52 The men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, until you come to Gai, and to the gates of Ekron. The wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim, even to Gath, and to Ekron.
*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.
The men of Israel and Judah - See 1-Samuel 15:4 note.
Shaaraim - A town of Judah in the Shephelah (see the marginal reference), at this time probably in the possession of the Philistines.
And the men of Israel and of Judah arose,.... From their encampment and entrenchment, or they prepared for a pursuit:
and shouted, and pursued the Philistines; shouted when they first set out, and continued shouting as they pursued, to animate their own troops, and terrify the enemy:
until thou come to the valley, and to the gates of Ekron; which was one of the five principalities of the Philistines; so that they pursued them to their own cities, and to the very gates of them:
and the wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim; a city in the tribe of Judah, and seems to be the same with Sharaim; see Gill on Joshua 15:36. Josephus says (n), there were killed of the Philistines thirty thousand, and twice as many wounded:
even unto Gath, and unto Ekron; Josephus (o) has it, to the borders of Gath, and to the gates of Ashkelon, which were two other principalities of the Philistines; according to Bunting (p), the whole chase was this, to the valley and river Sorek four miles; from thence to Ekron eight miles; to Ashkelon twenty miles, and to Gath twenty four miles; that is, from the place where Goliath was killed.
(n) Antiqu. l. 6. c. 9. sect. 5. (o) Ibid. (p) Travels of the Patriarchs, &c. p. 128.
Shaaraim--(See Joshua 15:36).
"And wounded of the Philistines fell on the way to Shaaraim, and to Gath and to Ekron." Shaaraim is the town of Saarayim, in the lowland of Judah, and has probably been preserved in the Tell Kefr Zakariya (see at Joshua 15:36). On Gath and Ekron, see at Joshua 13:3.
*More commentary available at chapter level.