When the men of Israel who were on the other side of the valley, and those who were beyond the Jordan, saw that the men of Israel fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned the cities and fled; and the Philistines came and lived in them.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 7. Beyond, or about “the passage” or fords of the Jordan, as the Hebrew means. Menochius.—The Philistines did not pursue after them, as God set bounds to their ambition. It might otherwise have proved very fatal to his people, who were now so much divided and terrified. In the parallel passage, in Chronicles, it is only said, When the men … that dwelt in the plains (of Jezrahel) saw this, they fled. 1 Chronicles 10:7. The Philistines seized the abandoned cities, particularly Bethsan, (verse 10. Bible.) which had been retained by the Chanaanites in the days of the judges, and which David took back. Judges 1:27. 3 Kennicott. 4:12.