tLiterally “sons of wickedness”
uThe Dead Sea Scrolls contained a nearly complete scroll of 1 and 2 Samuel, the oldest Hebrew manuscript extant. There is a story therein that provides a setting for the acts of Nahash in 1 Samuel 11, which otherwise seems to occur obtrusively. This story may be translated: “Now Nahash, king of the Ammonites, harshly tormented the Gadites and the Reubenites, and he gouged out all their right eyes, and struck terror and dread in Israel. No Israelite beyond the Jordan remained whose right eye was not gouged out by Nahash king of the Ammonites, except for seven thousand men who had fled from the Ammonites and entered Jabesh Gilead. About a month later …” This early text leaves off with 11:1 at this point

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

But some worthless fellows said, “How can this man save us?” And they despised him and brought him no present. But he held his peace.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

But some scoundrels said, “How can this fellow save us?” They despised him and brought him no gifts. But Saul kept silent.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

But some wicked men said, “How can this guy save us?” They despised him and did not bring him a gift, but Saul said nothing.

NLTNew Living Translation

But there were some scoundrels who complained, “How can this man save us?” And they scorned him and refused to bring him gifts. But Saul ignored them.

[Nahash, king of the Ammonites, had been grievously oppressing the people of Gad and Reuben who lived east of the Jordan River. He gouged out the right eye of each of the Israelites living there, and he didn’t allow anyone to come and rescue them. In fact, of all the Israelites east of the Jordan, there wasn’t a single one whose right eye Nahash had not gouged out. But there were 7,000 men who had escaped from the Ammonites, and they had settled in Jabesh-gilead.]

KJV 1900King James Version

But the children of Belial said, How shall this man save us? And they despised him, and brought him no presents. But he held his peace.

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