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.
The people of Gaza were told, 'Samson has come here.' So they surrounded the area and set up an ambush for him all night at the city gate. They stayed quiet through the night, saying, 'When morning comes and it's light, we'll kill him.'
The people of Gaza discovered Samson was in their city and planned to trap and kill him at dawn when he tried to leave.
📚 Historical Context
During the time of the Judges in ancient Israel, Samson was a divinely appointed leader known for his extraordinary strength, which God used to challenge the oppressive Philistine rule over the Israelites. When Samson entered the Philistine city of Gaza, the local Gazites, who were enemies of Israel, learned of his presence and quietly set an ambush at the city gate, planning to kill him at dawn to eliminate this threat. This incident reflects the broader pattern of conflict and resistance between the Israelites and the Philistines during a era of political instability and spiritual unfaithfulness.
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