1 Samuel 11:2 - Printer Friendly

ESV: But Nahash the Ammonite said to them, "On this condition I will make a treaty with you, that I gouge out all your right eyes, and thus bring disgrace on all Israel."

NIV: But Nahash the Ammonite replied, "I will make a treaty with you only on the condition that I gouge out the right eye of every one of you and so bring disgrace on all Israel."

NASB: But Nahash the Ammonite said to them, 'I will make it with you on this condition, that I will gouge out the right eye of every one of you, and thereby I will inflict a disgrace on all Israel.'

CSB: Nahash the Ammonite replied, "I’ll make one with you on this condition: that I gouge out everyone’s right eye and humiliate all Israel."

NLT: All right,' Nahash said, 'but only on one condition. I will gouge out the right eye of every one of you as a disgrace to all Israel!'

KJV: And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, On this condition will I make a covenant with you, that I may thrust out all your right eyes, and lay it for a reproach upon all Israel.

NKJV: And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, “On this condition I will make a covenant with you, that I may put out all your right eyes, and bring reproach on all Israel.”

First Samuel 11:1–11 follows the selection of Saul as Israel's king with a sudden attack on an Israelite city. The king of the Ammonites will only spare Jabesh-gilead if the people allow him to gouge out their right eyes. Saul, empowered by the Holy Spirit, rallies all of Israel to go to battle with him. The huge Israelite army musters near Jabesh and attacks the Ammonite camp before dawn. The Ammonites are slaughtered, and the survivors run for their lives. Jabesh-gilead is saved.

Saul calls for all Israelites to join him in battle against the Ammonites who have laid siege to Jabesh-gilead. Nahash, the Ammonite king, has threatened to gouge out the right eyes of the people of Jabesh if they want a treaty with him. Instead, Saul arrives with an enormous Israelite army and slaughters the Ammonites. Samuel calls for the nation to gather at Gilgal for a religious celebration; there, they officially reaffirm Saul's rule as Israel's king.

God allowed Israel to demand a king (1 Samuel 8:19–22) and appointed Saul to the role (1 Samuel 9:15–16). This seems to be followed very soon by a crisis. Constant enemies of Israel, the Ammonites (Deuteronomy 23:3–6), lay siege to a border town. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, Saul leads a massive army to rout the invaders. Samuel then arranges a ceremony where the people reaffirm that Saul is indeed king. Saul would have further success against the Philistines (1 Samuel 13—14). But his rule will decay until David (1 Samuel 16:13) replaces him.

First Samuel introduces the key figures who led Israel after the era of the judges. The books of 1 and 2 Samuel were originally part of a single text, split in certain translations shortly before the birth of Christ. Some of the Bible’s most famous characters are depicted in this book. These including the prophet Samuel, Israel’s first king, Saul, her greatest king, David, and other famous names such as Goliath and Jonathan. By the end of this book, Saul has fallen; the book of 2 Samuel begins with David’s ascension to the throne.