Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabesh Gilead: and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, Make a covenant with us, and we will serve you.
"On this condition ... that I gouge out all your right eyes"  (1 Samuel 11:2).  The savage nature of the Ammonites is attested in  Amos 1:13, where it is recorded that, "They ripped up the women with child of Gilead." Josephus gave Nahash's purpose here in the gouging out of their eyes as that of making them incapable of warfare.  The soldiers of that day carried shields which usually covered the left eye, hence, a man with his right eye blinded would be incapable of fighting.[5]  However, our text here indicates that Nahash on this raid was more interested in bringing disgrace and shame upon all Israel.  He was no doubt interested also in gaining the territory which the Ammonites had claimed back in the days of Jephthah  (Judges 11:4-33).