Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, If you do return to Yahweh with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you, and direct your hearts to Yahweh, and serve him only; and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.
Philbeck marveled that the Philistines did not follow up their victory at Ebenezer at once and completely subjugate Israel.  He wrote, "For some reason the Philistine advance stalled, and little effort was made to follow up their victory."[4]  In all probability their experience with the bubonic plague was the all-sufficient reason!