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.
Nahash the Ammonite replied to them, 'I will make a peace treaty with you only on this condition: I will gouge out everyone's right eye, and this will bring shame and disgrace upon all of Israel.'
Nahash the Ammonite king offers a cruel 'peace' deal that would humiliate and disable the Israelites by gouging out their right eyes.
📚 Historical Context
In the biblical narrative of 1 Samuel, the Ammonites, led by their king Nahash, were attacking the city of Jabesh-Gilead and demanding that the Israelites submit to a degrading treaty as part of ongoing conflicts between these ancient peoples. This specific demand to gouge out the right eyes was a cruel military tactic intended to humiliate and weaken Israel, symbolizing defeat and making it harder for warriors to fight effectively. The event highlights the brutal realities of warfare in the ancient Near East and sets the stage for Saul's emergence as Israel's first king.
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