Previously the Philistines figured they could shout while rushing at a bound Samson (Judges 15:14). But perhaps the outcome of that—the slaughter of a thousand Philistines—taught them the need for caution around this man. So this time there is no shouting. Instead, they plan carefully. They set a double trap for Samson, surrounding (possibly) the place where he was staying, and setting an ambush at the city gate, likely the only way out of Gaza. They figure, Let’s wait all night till the light of morning for him. He won’t have the cover of darkness, but he will still be drowsy and quite satisfied from his night’s activities. We will seize him and kill him.
This was their plan.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.”