שמואל א, פרק ז׳, פסוק י׳

In a tense moment of extreme danger, while Samuel is entirely focused on offering sacrifices, a direct divine intervention decides the outcome of the approaching battle. As the Philistines draw close to launch their attack [ביאור שטיינזלץ], the battlefield is abruptly transformed by God. He unleashes loud, fierce thunder from the sky. This display of heavenly power terrifies the Philistines, throwing their entire camp into massive panic and confusion [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Adding to the terror of the thunder, fire strikes down from the heavens right in front of the Philistine army, severely intensifying their fear and their desperate urge to flee [אברבנאל].

As a direct result of this divine chaos, the Philistines suffer a complete defeat [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Commentators agree that the nature of this downfall is tied to a specific timeline rather than a physical location. The Philistine forces are broken by God before the Israelites even have a chance to arrive and engage them in actual combat [מצודת דוד, אברבנאל]. Consequently, when the Israelites finally step out of their positions to join the battle, they do not face a ready enemy. Instead, they find the Philistines already beaten and running for their lives from the heavenly uproar. The only task left for the Israelites is to simply chase after the fleeing army [אברבנאל].