And Saul went back, and did not pursue after the Philistines: and the Philistines went to their own places.

And Saul goeth up from after the Philistines, and the Philistines have gone to their place;

Then Saul, turning back, went after the Philistines no longer: and the Philistines went back to their place.

And Saul withdrew, and he did not pursue the Philistines. And the Philistines went away to their own places.

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 (n) 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.
(n) Antiqu. l. 6. c. 6. sect. 5.

With the feeling of this guilt, Saul gave up any further pursuit of the Philistines: he "went up" (sc., to Gibeah) "from behind the Philistines," i.e., desisting from any further pursuit. But the Philistines went to their place, i.e., back into their own land.