And the men of Judah said
To the Philistines, very probably by a deputation, which they sent unto them, to know the reason of this formidable appearance:
why are ye come up against us?
in this hostile manner, with such a number of forces, since they were not conscious to themselves that they had done anything to offend them; they had not attempted to cast off their yoke, they quietly submitted to their government, and had paid their whole tribute, as Josephus F6 represents them saying; they could not imagine what should be the meaning of all this:
and they answered, to bind Samson are we come up;
that is, to oblige them to bind him, and deliver him into their hands:
to do to him as he hath done to us:
to put him to death, as he had slain many of their people in the last rencounter with them.