THEOSISAmbrose of Milan
The wife offered a courageous interpretation of the vision that had unnerved her husband. She brought him joy and alleviated his worries by clarifying that witnessing God was a positive indication rather than a negative one.
Judges 13:23Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers
And his wife answered him: If the Lord had a mind to kill us, he would not have received a holocaust and libations at our hands; neither would he have shewed us all these things, nor have told us the things that are to come.
וַתֹּ֧אמֶר ל֣וֹ אִשְׁתּ֗וֹ לוּ֩ חָפֵ֨ץ יְהוָ֤ה לַהֲמִיתֵ֙נוּ֙ לֹֽא־לָקַ֤ח מִיָּדֵ֙נוּ֙ עֹלָ֣ה וּמִנְחָ֔ה וְלֹ֥א הֶרְאָ֖נוּ אֶת־כָּל־אֵ֑לֶּה וְכָעֵ֕ת לֹ֥א הִשְׁמִיעָ֖נוּ כָּזֹֽאת׃
The Church Fathers on this verse
2 Church Fathers comment on this verse
Jakimov I.S.
The woman addresses her husband’s anxieties by saying, “Why should we perish? If the Lord had intended for us to die, He would not have accepted our offering." This is indeed a wise perspective.
Cross references
Passages read together with this verse.
- Ps 25 (24):14
- 1 Cor 12:21And the eye cannot say to the hand: I need not thy help. Nor again the head to the feet: I have no need of you.
- Ps 86 (85):17
- John 14:20In that day you shall know that I am in my Father: and you in me, and I in you.
- John 15:15I will not now call you servants: for the servant knoweth not what his lord doth. But I have called you friends. because all things, whatsoever I have heard of my Father, I have made known to you.
- Prov 3:32For every mocker is an abomination to the Lord, and his communication is with the simple.
- Eccl 4:9It is better therefore that two should be together, than one: for they have the advantage of their society:
- Eccl 4:10If one fall he shall be supported by the other: woe to him that is alone, for when he falleth, he hath none to lift him up.