1 Samuel 11:2 NIV

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 11:2

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

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

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

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Samuel 11:2

1 Samuel 11:2. And lay it for a reproach upon all Israel That is, disgrace the whole Hebrew nation, by serving some of their people in this opprobrious manner; for it must necessarily have reflected great dishonour upon the whole state, that they should suffer any of their people to be served so. He probably meant also to disable them for war, in which the right eye was of most use, their shields, which they carried in their left hands, in a great measure covering their left eyes. He... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 11:1-15

Saul’s victory over the Ammonites (11:1-15)Within a short time Saul had the opportunity to prove to the doubters that he was the man to lead Israel. About a century earlier the Ammonites had exercised control over Israel’s territory of Gilead, east of Jordan, till Jephthah overthrew them (Judges 10:7-8; Judges 11:29-33). Now they attacked again and seemed certain of victory (11:1-3). When he heard the news, Saul called Israel’s fighting men together (using a well recognized local procedure; cf.... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 1 Samuel 11:2

a covenant . Some codices, with Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read this word in the text, which already implies it. right eyes . As the shield covered the left eye, the right was necessary for seeing. The loss of it incapacitated men from fighting. read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - 1 Samuel 11:1-2

1 Samuel 11:1-2. Then Nahash the Ammonite— Saul had not long to wait for an occasion to shew himself worthy of the kingdom of Israel. Nahash, a king or general of the Ammonites, came against Israel. This was one of the pretences which the Israelites made use of for a change of government, ch. 1 Samuel 12:12.; and it seems that they had sufficient grounds for a fear of this invasion, as Nahash appears to have been a man of a most cruel and insolent disposition, from the terms which he proposed... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 11:2

2. thrust out all your right eyes—literally, "scoop" or "hollow out" the ball. This barbarous mutilation is the usual punishment of usurpers in the East, inflicted on chiefs; sometimes, also, even in modern history, on the whole male population of a town. Nahash meant to keep the Jabeshites useful as tributaries, whence he did not wish to render them wholly blind, but only to deprive them of their right eye, which would disqualify them for war. Besides, his object was, through the people of... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Samuel 11:1-5

The Ammonite siege of Jabesh-gilead 11:1-5The Ammonites were Israel’s enemies to the east. They were descendants of Lot whom Jephthah had defeated earlier (Judges 11:12-33). Nahash evidently sought revenge for Jephthah’s victory over his nation. Jabesh-gilead lay a few miles east of the Jordan Valley and about 25 miles south of the Sea of Chinnereth (Galilee). Chinnereth is the Hebrew word for "lyre." The lake has the shape of a lyre, which accounts for this name. The men of Jabesh-gilead... read more