Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 16:2
[And it was told] the Gazites, saying, Samson is come hither. And they compassed [him] in, and laid wait for him all night in the gate of the city, and were quiet all the night, saying, In the morning, when it is day, we shall kill him.
2. And it was told the Gazites ] The verb has fallen out by accident; the LXX read it in the text.
all night in the gate ] The text makes the Philistines lie in wait all the night, and keep quiet all the night; but there would be no need to keep watch in the gate at night, for the gate would be shut. To relieve the confusion the simplest plan is either to omit the first all the night, or to read all the day. The Philistines patrolled the town and lay in wait [during the day], hoping to catch Samson at the city gate when he went out; at night they could only keep quiet until the morning, and then fall upon their enemy. The last cl. = lit. until the morning dawns and we kill him, until implying the verb wait; for the Hebr. idiom see Driver, Tenses, p. 135, and cf. 1Sa 1:22 etc. Hebrew coordinates clauses which are really subordinate. The marg. ‘or Before ’ is not right.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 2. They compassed him in] They shut up all the avenues, secured the gates, and set persons in ambush near them, that they might attack him on his leaving the city early the next morning.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
This they chose to do, rather than to seize upon him in his house and bed by night; either because they knew not certainly in what house or place he was; or because they thought that might cause great terror, and confusion, and mischief among their own people; whereas in the day time they might more fully discover him, and more unexpectedly surprise him, and more certainly direct their blows and use their weapons against him.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And it was told the Gazites,…. The inhabitants of Gaza, the principal ones of it, the magistrates of the city, either by some persons that saw him come in, who knew him, or by the harlot into whose company he fell, to whom he made himself known:
saying, Samson is come hither; the man so famous for his strength, and such an enemy to the Philistines; his name was well known for his great exploits, and rung throughout Palestine, and was a terror to the whole country:
and they compassed [him] in; not that they surrounded the house where he was, which perhaps they might not certainly know, but they secured all the avenues and gates of the city, made them fast, and placed guards there, that he might not escape their hands:
and laid wait for him all night in the gate; particularly at that gate, where, if he went out for his country, he must pass:
and were quiet all the night; did not attempt to disturb Samson, or seize on him, if they knew where he was; knowing his great strength, and what a tumult might be raised in the city, they said nothing of it to anybody that passed, what they were placed there for, lest it should come to his ears; they made as if they were deaf and dumb, as some interpret it, and heard and knew nothing:
saying, in the morning, when it is day, we shall kill him; when they should better know him, and make sure their blow at him, and do it suddenly, unawares to him, as he came to the gate, to pass through it.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(2) And it was told.Our version rightly supplies these words. They are found in all the versions, and there can be no doubt that the word vayyuggar (Gen. 22:20) has in this case accidentally dropped out of the text.
They compassed him in.They apparently did not know in what house he was. The word might mean they went round the city (Psa. 59:7), i.e., to look for him.
Were quieti.e., they made no attack. Thinking that they had secured him, they seem to have retired to rest. (Comp. Act. 9:23-24.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
2. Samson is come hither Samson may have thought to pass unrecognized in that large town, but his fame was too extended, and too many Philistine eyes had seen him before. His stalwart form and long growth of hair would also, probably, anywhere attract attention.
Compassed him in Probably, compassed the city about with spies to guard against a sudden and sly departure of their foe.
Quiet all the night After night set in they supposed he would not be likely to leave the harlot before the morning, and so the watchmen gave so little heed to the gate of the city that Samson carried it off without their knowledge.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘ And it was told the Gazites, saying, “Samson has come here!” And they compassed him in and laid wait for him all night in the gate of the city, and were quiet all night, saying, “We will wait for morning light. Then we will kill him.” ’
The leading men of Gaza learned that Samson was there. Possibly he had been spotted, or perhaps the prostitute had sent a message informing them of his presence, hoping for a reward. He may well have boasted about who he was, for he had lost his humility. Either way they decided that they would wait until morning, when approaching him might be less dangerous because then they could see what they were doing. They knew that there was only one way out of the walled city, through the huge city gates, and those would not be opened until the morning. And so they knew that they had him safe. They knew that they would be able to take him when they wanted and in a place where they themselves had set an ambush.
So in order to ensure success they gathered men in and around the gateway, trapping him in the city, ready to take him the next day when he came at the time of the opening of the gate. He could not after all kill the whole town. They ‘were quiet all night.’ That is, they did not seek to disturb him and themselves took the opportunity of resting.
“The Gazites.” This may have been the official name of their council, or they may have been so proud of their city that that was how they liked to be known. Each large Philistine city was semi-independent and had pride in its own status. They did not think of themselves as ‘Philistines’ and some, those for example in Beth-shan, were in fact Tjekker and not strictly Philistines, although of similar stock (they used different pottery).
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
And it was told the Gazites, saying, Samson is come hither. And they compassed him in, and laid wait for him all night in the gate of the city, and were quiet all the night, saying, In the morning, when it is day, we shall kill him.
See Reader! how alive the enemies to God, and his people are, to wait for thy halting. Oh! that everyone who ventures to pursue uncleanness and the gratification of his corrupt passions, would in those Gazites surrounding Samson, behold a representation, how the accursed enemy of souls watches over the unguarded hours of sinners! Behold! ye adulterers, and adultresses, you that drop asleep in the arms of harlots, ye captives to excess of wine, and abominable lusts; see what dangers you are exposed to, when you think all secure! 1Th 5:3-10 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Jdg 16:2
Ver. 2. And they compassed him in. ] See their sedulity and Samson’s security, but especially God’s superabundant mercy: 1Ti 1:14 the riches of his grace cast in over and above desert or desire. Eph 2:7 Rom 5:20
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
compassed: 1Sa 19:11, 1Sa 23:26, Psa 118:10-12, Act 9:24, 2Co 11:32, 2Co 11:33
quiet: Heb. silent
kill him: Jdg 15:18, Mat 21:38, Mat 27:1, Act 23:15
Reciprocal: Gen 3:6 – saw Exo 14:3 – They are entangled Jdg 1:18 – Gaza 1Sa 23:7 – he is shut 1Ki 22:3 – still 2Ki 8:7 – is come Psa 59:1 – when
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jdg 16:2. It was told the Gazites, Samson is come hither The arrival of so extraordinary a man could not be long concealed. And his enemies were willing to improve so favourable an opportunity to destroy him. They compassed him in, &c. They either beset the house, or lay in wait at the gate of the city; saying, In the morning we will kill him This, it is probable, they chose to do, rather than to seize upon him in his bed by night; either, because they knew not certainly in what house he was; or, because they thought to do that might cause great terror, and confusion, and mischief among their own people; whereas in the day-time they might more fully discover him, and more certainly use their weapons against him. O that all who indulge any unholy desire might see themselves thus surrounded, and marked for destruction by their spiritual enemies! The more secure they are, the greater is their danger.