|<< 1 Samuel 11 >>| GOD'S WORD ® Translation King Nahash of
Ammon was severely oppressing the tribes of Gad and Reuben. He
would poke out everyone's right eye and allow no one to rescue
Israel. There was no one among the Israelites east of the Jordan
River whose right eye King Nahash of Ammon had not poked out.
However, seven thousand men had escaped from the Ammonites and
gone to Jabesh Gilead. About a month later Nahash the Ammonite
blockaded Jabesh Gilead. All the men of Jabesh said to Nahash,
"Make a treaty with us, and we'll serve you." Nahash the
Ammonite responded, "I'll make a treaty with you on this one
condition: I'll poke out everyone's right eye and bring disgrace
on all Israel." The leaders of Jabesh told him, "Give us seven
days so that we can send messengers throughout the territory of
Israel. And if there's no one to save us, we'll surrender to
you." The messengers came to Saul's town, Gibeah. When they told
the people the news, the people cried loudly. 5Just then Saul
was coming from the fiel