1 Samuel 11:1-2
Then Nahash the Ammonite went up and besieged Jabesh-gilead, and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Make a treaty with us, and we will serve you.” But Nahash the Ammonite said to them, “On this condition I will make a treaty with you, that I gouge out all your right eyes, and thus bring disgrace on all Israel.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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When the Ammonites threaten Jabesh-gilead, the immediate reaction isn't to fight back or call for divine help, but to try and negotiate surrender. Their proposal, "Make a treaty with us, and we will serve you," reveals a desperate pragmatism that overlooks the possibility of courage or faithfulness in the face of overwhelming odds.
Right before this, Saul has just been made king, but many people are still skeptical and unsupportive. This attack by Nahash the Ammonite on Jabesh-gilead becomes Saul's first major test as king, forcing him to rally the newly formed nation and prove his leadership. The people of Jabesh are desperately trying to survive by offering to surrender and serve Nahash.
Imagine being surrounded, your city walls crumbling, and your enemy offering a deal. What do you do when all seems lost?
This is the dire situation facing the people of Jabesh-gilead. Nahash the Ammonite, a brutal enemy, has them cornered. Their request, "Make a treaty with us, and we will serve you," isn't a sign of strength, but of sheer desperation. They are choosing subjugation over annihilation, a painful compromise for survival.
This moment reveals the terrifying reality of facing overwhelming opposition. When faced with such power, the instinct is to seek any way out, even if it means losing freedom and dignity. Their plea is a raw cry for life.
Who was this Nahash, and why were people so terrified of him? His name alone signals danger.
The Bible doesn't shy away from naming the wicked. Nahash the Ammonite is known for his mercilessness. His very presence and the siege itself strike immediate terror into the hearts of the people of Jabesh-gilead. They know the potential consequences of falling into his hands, which likely involved extreme brutality.
His demand, which we learn in the next verse, is not just for service, but for humiliation: to gouge out the right eye of every inhabitant. This wasn't just about control; it was about demeaning and crippling them, making sure they could never again pose a threat and serving as a gruesome warning to others. Nahash embodies the kind of enemy who seeks not just victory, but utter subjugation and degradation.
A treaty is made, a promise of peace. But what is it worth when broken by a cruel heart?
The people of Jabesh-gilead hoped for a treaty, a contract that would ensure their safety in exchange for their servitude. This is a natural human response: to seek agreement and order when threatened.
However, this verse sets the stage for the devastating betrayal that follows. Nahash doesn't offer a genuine path to peace; he offers a temporary reprieve before escalating his brutality. This highlights the often-fragile nature of agreements made with those who have no regard for justice or mercy. It teaches us that while seeking peace is vital, we must also discern the character of those with whom we make agreements. Not all 'treaties' are honorable, and not all who offer peace are trustworthy.
Understand the original words
berith · Hebrew Noun
A term used for a covenant or agreement, often involving conditions or obligations between parties; in this context, it implies a submission to vassalage.
abad · Hebrew Verb
A term indicating the status of being a bondservant or subject; serving as a vassal to a superior power, involving labor, tribute, or political submission.
cherpah · Hebrew Noun
A term denoting shame, reproach, or humiliation, often brought upon a group or nation to lower their status or honor in the eyes of others.
This event highlights the precarious state of the newly established Israelite monarchy under Saul, facing immediate threats from neighboring nations like the Ammonites, testing his leadership and the unity of the tribes.
c. 1025 BC
Saul Anointed King
Samuel anoints Saul as the first king of Israel, marking a significant shift in Israelite governance from judges to monarchy.
c. 1020 BC
Philistine Dominance
The Philistines exert significant control over the region, disarming the Israelites and limiting their military strength.
c. 1015 BC— this verse
Ammonite Threat Grows
The Ammonites, led by Nahash, increase their regional power, posing a direct threat to Israelite settlements east of the Jordan.
c. 1015 BC
Saul Rallies Israel
After hearing of the siege of Jabesh-gilead, Saul rallies the Israelite tribes, demonstrating his emerging leadership.
c. 1015 BC
This passage describes the oppression of the Israelites by the Ammonites and others, highlighting a recurring theme of foreign nations oppressing God's people when they stray from Him.
1 Samuel 12:12Samuel directly references this event when reminding the Israelites of their past failures, showing how their request for a king stemmed from fear of enemies like Nahash, rather than trusting God.
2 Samuel 10:4This shows a similar act of humiliation by the Ammonites against David's messengers, indicating Nahash's actions in 1 Samuel 11 were characteristic of Ammonite behavior and hostility towards Israel.
Deuteronomy 7:1-2This passage commands Israel to drive out the nations within the Promised Land, underscoring the ongoing conflict and divine mandate against groups like the Ammonites who were enemies of God's people.
When the Ammonites threaten Jabesh-gilead, the immediate reaction isn't to fight back or call for divine help, but to try and negotiate surrender. Their proposal, "Make a treaty with us, and we will serve you," reveals a desperate pragmatism that overlooks the possibility of courage or faithfulness in the face of overwhelming odds.
Right before this, Saul has just been made king, but many people are still skeptical and unsupportive. This attack by Nahash the Ammonite on Jabesh-gilead becomes Saul's first major test as king, forcing him to rally the newly formed nation and prove his leadership. The people of Jabesh are desperately trying to survive by offering to surrender and serve Nahash.
Right before this, Saul has just been made king, but many people are still skeptical and unsupportive. This attack by Nahash the Ammonite on Jabesh-gilead becomes Saul's first major test as king, forcing him to rally the newly formed nation and prove his leadership. The people of Jabesh are desperately trying to survive by offering to surrender and serve Nahash.
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Victory Over Ammonites
Saul leads Israel to a decisive victory against the Ammonites, securing their borders and establishing his authority.
"Then Nahash the Ammonite went up and besieged Jabesh-gilead, and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Make a treaty with us, and we will serve you.” But Nahash the Ammonite said to them, “On this condition I will make a treaty with you,…" — When the Ammonites threaten Jabesh-gilead, the immediate reaction isn't to fight back or call for divine help, but to try and negotiate surrender. Their proposal, "Make a treaty with us, and we wil…
