שופטים, פרק י״ג, פסוק י״ז

Encountering a mysterious figure who delivers life-changing news of a future child naturally sparks a deep desire to understand exactly who this messenger is. Manoah finds himself in this exact position, standing before a visitor and feeling uncertain whether he is facing a human prophet or a divine being. Wishing to show proper gratitude in the future, he asks for the stranger's identity.

The way Manoah asks for the visitor's name is unusual, focusing on the living essence of the individual rather than just a simple label [מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. One perspective suggests that Manoah already sensed the deep spiritual nature of his guest, even before realizing he was an angel. Alternatively, he may have viewed the visitor as a deeply respected prophet whose name represented his very core and being [רד״ק]. On the other hand, the visitor's earlier refusal to eat may have already sparked suspicions in Manoah's mind that he was dealing with an angel. By inquiring about his identity in this specific manner, Manoah might have been hinting at the angel Michael. Just as Michael once brought the news of a child to Sarah, Manoah guessed that the same angel had now arrived to bring the news of his own wife's pregnancy [אלשיך].

Manoah explains that he wants to know the messenger's identity so that he can honor him once the prophecy is fulfilled. The primary approach among commentators is that Manoah simply wanted to ensure that when the prediction came true, he and his wife would know exactly who to thank and how to identify him clearly [מצודת דוד].

However, commentators offer different perspectives on what this promised honor would actually look like. One view suggests that the honor would take the form of loyalty and obedience. Once the visitor's words proved true, Manoah and his wife would faithfully fulfill any future mission, command, or request he might ask of them [רש״י, אברבנאל]. Another approach assumes Manoah still viewed the guest as a human prophet. Since the prophet had just refused the material reward of a meal, Manoah reasoned that he might be seeking public recognition instead. Therefore, he promised that once the child was born, they would publicize the prophet's name and grant him the widespread respect due to a true visionary [מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. A final perspective presents a solution of indirect honor. Recognizing that the visitor might be an angel or a holy man whose elevated spiritual state prevented him from partaking in normal food, Manoah offered a different kind of respect. He promised that if lesser messengers were to visit them in the future claiming to represent this holy man, Manoah would treat those messengers with immense generosity, granting them the very honor that the guest himself had turned down [אלשיך].