Charles Ellicott 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)

Went to the top of the rock Etam. —Rather, went down to the cave of the rock Etam. They would easily gain information about Samson’s hiding place.

What is this that you have done to us? —The abject condition into which the Lion Tribe had sunk can best be estimated by this reproach against the national hero, and still more by their baseness in betraying him. He finds no sympathy. There are no patriots in search of heroes. What might these 3,000 not have achieved if they had been like Gideon’s 300?