SEV Biblia, Chapter 11:2
Y Nahas amonita les respondió: Con esta condición haré alianza con vosotros, que a cada uno de todos vosotros saque el ojo derecho, y ponga esta afrenta sobre todo Israel.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 11:2
Verse 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. Theodouret 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.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 2. And Nahash the Ammonite answered them , etc.] 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 sanhedrim, which were the eyes of Israel; and others, which come a little nearer to the sense, of the slingers and archers, the desire of the eyes of Israel; and who, by having their right eyes thrust out, would be in a great measure spoiled for taking aim; for the words are to be understood literally; the intention of Nahash was to disable them for war, and that they might become quite unfit for it, as Josephus observes f213 ; the left eye being under the shield, as it usually was in war, and the right eye plucked out, they would be as blind men: he did not choose to have both their eyes thrust out, for then they could have been of no use and service to him as slaves or tributaries: and lay it for a reproach upon all Israel ; that they did not come up to the relief of their brethren, and defend them, and signifying that they must all expect the same treatment from him.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-11 - The first fruit of Saul's government was the rescue of Jabesh-gilea from the Ammonites. To save their lives, men will part with liberty and even consent to have their eyes put out; is it then no wisdom to part with that sin which is as dear to us as our right eye, rather tha to be cast into hell-fire? See the faith and confidence of Saul, and grounded thereon, his courage and resolution. See also his activity in this business. When the Spirit of the Lord comes upon men, it will make them expert, even without experience. When zeal for the glory of God and love for the brethren, urge men to earnest efforts, and when God is pleased to help, great effects may speedily be produced.
Original Hebrew
ויאמר 559 אליהם 413 נחשׁ 5176 העמוני 5984 בזאת 2063 אכרת 3772 לכם בנקור 5365 לכם כל 3605 עין 5869 ימין 3225 ושׂמתיה 7760 חרפה 2781 על 5921 כל 3605 ישׂראל׃ 3478
