1 Samuel 11:1-3

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 11:1-4

The Ammonites were bad neighbours to those tribes of Israel that lay next them, though descendants from just Lot, and, for that reason, dealt civilly with by Israel. See Deut. 2:19. Jephthah, in his time, had humbled them, but now the sin of Israel had put them into a capacity to make head again, and avenge that quarrel. The city of Jabesh-Gilead had been, some ages ago, destroyed by Israel's sword of justice, for not appearing against the wickedness of Gibeah (Jdg. 21:10); and now being... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 11:1

Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabeshgilead ,.... A month after, as in the Septuagint and Vulgate Latin versions, that is, a month after Saul was chosen king; so Josephus F16 Antiqu. l. 6. c. 5. sect. 1. : this prince was preparing for war against Israel before, which they hearing of, requested they might have a king to go before them in battle, 1 Samuel 12:12 but now he actually marched from his own country, and besieged Jabeshgilead, a city in the land of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 11:2

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... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 11:3

And the elders of Jabesh said ,.... The magistrates and principal men of the city: give us seven days' respite, that we may send messengers to all the coasts of Israel ; that is, cease from besieging them, from throwing in darts into the city, or any other missive weapons, and from attempting to break open the gates, or break down the walls of it, and storm it; such a space of time they desire, which was as little as could be granted, to go and return in, and without this it would not be... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 11:1

Nahash the Ammonite - In the Vulgate this chapter begins thus: Et factum est quasi post mensem , "And it came to pass about a month after." This addition appears also in the principal copies of the Septuagint; though it is wanting in the Complutensian edition, both in the Greek and Latin, and is not acknowledged by any of the Oriental versions. But it is in Josephus, and probably was inserted from him into some copies of the Septuagint, and thence into the Vulgate. It appears to be of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 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. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 11:3

Give us seven days respite - Such promises are frequently made by besieged places: "We will surrender if not relieved in so many days;" and such conditions are generally received by the besiegers. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 11:1-3

The relative power of evil and, good. The facts are— 1 . The Ammonites, in pursuit of the enterprise previously arranged for (see 1 Samuel 12:12 ; cf. 1 Samuel 8:5 ), threaten Jabesh-Gilead. 2 . The inhabitants in terror seek to make a covenant with their enemy. 3 . This being insolently refused, a respite of seven days is granted, during which external aid is to be sought. The narrative is evidently designed to trace the circumstances under which the discontent and base... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 11:3

CONFIRMATION OF SAUL IN THE KINGDOM ( 1 Samuel 11:1-15 ; 1 Samuel 12:1-25 .). EXPOSITION THE DEFEAT OF THE AMMONITES ( 1 Samuel 11:1-13 ). 1 Samuel 11:1 , 1 Samuel 11:2 . Nahash the Ammonite. The same name is found in 2 Samuel 10:2 as that of the father of Hanun, who treated David's ambassadors so shamefully, and probably they mean the same person. He is there said to have shown kindness to David; and as we read in 2 Samuel 17:25 that... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 11:1

Nahash was king of the children of Ammon, as appears from 1 Samuel 12:12. He seems to have been connected with the family of David, since Abigail, David’s sister, was “the daughter (perhaps granddaughter) of Nahash” 2 Samuel 17:25; 1 Chronicles 2:16-17; and, perhaps, in consequence of this connection, he and his family were very friendly to David 2 Samuel 17:27.Jabesh-Gilead must have been re-populated after its destruction (see marginal reference). The Ammonites and Moabites resented the... read more

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