As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines came near to battle against Israel; but the LORD thundered with a great thunder on that day on the Philistines and confused them; and they were struck down before Israel.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 10. Israel. The princes of the Tyrians had come to the assistance of the enemy; (Sirach 46:21. Calmet.) but all in vain. The greatness of the army only increased the greatness of the carnage, when the Lord enters the lists. Bible.—the sacred penman speaks with great modesty of this victory, which is nevertheless one of the most important recorded in Scripture. The Philistines could not recover themselves for 20 years; they found it necessary to restore the cities which they had taken, ( Calmet.) to relinquish the tribute, and to come to such conditions as Samuel imposed upon them. He suffered them, however, to keep possession of some strong holds, such as Gabaa, from which they were expelled by Jonathan. Salien says in the 22d year of Samuel, and the last of Achitob, the high priest, A. 2961.