Judg 16:2 | NET2full | STEP | The Gazites were told , “ Samson has come here !” So they surrounded the town and hid all night at the city gate , waiting for him to leave. They relaxed all night , thinking , “He will not leave until morning comes ; then we will kill him!”

‏ Judges 16:2

2 The Gazites were told, ^{▼▼tc Heb “To the Gazites, saying.” A verb is missing from the MT; some ancient Greek witnesses add “it was reported.”} “Samson has come here!” So they surrounded the town ^{▼▼tn Heb “And they surrounded.” The rest of the verse suggests that “the town” is the object, not “the house.” Though the Gazites knew Samson was in the town, apparently they did not know exactly where he had gone. Otherwise, they could have just gone into or surrounded the house and would not have needed to post guards at the city gate.} and hid all night at the city gate, waiting for him to leave. ^{▼▼tn Heb “and they lay in wait for him all night in the city gate.”} They relaxed ^{▼▼tn Heb “were silent.”} all night, thinking, ^{▼▼tn Heb “saying.”} “He will not leave ^{▼▼tn The words “He will not leave” are supplied in the translation for clarification.} until morning comes; ^{▼▼tn Heb “until the light of the morning.”} then we will kill him!”