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The NET Bible®

1 Samuel 11:2

But Nahash the Ammonite said to them, "The only way I will make a treaty with you is if you let me gouge out the right eye of every one of you and in so doing humiliate all Israel!"

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Jabesh-Gilead;   Nahash;   Thompson Chain Reference - Cruelty;   Kindness-Cruelty;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Ammonites, the;   Covenants;   Eye, the;   Punishments;   Sieges;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Blindness;   Jabesh;   Nahash;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Ammon;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Samuel, First and Second, Theology of;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Prayer;   Prophet;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Blind;   Eye;   Nahash;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Ammon;   Blindness;   Punishments;   Rabbah;   Saul;   War;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Archaeology and Biblical Study;   Eye;   Gouging the Eyes;   Jabesh-Gilead;   Nahash;   Reproach;   Samuel, Books of;   Saul;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Ammon, Ammonites;   Israel;   Jabesh, Jabesh-Gilead;   Samuel, Books of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Face;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Ammon, Ammonites, Children of Ammon;   Jabesh, Jabeshgilead ;   Nahash ;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Ammon ammonites children of ammon;   Eye;   Eyes;   Jabesh;   Saul;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Am'mon;   Blindness;   Ja'besh;   Na'hash;   Saul;   War;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Punishments of the Hebrews;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Hebrew Monarchy, the;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Ammon;   Arimathaea;   Eye;   Jonathan (2);   Judah, Kingdom of;   Nahash;   Nahath;   Punishments;   Samuel, Books of;   Saul;   Siege;   Zebah and Zalmunna;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Ammon, Ammonites;   Blind, the, in Law and Literature;   Cruelty;   David;   Eye;   Jabesh;   Right and Left;   War;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
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.”
Hebrew Names Version
Nachash the `Ammonite said to them, On this condition will I make it with you, that all your right eyes be put out; and I will lay it for a reproach on all Yisra'el.
King James Version
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.
Lexham English Bible
But Nahash the Ammonite said to them, "On this condition I will make a treaty with you, by gouging out the right eye of each of you, so that I can make it a disgrace for all Israel."
English Standard Version
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."
New Century Version
But he answered, "I will make a treaty with you only if I'm allowed to poke out the right eye of each of you. Then all Israel will be ashamed!"
Amplified Bible
But Nahash the Ammonite told them, "I will make a treaty with you on this condition, that I will gouge out the right eye of every one of you, and make it a disgrace upon all Israel."
New American Standard Bible
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."
Geneva Bible (1587)
And Nahash ye Ammonite answered them, On this condition will I make a couenant with you, that I may thrust out all your right eies, and bring that shame vpon all Israel.
Legacy Standard Bible
But Nahash the Ammonite said to them, "I will cut it with you on this condition, that I will gouge out the right eye of every one of you, thus I will make it a reproach on all Israel."
Contemporary English Version
Nahash answered, "Sure, I'll sign a treaty! But not before I insult Israel by poking out the right eye of every man who lives in Jabesh."
Complete Jewish Bible
Nachash the ‘Amoni replied, "I'll do it on this condition: that all your right eyes be gouged out and thus bring disgrace on all of Isra'el."
Darby Translation
And Nahash the Ammonite said to them, On this [condition] will I treat with you, that I thrust out all your right eyes, and lay it for a reproach upon all Israel.
Easy-to-Read Version
But he answered, "I will make a treaty with you people only if I can poke out the right eye of each person. Then all Israel will be ashamed."
George Lamsa Translation
But Nahash the Ammonite said to them, On this condition will I make a treaty with you, when you thrust out all your right eyes, that I may make you a reproach upon all Israel.
Good News Translation
Nahash answered, "I will make a treaty with you on one condition: I will put out everyone's right eye and so bring disgrace on all Israel."
Literal Translation
And Nahash the Ammonite said to them, With this I will cut a covenant for you, when every right eye is dug out for you; and I will make it a reproach on all Israel.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
But Nahas ye Ammonite answered them: I wil make a couenauut with you, of this condicion, that I maye thrust out all youre right eyes, and put you to shame amonge all Israel.
American Standard Version
And Nahash the Ammonite said unto them, On this condition will I make it with you, that all your right eyes be put out; and I will lay it for a reproach upon all Israel.
Bible in Basic English
And Nahash the Ammonite said to them, I will make an agreement with you on this condition, that all your right eyes are put out; so that I may make it a cause of shame to all Israel.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And Nahas the Ammonite aunswered them: In this will I make a couenaunt with you, if I may thrust out al your right eyes, and bring that shame vpon all Israel.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And Nahash the Ammonite said unto them: 'On this condition will I make it with you, that all your right eyes be put out; and I will lay it for a reproach upon all Israel.'
King James Version (1611)
And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, On this condition will I make a couenant with you, that I may thrust out all your right eyes, and lay it for a reproch vpon all Israel.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
Naas the Ammanite said to them, On these terms will I make a covenant with you, that I should put out all your right eyes, and I will lay a reproach upon Israel.
English Revised Version
And Nahash the Ammonite said unto them, On this condition will I make it with you, that all your right eyes be put out; and I will lay it for a reproach upon all Israel.
Berean Standard Bible
But Nahash the Ammonite replied, "I will make a treaty with you on one condition, that I may put out everyone's right eye and bring reproach upon all Israel."
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And Naas of Amon answeride to hem, In this Y schal smyte boond of pees with you, that Y putte out the riyt iyen of alle you, and that Y sette you schenschip in al Israel.
Young's Literal Translation
And Nahash the Ammonite saith unto them, `For this I covenant with you, by picking out to you every right eye -- and I have put it a reproach on all Israel.'
Update Bible Version
And Nahash the Ammonite said to them, On this condition I will make it with you, that all your right eyes be put out; and I will lay it for a reproach on all Israel.
Webster's Bible Translation
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.
World English Bible
Nahash the Ammonite said to them, On this condition will I make it with you, that all your right eyes be put out; and I will lay it for a reproach on all Israel.
New King James Version
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."
New Living Translation
"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!"
New Life Bible
But Nahash the Ammonite said to them, "I will make an agreement with you only if I may cut out the right eye of every one of you. This way I will put all Israel to shame."
New Revised Standard
But Nahash the Ammonite said to them, "On this condition I will make a treaty with you, namely that I gouge out everyone's right eye, and thus put disgrace upon all Israel."
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And Nahash the Ammonite said unto them, Hereby, will I solemnise a covenant with you by digging out for you, every one's right eye, - and laying it for a reproach, upon all Israel.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Naas, the Ammonite, answered them: On this condition will I make a covenant with you, that I may pluck out all your right eyes, and make you a reproach in all Israel.
Revised Standard Version
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 put disgrace upon all Israel."
THE MESSAGE
Nahash said, "I'll make a treaty with you on one condition: that every right eye among you be gouged out! I'll humiliate every last man and woman in Israel before I'm done!"
New American Standard Bible (1995)
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, thus I will make it a reproach on all Israel."

Contextual Overview

1 Nahash the Ammonite marched against Jabesh Gilead. All the men of Jabesh Gilead said to Nahash, "Make a treaty with us and we will serve you." 2 But Nahash the Ammonite said to them, "The only way I will make a treaty with you is if you let me gouge out the right eye of every one of you and in so doing humiliate all Israel!" 3 The elders of Jabesh said to him, "Leave us alone for seven days so that we can send messengers throughout the territory of Israel. If there is no one who can deliver us, we will come out voluntarily to you." 4 When the messengers went to Gibeah (where Saul lived) and informed the people of these matters, all the people wept loudly.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

On this: 2 Kings 18:31

thrust: Judges 16:21, Exodus 3:6, Proverbs 12:10, Jeremiah 39:7

reproach: 1 Samuel 17:26, Genesis 34:14

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 11:10 - To morrow 1 Samuel 11:11 - slew 1 Samuel 12:12 - Nahash 1 Chronicles 19:1 - Nahash Nehemiah 2:17 - a reproach Nehemiah 4:7 - the Ammonites Amos 1:13 - and for

Cross-References

Genesis 10:10
The primary regions of his kingdom were Babel, Erech, Akkad, and Calneh in the land of Shinar.
Genesis 11:9
That is why its name was called Babel—because there the Lord confused the language of the entire world, and from there the Lord scattered them across the face of the entire earth.
Genesis 13:11
Lot chose for himself the whole region of the Jordan and traveled toward the east. So the relatives separated from each other.
Genesis 14:1
At that time Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Kedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations
Isaiah 11:11
At that time the sovereign master will again lift his hand to reclaim the remnant of his people from Assyria, Egypt, Pathros, Cush, Elam, Shinar, Hamath, and the seacoasts.
Daniel 1:2
Now the Lord delivered King Jehoiakim of Judah into his power, along with some of the vessels of the temple of God. He brought them to the land of Babylonia to the temple of his god and put the vessels in the treasury of his god.
Zechariah 5:11
He replied, "To build a temple for her in the land of Babylonia. When it is finished, she will be placed there in her own residence."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And Nahash the Ammonite answered them,.... In a very haughty and scornful manner:

on this condition will I make a covenant with you, that I may thrust out all your right eyes; some Jewish writers go into a mystical and allegorical sense of these words, as that Nahash ordered the book of the law to be brought, which was their right eye, that he might erase out of it these words,

an Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord; others understand it of the sanhedrim, which were the eyes of Israel; and others, which come a little nearer to the sense, of the slingers and archers, the desire of the eyes of Israel; and who, by having their right eyes thrust out, would be in a great measure spoiled for taking aim; for the words are to be understood literally; the intention of Nahash was to disable them for war, and that they might become quite unfit for it, as Josephus observes r; the left eye being under the shield, as it usually was in war, and the right eye plucked out, they would be as blind men: he did not choose to have both their eyes thrust out, for then they could have been of no use and service to him as slaves or tributaries:

and lay it for a reproach upon all Israel; that they did not come up to the relief of their brethren, and defend them, and signifying that they must all expect the same treatment from him.

r Antiqu. l. 6. c. 5. sect. 1.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Samuel 11:2. I may thrust out all your right eves — This cruel condition would serve at once as a badge of their slavery, and a means of incapacitating them from being effective warriors. Theodoret observes, "He who opposes his shield to the enemy with his left hand, thereby hides his left eye, and looks at his enemy with his right eye; he therefore who plucks out that right eye makes men useless in war." Josephus gives the same reason.


 
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