The question initiates a collective investigation to identify who destroyed their crops so they can exact retribution. By asking rather than accusing, the Philistines demonstrate they lack immediate knowledge of the culprit, prompting community members to share information that will guide their response.

The Philistines answered their own question by identifying Samson as the perpetrator, specifying that he was the son-in-law of the Timnite and explaining his motive: the Timnite had taken Samson’s wife and given her to his companion. Upon learning this, the Philistines immediately acted by going up and burning both the woman and her father with fire.

The Philistines’ question ‘Who has done this?’ reveals their shock at discovering their crops destroyed by Samson’s three hundred foxes with burning torches. The Hebrew construction of the question (mi asah zot) demands identification of a responsible party, not merely curiosity about cause. They ask rather than immediately knowing because the method of destruction, foxes with torches, was so unprecedented that the perpetrator’s identity wasn’t obvious from the evidence alone. Once they learn Samson acted from personal grievance over his wife’s betrayal, they execute swift but tragically misdirected justice by burning the Timnite woman and her father. Their question sets in motion another round of retribution, as Samson will respond to their execution of his former wife with further violence. The theological weight here reveals how sin compounds: one betrayal (the Timnite giving away Samson’s wife) leads to destruction (Samson’s crop burning), which leads to investigation (this question), which leads to execution (burning the woman and her father), which leads to more violence (Samson’s continued attacks). The question itself is neutral, seeking information, but it launches a vengeance cycle that demonstrates humanity’s incapacity to break patterns of retaliation without divine intervention.