Charles Ellicott Commentary Judges 16:2

"[And it was told] the Gazites, saying, Samson is come hither. And they compassed him in, and laid wait for him all night in the gate of the city, and were quiet all the night, saying, [Let be] till morning light, then we will kill him." — Judges 16:2 (ASV)

And it was told. —Our version rightly supplies these words. They are found in all the versions, and there can be no doubt that the word vayyuggar (Genesis 22:20) has in this case accidentally dropped out of the text.

They compassed him in. —They apparently did not know in what house he was. The word might mean “they went round the city” (Psalms 59:7), that is, to look for him.

Were quiet —that is, they made no attack. Thinking that they had secured him, they seem to have retired to rest. (Compare to Acts 9:23-24.)