Judges 16 2

Judges 16:2 kjv

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.

Judges 16:2 nkjv

When the Gazites were told, "Samson has come here!" they surrounded the place and lay in wait for him all night at the gate of the city. They were quiet all night, saying, "In the morning, when it is daylight, we will kill him."

Judges 16:2 niv

The people of Gaza were told, "Samson is here!" So they surrounded the place and lay in wait for him all night at the city gate. They made no move during the night, saying, "At dawn we'll kill him."

Judges 16:2 esv

The Gazites were told, "Samson has come here." And they surrounded the place and set an ambush for him all night at the gate of the city. They kept quiet all night, saying, "Let us wait till the light of the morning; then we will kill him."

Judges 16:2 nlt

Word soon spread that Samson was there, so the men of Gaza gathered together and waited all night at the town gates. They kept quiet during the night, saying to themselves, "When the light of morning comes, we will kill him."

Judges 16 verses

Judges 16 2 Meaning

Judges 16:2 describes the swift and decisive actions of the Philistine inhabitants of Gaza upon learning of Samson's arrival. They immediately mobilized to surround the city and establish an ambush at its main gate, planning to kill Samson when morning dawned, reflecting their patient, meticulous, and deadly intent towards their formidable foe.

Judges 16 2 Context

This verse immediately follows Judges 16:1, where Samson goes to Gaza and sees a harlot. His presence in the Philistine city of Gaza, a significant stronghold and frequent enemy of Israel, was quickly discovered. The Philistines had been repeatedly humiliated and damaged by Samson's strength, seeing him as a major threat to their dominion. His seemingly reckless and unguarded entry into their capital presented them with a golden opportunity they had long awaited. The subsequent events of Chapter 16 chronicle Samson's ultimate downfall through Delilah's betrayal and his final redemptive act of strength and sacrifice, making this ambush a crucial precursor illustrating the Philistines' persistent animosity and their tactics of treachery and patient waiting against God's appointed judge.

Judges 16 2 Word analysis

• And it was told the Gazites (וַיֻּגַּד לָעַזָּתִים - wayyuggad lā'azzātîm)

  • "And it was told": Wayyuggad, from the root nagad, meaning "to tell" or "report." The Niph'al stem indicates a passive voice, suggesting "it was reported" or "information was given." This implies a swift dissemination of news within the Philistine city and highlights their active intelligence network concerning Samson.
  • "the Gazites": lā'azzātîm, referring to the inhabitants of Gaza, one of the five major Philistine cities. Their response reflects the communal alarm and hostile determination of the Philistines toward Samson, who had caused them great harm (Judg 15:15-16).

• "saying, 'Samson is come here.'" (לֵאמֹר שִׁמְשׁוֹן בָּא הֵנָּה - lē'mōr shimshon bā hēnâ)

  • "saying": lē'mōr, a common Hebrew idiom introducing direct speech or the content of a report.
  • "Samson": Shimshon, derived from the Hebrew word for "sun," shemesh. His very name resonates with light, yet he often found himself entangled in darkness. His presence alone was enough to provoke a city-wide emergency.
  • "is come here": bā hēnâ. A straightforward statement affirming his physical presence. The immediate understanding of the threat signifies Samson's formidable reputation.

• "And they surrounded him" (וַיַּקִּיפֻהוּ - wayyaqqîpūhû)

  • Wayyaqqîpūhû, from the root naqaph, meaning "to encircle" or "to go around." The Hiph'il stem indicates causative action—they actively caused a surrounding or encircling. This reflects their swift action to contain Samson and block his escape routes within the city walls or at the gates.

• "and lay in wait for him all night" (וַיֶּאֶרְבוּ־לוֹ כָּל־הַלַּיְלָה - wayye'er bû-lō kol-hallaylâ)

  • "and lay in wait for him": wayye'er bû-lō, from the root 'ârab, meaning "to lie in ambush" or "to set an ambush." This denotes a premeditated and hidden scheme, emphasizing treachery and strategic cunning over direct combat, reflecting their recognition of his superior strength in open confrontation.
  • "all night": kol-hallaylâ. This detail emphasizes their patience, persistence, and unwavering resolve. They were prepared to endure a long, dark vigil to achieve their murderous objective.

• "at the gate of the city;" (בְּשַׁעַר הָעִיר - bisha'ar hā'îr)

  • "at the gate of the city": bisha'ar hā'îr. The city gate was not just an entrance; it was the hub of legal, commercial, and social life, and the primary point of ingress and egress for a walled city. It was strategically chosen for an ambush, anticipating Samson's likely departure at dawn.

• "and they were quiet all the night," (וַיִּתְחַקְּקוּ כָל־הַלַּיְלָה - wayyithchaqqu kōl-hallaylâ)

  • Wayyithchaqqu, from the root chaqaq. While often meaning "to engrave" or "decree," in this context, it is understood as "to be quiet," "to be still," or "to keep a disciplined watch." It highlights their meticulousness, self-control, and silent vigilance, crucial for an ambush to succeed.

• "saying, 'When morning dawns, we will kill him.'" (לֵאמֹר עַד־אֹור הַבֹּקֶר וַהֲרַגְנֻהוּ - lē'mōr 'ad-ōwr habbōqer waharagnūhû)

  • "saying": lē'mōr.
  • "When morning dawns": 'ad-ōwr habbōqer, literally "until the light of the morning." This establishes their precise timing for the attack, indicating a calculated plan to strike in optimal conditions rather than a risky nighttime engagement with the formidable Samson.
  • "we will kill him": waharagnūhû, from the root harag, meaning "to kill." The verb tense expresses definite intention and resolve. There was no question of merely capturing or wounding him; their objective was elimination.

• Words-group Analysis

  • "they surrounded him and lay in wait for him": This pairing demonstrates a dual strategy: immediate containment (surrounding) coupled with a patient, concealed trap (lying in wait), highlighting the serious threat they perceived Samson to be and their determination to eliminate him.
  • "all night at the gate of the city; and they were quiet all the night": The repetition of "all night" combined with the focus on the strategic "gate" and their "quiet" demeanor emphasizes the intense, prolonged, and disciplined nature of their meticulously planned ambush. It reflects their cunning and unwavering focus on their goal.
  • "When morning dawns, we will kill him": This declared intent reveals the utter ruthlessness and resolve of the Gazites. It is a chilling pronouncement of their certainty in executing their plan, setting a stark contrast to Samson's eventual escape.

Judges 16 2 Bonus section

The unidentified informant in "it was told the Gazites" suggests the omnipresent awareness among the Philistines of Samson’s movements, possibly through informants or simply due to his public, often scandalous, activities. The Philistine readiness to act, swiftly organizing a city-wide operation upon mere news of Samson's arrival, underscores the existential threat they felt from this single Israelite. This incident highlights a recurrent theme in Judges: Israel’s deliverers, though divinely empowered, were often vulnerable due to personal moral weaknesses, and the adversaries of God's people were perpetually cunning and persistent in their opposition. The dramatic contrast between the Philistines' diligent plotting and Samson's carefree moral state sets a deeper narrative tension beyond a mere physical conflict.

Judges 16 2 Commentary

Judges 16:2 reveals the intense hatred and fear the Philistines harbored towards Samson. Their immediate and highly organized response to his mere presence in Gaza—ranging from rapid intelligence dissemination to meticulous preparation for an ambush—underscores his formidable reputation and the severity of the threat they believed he posed. Their chosen method, a patient and silent vigil at the strategic city gate until morning, speaks to their cunning and discipline, demonstrating a clear strategic advantage over Samson, who appears oblivious or overconfident in his perceived invulnerability. This verse sets the stage for a dramatic confrontation, where Samson's physical prowess, by God's enablement, will once again defy human expectation and thwart his enemies' calculated, murderous intentions, despite his moral failings. It illustrates that even with perfect human planning and malice, God’s power remains supreme in protecting His chosen, even if only to extend their divine mission.