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
This occurred during the early days of King Saul's reign when the Ammonites, longtime enemies of Israel, besieged the city of Jabesh-gilead. In ancient warfare, removing the right eye was a common way to disable soldiers since they needed their right eye for aiming weapons while holding shields with their left arm. This act would have been seen as a permanent mark of defeat and subjugation.
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