Those whom the informers alert to Samson’s presence are described as the Gazites.
It is a general expression, but likely does not refer to the inhabitants of Gaza as a whole, for when the Gazites
respond to the informers by setting an ambush for Samson all night, it is obvious that a particular group is in view. These are possibly the leading men of the city or their representatives.1
2 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.”