Translation commentary on 1 Samuel 14:46

This concluding verse is introduced by the common Hebrew conjunction, which seems to indicate the passage of a certain amount of time after the rescue of Jonathan. In any case it is probably best translated as a temporal connector. New American Bible, like Good News Translation, has “After that.”

Went up: see the comments on verse 36. Together with the words from pursuing, the meaning is that Saul “gave up pursuit” (New American Bible) or “decided not to pursue” (New Jerusalem Bible) the Philistines for the time being (see verse 52). The Philistines in turn went back home.

To their own place: that is, back to the southwest area of Palestine along the Mediterranean coast.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

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