1 Samuel 14:46
New International Version
Then Saul stopped pursuing the Philistines, and they withdrew to their own land.

New Living Translation
Then Saul called back the army from chasing the Philistines, and the Philistines returned home.

English Standard Version
Then Saul went up from pursuing the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own place.

Berean Standard Bible
Then Saul gave up his pursuit of the Philistines, and the Philistines returned to their own land.

King James Bible
Then Saul went up from following the Philistines: and the Philistines went to their own place.

New King James Version
Then Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own place.

New American Standard Bible
Then Saul went up from pursuing the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own place.

NASB 1995
Then Saul went up from pursuing the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own place.

NASB 1977
Then Saul went up from pursuing the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own place.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then Saul went up from pursuing the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own place.

Amplified Bible
Then Saul stopped pursuing the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own place.

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

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then Saul gave up the pursuit of the Philistines, and the Philistines returned to their own territory.

American Standard Version
Then Saul went up from following the Philistines; and the Philistines went to their own place.

Contemporary English Version
Saul stopped hunting down the Philistines, and they went home.

English Revised Version
Then Saul went up from following the Philistines: and the Philistines went to their own place.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then Saul stopped pursuing the Philistines. So the Philistines returned to their own land.

Good News Translation
After that, Saul stopped pursuing the Philistines, and they went back to their own territory.

International Standard Version
Then Saul stopped pursuing the Philistines, and the Philistines went back to their territory.

Majority Standard Bible
Then Saul gave up his pursuit of the Philistines, and the Philistines returned to their own land.

NET Bible
Then Saul stopped chasing the Philistines, and the Philistines went back home.

New Heart English Bible
Then Saul went up from following the Philistines; and the Philistines went to their own place.

Webster's Bible Translation
Then Saul went up from following the Philistines: and the Philistines went to their own place.

World English Bible
Then Saul went up from following the Philistines; and the Philistines went to their own place.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Saul goes up from after the Philistines, and the Philistines have gone to their place;

Young's Literal Translation
And Saul goeth up from after the Philistines, and the Philistines have gone to their place;

Smith's Literal Translation
And Saul will come up from after the rovers: and the rovers went to their place.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Saul went back, and did not pursue after the Philistines: and the Philistines went to their own places.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And Saul withdrew, and he did not pursue the Philistines. And the Philistines went away to their own places.

New American Bible
After that Saul gave up the pursuit of the Philistines, who returned to their own territory.

New Revised Standard Version
Then Saul withdrew from pursuing the Philistines; and the Philistines went to their own place.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Then Saul returned from following the Philistines; and the Philistines went to their own country.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Shaul returned from pursuing the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their country
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Then Saul went up from following the Philistines; and the Philistines went to their own place.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Saul went up from following the Philistines; and the Philistines departed to their place.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The People Save Jonathan
45But the people said to Saul, “Must Jonathan die—he who accomplished such a great deliverance for Israel? Never! As surely as the LORD lives, not a hair of his head will fall to the ground, for with God’s help he has accomplished this today.” So the people rescued Jonathan, and he did not die. 46Then Saul gave up his pursuit of the Philistines, and the Philistines returned to their own land.

Cross References
Judges 6:34-35
So the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, who blew the ram’s horn and rallied the Abiezrites behind him. / Calling them to arms, Gideon sent messengers throughout Manasseh, as well as Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, so that they came up to meet him.

1 Samuel 7:13-14
So the Philistines were subdued, and they stopped invading the territory of Israel. And the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. / The cities from Ekron to Gath, which the Philistines had taken, were restored to Israel, who also delivered the surrounding territory from the hand of the Philistines. And there was peace between the Israelites and the Amorites.

1 Samuel 13:5-7
Now the Philistines assembled to fight against Israel with three thousand chariots, six thousand horsemen, and troops as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They went up and camped at Michmash, east of Beth-aven. / Seeing that they were in danger because their troops were hard-pressed, the men of Israel hid in caves and thickets, among the rocks, and in cellars and cisterns. / Some Hebrews even crossed the Jordan into the land of Gad and Gilead. Saul, however, remained at Gilgal, and all his troops were quaking in fear.

1 Samuel 15:1-3
Then Samuel said to Saul, “The LORD sent me to anoint you king over His people Israel. Now therefore, listen to the words of the LORD. / This is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘I witnessed what the Amalekites did to the Israelites when they opposed them on their way up from Egypt. / Now go and attack the Amalekites and devote to destruction all that belongs to them. Do not spare them, but put to death men and women, children and infants, oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys.’”

1 Samuel 17:52-53
Then the men of Israel and Judah charged forward with a shout and pursued the Philistines to the entrance of Gath and to the gates of Ekron. And the bodies of the Philistines were strewn along the Shaaraim road to Gath and Ekron. / When the Israelites returned from their pursuit of the Philistines, they plundered their camps.

2 Samuel 8:1-2
Some time later, David defeated the Philistines, subdued them, and took Metheg-ammah from the hand of the Philistines. / David also defeated the Moabites, made them lie down on the ground, and measured them off with a cord. He measured off with two lengths those to be put to death, and with one length those to be spared. So the Moabites became subject to David and brought him tribute.

2 Samuel 21:15-17
Once again the Philistines waged war against Israel, and David and his servants went down and fought against the Philistines. But David became exhausted. / Then Ishbi-benob, a descendant of Rapha, whose bronze spear weighed three hundred shekels and who was bearing a new sword, resolved to kill David. / But Abishai son of Zeruiah came to his aid, struck the Philistine, and killed him. Then David’s men swore to him, “You must never again go out with us to battle, so that the lamp of Israel may not be extinguished.”

2 Kings 13:25
Then Jehoash son of Jehoahaz took back from Ben-hadad son of Hazael the cities that Hazael had taken in battle from his father Jehoahaz. Jehoash defeated Ben-hadad three times, and so recovered the cities of Israel.

1 Chronicles 18:1
Some time later, David defeated the Philistines, subdued them, and took Gath and its villages from the hand of the Philistines.

Psalm 18:37-42
I pursued my enemies and overtook them; I did not turn back until they were consumed. / I crushed them so they could not rise; they have fallen under my feet. / You have armed me with strength for battle; You have subdued my foes beneath me. ...

Isaiah 9:4
For as in the day of Midian You have shattered the yoke of their burden, the bar across their shoulders, and the rod of their oppressor.

Isaiah 10:26
And the LORD of Hosts will brandish a whip against them, as when He struck Midian at the rock of Oreb. He will raise His staff over the sea, as He did in Egypt.

Romans 8:31
What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

1 Corinthians 15:57
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

2 Corinthians 2:14
But thanks be to God, who always leads us triumphantly as captives in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him.


Treasury of Scripture

Then Saul went up from following the Philistines: and the Philistines went to their own place.

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Longer Philistines Pursuing Saul Stopped Turning Withdrew
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Longer Philistines Pursuing Saul Stopped Turning Withdrew
1 Samuel 14
1. Jonathan goes and miraculously smites the Philistine's garrison
15. A divine terror makes them beat themselves
17. Saul, not staying the priest's answer, sets on them
21. The captivated Hebrews, and the hidden Israelites, join against them.
24. Saul's unadvised adjuration hinders the victory
31. He restrains the people from eating blood
35. He builds an altar
37. Jonathan, taken by lot, is save by the people
47. Saul's victories, strength, and family














Then Saul withdrew
The phrase "Then Saul withdrew" marks a pivotal moment in the narrative of Saul's kingship. The Hebrew root for "withdrew" is "עָלָה" (alah), which can mean to go up, ascend, or retreat. In this context, it signifies a strategic decision by Saul to cease his pursuit. Historically, this reflects a moment of restraint or perhaps a missed opportunity, as Saul's leadership is often characterized by impulsive decisions. This withdrawal could be seen as a moment of prudence or a failure to capitalize on a military advantage, reflecting the complex nature of Saul's reign.

from pursuing the Philistines
The Philistines were a perennial enemy of Israel, often representing the worldly opposition to God's chosen people. The Hebrew word for "pursuing" is "רָדַף" (radaph), which implies a relentless chase or hunt. Saul's decision to stop pursuing them could indicate a temporary peace or a strategic pause. In the broader scriptural context, the Philistines symbolize the ongoing spiritual battles believers face, and Saul's withdrawal can be seen as a reminder of the need for discernment in spiritual warfare.

and the Philistines returned
The phrase "and the Philistines returned" suggests a retreat or a regrouping. The Hebrew root "שׁוּב" (shuv) means to turn back or return. This indicates that the Philistines, despite being a formidable force, were not annihilated but allowed to return to their territory. This return signifies the cyclical nature of Israel's conflicts with the Philistines, highlighting the persistent challenges God's people face in maintaining their spiritual and physical integrity.

to their own land
The Philistines returning "to their own land" underscores the territorial aspect of the conflict. The land was a significant element of God's promise to Israel, and the Philistines' presence in the land was a constant threat to that promise. Historically, the Philistines occupied the coastal regions of Canaan, and their return to their land signifies a temporary cessation of hostilities. This phrase serves as a reminder of the importance of the land in the biblical narrative and the ongoing struggle to maintain the inheritance God has given.

(46) Then Saul went up from following the Philistines.--Saul recognised now that the fault which caused the oracle of the Urim and Thummim to keep silence was his, and not Jonathan's. He seems quietly to have acquiesced with Ahijah's evident reluctance to countenance a public pursuit; he drew off his forces then from the direction of the enemy, and went up, no doubt, to Gibeah; but the power of the Philistines for the time seems to have been utterly broken, and they retreated to their own districts along the sea coasts.

Verse 46. - Saul went up, etc. Thus, as the final result of his self-will, Saul had to discontinue his pursuit of the Philistines, and their power, though weakened by the overthrow, remained unbroken. SUMMARY OF SAUL'S WARS, AND ACCOUNT OF HIS FAMILY (vers. 47-52).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then Saul
שָׁא֔וּל (šā·’ūl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 7586: Saul -- first king of Israel, also an Edomite and two Israelites

gave up
וַיַּ֣עַל (way·ya·‘al)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively

his pursuit
מֵאַחֲרֵ֖י (mê·’a·ḥă·rê)
Preposition-m
Strong's 310: The hind or following part

of the Philistines,
פְּלִשְׁתִּ֑ים (pə·liš·tîm)
Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 6430: Philistines -- inhabitants of Philistia

and the Philistines
וּפְלִשְׁתִּ֖ים (ū·p̄ə·liš·tîm)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 6430: Philistines -- inhabitants of Philistia

returned
הָלְכ֥וּ (hā·lə·ḵū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

to their own land.
לִמְקוֹמָֽם׃ (lim·qō·w·mām)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 4725: A standing, a spot, a condition


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OT History: 1 Samuel 14:46 Then Saul went up from following (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)
1 Samuel 14:45
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