMONSZ. POTTER

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by ANTONIO BALESTRA
“An Angel Promises Manoah’s Wife a Son”

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by JAMES TISSOT
“The Angel Ascends Toward Heaven”

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by WILLEM DE POORTER
“Manoah's sacrifice”

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The Maciejowski Bible, 1250

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by WILLIAM STRANG
“Manoah's Offering”

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by SAMUEL VAN HOOGSTRATEN
“Manoah's sacrifice”

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by GOVAERT FLINCK
“Manoah's Sacrifice”

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by PHILIP GALLE
“The Angel Ascending in the Flame on the Altar of Manoah and his Wife”

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by ADRIAEN VAN NIEULANDT
“The Sacrifice of Manoah”

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by MARC CHAGALL
“Manoah and his wife, offering a sacrifice,
saw the angel of the Lord flying in the flame”

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by SALOMON DeBRAY
“The Sacrifice of Manoah”

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by SIMON JULIEN
“The sacrifice of Manoah, father of Samson”

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by GERRIT WILLIEMSZ HORST
“The Sacrifice of Manoah”

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by ANTHONIE WIERIX
“Manoah's Prayer”

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by CLAES CORNELISZ MOEYAERT
“The Sacrifice of Manoah”

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by ANTHONIE WIERIX
“Manoah's Prayer”

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E D I T O R ’ S …..N O T E

Quite deliberately, I have skipped entirely the story of Jephthah and his daughter, as presented in Judges 11. I am positive there is an abundance, indeed a plethora, of art available to illustrate this abominable tale. Respectfully: Go find it yourself, if you’re interested.

It’s not that I’m too sensitive to spend eight hours focusing on this dreadful person—I made it all the way through Foxe’s Book of Martyrs. But I have two married daughters, and I absolutely refuse to acknowledge this utter fool. I readily admit having been an abject sinner and utter fool myself, so I’m no better than he; but I won’t dwell on nor subject you to his sordid past, any more than mine.

I understand why that story belongs in the Bible, if nothing else as the king of all cautionary tales (there but for the grace of God go I), among other stark lessons; but you won’t be seeing it here. That said, I am aware of no other Bible story which is sufficiently nauseating to warrant exclusion from this series, so you can expect full coverage henceforth.

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SNEAK PEEK: Next time,

SAMSON GETS
A LION & A WIFE

If you're sensing the Holy Spirit is suggesting
that you read ahead, we'll be in Judges 13.

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R E S O U R C E S

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If you'd like to see for yourself the Bing page
which yielded most of the works above, here is the link:

Manoah and the Angel

Where no attribution appears below a work,
the artist's name is unknown

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Links to three masters who painted Biblical scenes prolifically:

REMBRANDT HARMENSZOON van RIJN

GUSTAV DORÉ
241 wood engravings for
La Grande Bible de Tours

JAMES TISSOT
180 watercolors depicting Bible scenes

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This series keeps moving from one Bible passage to another,
so here is a fascinating and enjoyable link to assist in following along:
BIBLE TIMELINE

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Finally, here are links to the
PREVIOUS 70 POSTS IN THIS SERIES
, with descriptive titles to assist you in finding those which interest you

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SPECIAL THANKS
to FReeper left that other site,
who allowed God to make her His conduit
for incomparable enthusiasm, encouragement,
education, advice and technical assistance!

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NOTES ON MY SELECTION CRITERIA

Quality
The Bible is my focus, not the art: this is The Bible in Paintings, not “Great Paintings” nor even “Good Paintings.” So, works need not be masterpieces to qualify for inclusion here—they don’t need to be housed at the Louvre nor auctioned by Sotheby’s. They only need to illustrate successfully some aspect of the Biblical text or, frankly, just tickle my fancy, which I'm asking the Holy Spirit to guide. So, with such forgiving filters, it means that you're seeing practically everything I'm finding.

Pacing
The pace may seem glacial to those eager to see their favorite events. My commission is to search for art on each Bible passage in sequence; if I find enough, then it becomes the next installment, even if undramatic. But where there is no art, that Bible passage goes untold here. The Bible is a thick book, as you know; but we'll get there eventually, Lord willing. Always remember:
love, joy, peace, patience kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control is a fruit of the Spirit!

I’m just having fun—and I hope you are, too!
Thank you for your understanding.

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[Hebrews 11:6]

At the Holy Spirit's prompting, I am surveying "Bible art" to give God glory, as many of these artists have done, and for my own amusement and learning; and I thought others might enjoy it and be blessed by it, too. My plan is to proceed methodically from left-to right, Genesis to Revelation, as the Lord wills. Back soon with another.

The Bible encourages us to meditate on it (Ps. 1:1-3, 119:11-16, etc.); these artists have done so, and their works can assist us and enrich our own thoughts about biblical characters, incidents and concepts, and increase our faith in He who is behind it all. As you encounter and consider these images and the related Scriptures and the Spirit enlightens your understanding, please share it with us!

But it is not only oil-on-canvas that can so help us; I refer to the astonishing video series The Chosen, which strolls through the four Gospels at the most leisurely pace. The eight episodes of Season 1 are finished, and the second of a planned seven seasons is coming soon. I say "leisurely" because after an entire year’s viewing Jesus still has only seven of the apostles (although He's preparing to call up Thomas from the minor leagues--but Thomas is skeptical, of course). Anticipating a canvas of fifty-plus hours instead of a movie's paltry two hours, The Chosen turns the characters (especially including Jesus!) into three-dimensional humans and brings the Gospels alive--you have never seen anything even remotely like it! Here is the Official Trailer.

Here is a link for free viewing of The Chosen: “Works with your phone, tablet, and you can cast to your Roku or Chromecast.” Last fall I paid $34.98 for DVDs and ongoing internet access—best 35 bucks I’ve ever spent (I don’t recall how much our marriage license cost, but then it was 42 years ago).

[Hebrews 11:6]

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F o r . . y o u r

CONSIDERATION

ENJOYMENT

& BLESSING

……... .

[Hebrews 11:6]

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YES, WE DO HAVE A

P I N G. .L I S T

for "The Bible In Paintings" series

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[left that other site]

Good Morning! :-)

[Hebrews 11:6]

Nice to hair from you.

[EliRoom8]

In review of the involvement of angels in the NT, apart from Revelation, it seems that there is an effort to avoid startling humans. (eg. the Resurrection morning at the threshold, inside the tomb, and the escape of Peter in Acts 12) Hence, the depictions which show them in that least remarkable way are my favorites. But . . . you’ve got to love those stained glass windows.

[left that other site]

Now, that’s dis-TRESS-ing.

[Hebrews 11:6]

How can I get her to stop? Ignore her? Or will she use that as cause for redoubling her puny efforts?

[Hebrews 11:6]

You make a persuasive case about angels' consideration.

Don't know if you saw it, as it was awhile ago, but we had a two-part series on stained glass you'd enjoy: Amiens and Chartres.

[left that other site]

Just ask.

I’ll stop.

[Hebrews 11:6]

I would never actually ask. You are free to do anything you wish here. You have the ruin of the place.