Then Saul went up from following the Philistines,.... Returned home to his own city, finding that he could get no answer from the Lord, whether he should pursue further or not, and losing the time and opportunity of doing it, by examining into the affair of his son, and casting lots to find it out:and the Philistines went to their own place; their country and cities, such of them as remained, who were not cut off by their own and the sword of the Israelites.
Josephus says, Saul killed about 60,000 of them. It seems to be the will of God that they should not now be utterly destroyed, that they might be a rod of correction in his hand, to chastise the people of Israel hereafter.
Antiqu. l. 6. c. 6. sect.