7:13 did not again enter the territory of Israel. The reference is to the tactical situation and not to the continuing history of Israel. The Philistines were convincingly defeated and attempted no counterattack (compare 2 Sam. 2:28 with 3:1; also 2 Kin. 6:23 with 6:24), but this does not rule out subsequent Philistine aggression (9:16; 10:5; 13:3; 14:52).

the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines. What God had done during the tenure of the ark in Philistine territory (5:4, 6; 6:5 and notes), He now continues through the leadership of Samuel. Throughout Samuel’s lifetime God continued to give Israel victory, though the fighting at times was fierce (14:52). The defeat recounted in ch. 31 came only after Samuel’s death (25:1).