1 Samuel 11:1-3

Samuel's Retirement from the Judgeship, 1 Samuel 11:1 to 1 Samuel 12:25.

Jabesh-gilead Attacked. 1 Samuel 11:1-3

Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabesh-gilead: and all the men of Jabesh said unto Nahash, Make a covenant with us, and we will serve thee.
2 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.

3 And the elders of Jabesh said unto him, Give us seven days-' respite, that we may send messengers unto all the coasts of Israel: and then, if there be no man to save us, we will come out to thee.

1.

Who was Nahash? 1 Samuel 11:1

Nahash was the king of the Ammonites. The Ammonites were descendants of the younger daughter of Lot by Lot himself (Genesis 19:38). These people settled in the land east of the Jordan near the north end of the Dead Sea. They became a very idolatrous people and worshiped a false god named Molech. Although the people of Israel had been told not to fight against them when they came out of Egyptian bondage, these people were quite often among Israel's warring neighbors and enemies (Judges 11:12).

2.

Where was Jabesh-gilead? 1 Samuel 11:1 b

Jabesh-gilead was an Israelite town east of the Jordan river and north of the Jabbok river. It was an important town in Gilead, somewhat closer to the Sea of Galilee than to the Dead Sea. Wives had been found among the citizens of Jabesh-gilead for the men of Benjamin after the other tribes had nearly exterminated the Benjamites (Judges 21:8-15). It may have been that some of Saul's ancestors were citizens of this community,

3.

Why would Nahash's cruelty be a reproach on Israel? 1 Samuel 11:2

For all the men of one city to be maimed in such a terrible way would be a sign of reproach to any people. They would be looked upon as rather helpless cripples. The fact that an enemy had been able to do this to them would also indicate that they were weak and unable to defend themselves. The loss of the right eyes of all the men in the town would be a terrible price to pay for peace. No honorable group of people would allow such a penalty to be exacted from them. It would be quite a victory for Nahash if he were able to exact this ransom from the men of Jabesh-gilead, but a reproach on Israel.