And they smote all the cities round about Gerar. — Philistine cities hostile to Judah. Perhaps they had helped Zerah.
For the fear of the Lord came upon them. — Or, A divine panic had fallen upon them (1 Samuel 11:7; 2 Chronicles 17:10; comp. also 1 Samuel 4:7-8).
Spoil. — Plunder, booty. Heb. bizzah, a late word, occurring Ezekiel 29:19. The word in the last verse was shâlâl, a classical expression.