Albert Barnes Commentary Judges 15:11

"Then three thousand men of Judah went down to the cleft of the rock of Etam, and said to Samson, Knowest thou not that the Philistines are rulers over us? what then is this that thou hast done unto us? And he said unto them, As they did unto me, so have I done unto them." — Judges 15:11 (ASV)

The dispirited men of Judah were prepared to give up their champion, in order to conciliate their masters. This shows how hard the task of the Judge was, whose office it was to restore his countrymen to freedom and independence.