Nahash

Nay´hash; Heb., “serpent”

A name occurring several times in the narratives dealing with Saul and David. An Ammonite king named Nahash besieged Jabesh-gilead and thus provided the Benjaminite Saul an opportunity to solidify his kingship over Israel (1Sam 11). Perhaps this is the same Ammonite king who was kind to David (2Sam 10:2) and whose sons Hanun (2Sam 10:4) and Shobi (2Sam 17:27-29) had contact with David. The name is also given to a relative of David, though the relationship is not clear (2Sam 17:25).