1 Samuel 14:46

46 And Saul went away, and he pursued not the Philistines; and the Philistines went into their places.

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 And Saul said, God do to me these things, and add these things, for thou, Jonathan, shalt (indeed) die by death.

45 And the people said to Saul, Therefore whether Jonathan shall die, that did this great health in Israel? this is unleaveful; the Lord liveth; none hair of his head shall fall into the earth; for he hath wrought with God today. Therefore the people delivered Jonathan, that he died not. (And the people said to Saul, Should Jonathan truly die, he who hath won this great victory for Israel? Nay! this is unlawful; as the Lord liveth, there shall not fall to the ground one hair of his head, for he hath worked with God today. And so the people delivered Jonathan, so that he did not die.)

46 And Saul went away, and he pursued not the Philistines; and the Philistines went into their places.

47 And Saul, when his realm was stabled upon Israel, fought by compass against all his enemies (And Saul, when his kingdom was established upon Israel, fought against all his enemies all around), (yea,) against Moab, and the sons of Ammon, and Edom, and against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines; and whither ever he turned him[self], he overcame (them).

48 And when his host was gathered together, he smote Amalek; and delivered Israel from the hand of his destroyers. (And then when his army was gathered together, he killed the Amalekites; and so he saved Israel from the hands of their destroyers.)