Charles Ellicott Commentary 1 Samuel 7:14

"And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even unto Gath; and the border thereof did Israel deliver out of the hand of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites." — 1 Samuel 7:14 (ASV)

The cities.—The immediate result of Samuel’s great victory at Ebenezer, and the renewed national spirit of the people, was their recovery of the towns and villages that, during the recent disastrous period, had fallen into the Philistines’ hands.

From Ekron to Gath.—It is doubtful whether these words mean that at this time these famous Philistine cities fell into Samuel’s hands. This expression more likely indicates, from the Philistine perspective, the direction and extent of the area where the Israelites recovered their lost territory.

The Amorites.—The Amorites are specifically mentioned here as representing the most powerful of the ancient Canaanite tribes. This note about them informs us that during these glorious days of Israel’s restoration under Samuel, not only were the Philistines of the coast kept in check and gradually subdued, but the Canaanite tribes in the interior of the land also quietly submitted to the original conditions imposed by Joshua at the time of the conquest.