Judges 16:2

*“When it was told to the Gazites, saying, ‘Samson has come here,’ they surrounded the place and lay in wait for him all night at the gate of the city. And they kept silent all night, saying, ‘Let us wait until the morning light, then we will kill him.’” (v.2)*

The city of Gaza mentioned here was in the territory of the Philistines, located in the southwestern part of the land of Canaan near the Mediterranean coast. During the time of the judges, approximately between 1375 BC and 1050 BC, Philistine cities like Gaza wielded considerable influence and posed significant threats to the Israelites. It is in this context that Samson, who served as one of Israel’s judges during the later portion of this period, enters the city. Here, the verse sets the scene of a tense presence in Gaza, where the Philistines learned Samson was in their midst, prompting them to devise a plan against him.

By stating that *“they surrounded the place and lay in wait for him all night” (v.2)*, the scripture emphasizes the Philistines’ determination to capture Samson, demonstrating how threatening they believed he was to their security. As we see in earlier accounts of Samson’s life (Judges 14–15, NASB-95), the Philistines had already witnessed his extraordinary strength on multiple occasions, fueling their desire to eradicate him. Their plan was filled with stealth—they waited quietly at the city gate, presumably the most strategic point of exit, hoping to pounce at a vulnerable moment. This deliberate strategy also evokes how evil forces attempt to ambush God’s chosen followers, a theme echoed in the New Testament where believers are cautioned to remain vigilant (1 Peter 5:8, NASB-95).

In this single verse, the narrative highlights the mounting tension between Samson and the Philistines, setting the stage for the miraculous strength God would soon display through Samson. Even as the Philistines had confidence in their numbers and their strategy, the unfolding account shows that Samson’s calling from the LORD ultimately overcomes these attempts. The story connects to the greater biblical theme that God’s purposes can prevail even when darkness conspires to trap or overthrow His servants, foreshadowing Jesus’s ultimate triumph over adversity (John 16:33, NASB-95).

Samson’s arrival in Gaza triggers a desperate plot by the Philistines, who seek his destruction, reflecting humanity’s endless struggle between those who serve God’s purposes and those who strive to oppose them.