Nahash
Nahash, the king of the Ammonites, besieged Jabesh Gilead and threatened to gouge out the right eyes of its inhabitants.
The name Nahash means “snake; serpent”
MaleKingAmmonUnited Monarchy eraOld Testament1 book5 verses
Summary
A king of the Ammonites living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1 Samuel 11:1; only referred to as Nahash (נָחָשׁ).
Glossary entries
Alternative names
- נָחָשׁNahash
Mentions
Includes 2 verses that refer to Nahash without naming them, as “he”, “she”, or the subject of a verb.
- Then Nahash the Ammonite came up and laid siege to Jabesh-gilead. All the men of Jabesh said to him, “Make a treaty with us, and we will serve you.”
- But Nahash the Ammonite replied, “I will make a treaty with you on one condition, that I may put out everyone’s right eye and bring reproach upon all Israel.”
- 1 Samuel 11:3Referred to, not named“Hold off for seven days,” replied the elders of Jabesh, “and let us send messengers throughout Israel. If there is no one to save us, we will surrender to you.”
- 1 Samuel 11:10Referred to, not namedThen the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Tomorrow we will come out, and you can do with us whatever seems good to you.”
- But when you saw that Nahash king of the Ammonites was moving against you, you said to me, ‘No, we must have a king to rule over us’—even though the LORD your God was your king.