1. 1 Samuel 14:52 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

When did the war against the Philistines finally come to an end?

1 Samuel 14:52 (ESV)

52 There was hard fighting against the Philistines all the days of Saul. And when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant man, he attached him to himself.

Despite a successful victory (1 Samuel 14:23, 1 Samuel 14:46), the war against the Philistines was not over. As a result, Saul continually sought to include capable men in his army. He started taking strong and valiant men, just as Israel was previously warned (1 Samuel 8:11).1 This policy would open the door for David to eventually enter his court as one of these brave warriors (1 Samuel 16:18).2 The final defeat of the Philistines came only after David succeeded Saul as king (2 Samuel 8:1). Only then there was another time of rest (see Joshua 11:23; 2 Samuel 7:1).3