Lexical Definition
נָחָשׁ Nâchâsh (naw-khawsh') Nahash N:N-M-P
the same as נָחָשׁ
Nahash.
- § Nahash = "serpent"
- Nachash, the name of two persons apparently non-Israelite
n pr m
1) a king of the Ammonites during the time of king Saul
2) the father of Abigail, the mother of Amasa, the commander of Absalom's army
Extended Information
- A man of the Ammonites living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Sa.10.2
- father of: Hanun (חָנוּן)
Brown-Driver-Briggs
Also see: עִיר נָחָשׁ
II. נָחָשׁ
proper name, masculine 1. king of Ammon 1Sam 11:1 (twice in verse); 1Sam 11:2; 1Sam 12:12; 2Sam 10:2; 1Chr 19:1; 1Chr 19:2 perhaps also 2Sam 17:27 ᵐ5 Ναας.
2. father of Abigail and Zeruiah 2Sam 17:25, si vera lectio: ᵐ5 Ναας, but ᵐ5L Ιεσσαι (compare 1Chr 2:16); WeGeschichte. 2. 57 Anm. 1 Löhr defend נחשׁ; dubious WeSm HPS.
3. giving name to a city, ׳עִיר נ 1Chr 4:12, ᵐ5 πόλεως Ναας; ᵐ5L Ηρναας.
Brown-Driver-Briggs References
| Book | Refs |
|---|---|
| 1 Samuel | 11:1 · 11:2 · 12:12 |
| 2 Samuel | 10:2 · 17:25 · 17:27 |
| 1 Chronicles | 2:16 · 4:12 · 19:1 · 19:2 |
Profile
Male • Ammonite king • Ammonite king, father of Hanun, showed kindness to David.
King living at the time of United Monarchy
Nahash, the king of the Ammonites and father of Hanun, had shown kindness to David, prompting David to send envoys to console Hanun after Nahash's death.
- An Ammonite king living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Sa.10.2;
- only referred to as Nahash נָחָשׁ;
- father of Hanun חָנוּן.
Nahash, mentioned in 2 Samuel 10 and 1 Chronicles 19, was the king of the Ammonites during the reign of King David of Israel. He was the father of Hanun, who succeeded him as king.
The biblical account reveals that Nahash had shown kindness to David at some point in the past, although the specific nature of this kindness is not elaborated upon. After Nahash's death, David sent envoys to express his condolences to Hanun and to offer his continued goodwill towards the Ammonite kingdom.
However, Hanun's advisors convinced him that David's envoys were actually spies, sent to gather intelligence in preparation for an invasion. Acting on this suspicion, Hanun humiliated David's envoys by shaving off half of their beards and cutting their garments short at the buttocks, a grave insult in ancient Near Eastern culture.
When David learned of this mistreatment, he was deeply offended. The incident escalated tensions between Israel and the Ammonites, ultimately leading to a war between the two nations. David's army, led by his commander Joab, defeated the Ammonites and their Syrian allies in a series of battles.
The account of Nahash and his son Hanun highlights the complex diplomatic relationships between Israel and its neighbors during the reign of King David. It also demonstrates the importance of showing respect and maintaining good relations with allies, as well as the consequences of misunderstandings.
All entries for Nahash: נָחָשׁ
Related Profiles:
- Hanun (child)