The Philistines pursued Samson into the territory of Judah that they controlled (v. 9; cf. 14:4). The exact location of Lehi is still uncertain.
We get a glimpse into the spiritual condition in Judah at this time from how the 3,000 Judahites (more probable than 3 units of people) responded to their Philistine oppressors. The men of Judah were no threat to the Philistines, but Samson was. The men of Judah did not respond to Samson as a judge whom God had raised up to deliver them from the Philistines. Instead of supporting him they meekly bowed before their oppressors and took the Philistines' side against Samson (v. 11-13). They rebuked Samson for jeopardizing their safety by attacking the Philistines. They were content to live under the Philistines' heel. They regarded Samson's action as something he was doing against them rather than an as act of aggression against the enemies of God's people. The Judahites were compromisers who preferred slavery to freedom.
"It is a sad fact of Christian experience that if you are a Christian committed to growing and maturing in Jesus Christ, you will often be hindered the most by other Christians who have become accustomed and accommodated to an anemic, wishy-washy spiritual life."271
During his whole ministry Samson never had an army or even several Israelites behind him. He fought the Lord's battles alone. The Judahites were doing their enemies' work for them by binding Samson and handing him over to them (v. 12). They swore not to kill their judge themselves, but they bound him and handed him over to the Philistines so they could kill him (v. 13).
"The tribe that had formerly waded into battle after battle (1:1-20) has become a collection of spineless wimps (15:13)."272
Samson's patience and grace with his fellow Israelites are astounding. He must have realized what they were doing, but he also apparently believed that when delivered over to the enemy he could overcome them. If his courage, as his fellow Israelites brought him bound before hoards of Philistines and handed him over to them, arose from trust in God, his faith was remarkable. This would have been one of the high points of Samson's spiritual career. Alternatively Samson's confidence may have rested in himself, particularly in his strength. If that was so, this incident was a low point for him spiritually. I prefer the second explanation since it seems more consistent with Samson's character.
