1 Samuel 14:46

46 Then Saul gave up the pursuit of the Philistines, and the Philistines returned to their own territory.

1 Samuel 14:46 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 14:46

Then Saul went up from following the Philistines
Returned home to his own city, finding that he could get no answer from the Lord, whether he should pursue further or not, and losing the time and opportunity of doing it, by examining into the affair of his son, and casting lots to find it out:

and the Philistines went to their own place;
their country and cities, such of them as remained, who were not cut off by their own and the sword of the Israelites. Josephus ^F14 says, Saul killed about 60,000 of them. It seems to be the will of God that they should not now be utterly destroyed, that they might be a rod of correction in his hand, to chastise the people of Israel hereafter.

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FOOTNOTES:

F14 Antiqu. l. 6. c. 6. sect. 5.

1 Samuel 14:46 In-Context

44 Saul declared to him, "May God punish me severely if you do not die, Jonathan!"

45 But the people said to Saul, "Must Jonathan die, who accomplished such a great deliverance for Israel? No, as the Lord lives, not a hair of his head will fall to the ground, for he worked with God's help today." So the people rescued Jonathan, and he did not die.

46 Then Saul gave up the pursuit of the Philistines, and the Philistines returned to their own territory.

47 When Saul assumed the kingship over Israel, he fought against all his enemies in every direction: against Moab, the Ammonites, Edom, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. Wherever he turned, he caused havoc.

48 He fought bravely, defeated the Amalekites, and delivered Israel from the hand of those who plundered them.