I. NAHASH, or Naas, King of the Ammonites. He came upon Jabesh-Gilead a Month after the Election of Saul to be King of Israel1. The Hebrews of Jabesh finding themselves not strong enough to resist Nahash, said to him, capitulate with us, and we will be Subjects to you. Nahash answered them; The Terms I intend to allow you are these, to pull out every one’s right Eye, and to make you a Reproach in Israel. Perhaps his Intention in this was, to make them unserviceable in War, and uncapable of making Use of the Bow. The Elders of Jabesh answered him, Grant us a Truce of seven Days, and if in that Time our Brethren do not come to our Relief, we will surrender our selves upon your Conditions. They sent therefore to Gibeah, where Saul resided, and their Messengers declared the Distress that Jabesh was in, before all the People; who no sooner had heard of it, but they fell a-weeping. But Saul happening to return just then out of the Fields, where he had been to take Care of his Oxen, and seeing the People to weep thus, he enquired into the Reason of it. They then acquainted him with the Message they had received from the Inhabitants of Jabesh, at which being moved by the Spirit of God, he cut his two Oxen in Pieces, and sent them by Express through all the Coasts of Israel; telling them, that so should the Cattle of all those be treated, who did not come presently to follow Saul and Samuel.
The People struck with Consternation, appeared all at the Place appointed to a Man; and Saul taking a Review of his Army, found he had three hundred Thousand Israelites, without reckoning the Men of Judah, who were thirty Thousand. Then Saul sent back the Messengers to Jabesh-Gilead, and bid them acquaint those that sent them, that to Morrow when the Sun should be in its full Strength they should be releived. The Messengers returned, but took Care to conceal the Success of their Expedition from Nahash. On the contrary they told him, that to Morrow we will surrender our selves into your Hands, and then do with us as you please. In the mean Time as soon as it was Evening, Saul took all his Army over Jordan; and marching all Night, he came by Break of Day to the Camp of the Ammonites, who expected no such Thing. This might be about the fourth Day of the Cessation granted to Jabesh. He divided his Army into three Bodies, and charged the Ammonites with so much Fury, that he intirely routed them. Those that escaped were only a few Straglers, and not so much as two of ‘em could be found together. Thus was this War finished at once, and Josephus2 says, that Nahash himself was killed in the Battle.
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