1S11-5: How The Expression ‘To CUT A Deal’ Comes From The Scriptures

“Then Nachash the ‘Amoni came up and set up camp to fight Yavesh-Gil‘ad. All the men of Yavesh said to Nachash, ‘If you will make a treaty with us, we will be your subjects.‘ Nachash the ‘Amoni replied, ‘I’ll do it on this condition: that all your right eyes be gouged out and thus bring disgrace on all of Israel.'”-1 Samuel 11:1-2

Unless you possess a strong understanding of ancient Middle Eastern terms and culture, you’re gonna miss a lot of nuances when Nachach insisted on gouging out the right eye of every Israelite male as part of the “treaty” he wanted to make with the residents of Yavesh-Gil‘ad.

First of all, take a look at the word “treaty”.

The actual Hebrew word there is B’RIT.

If you’ve been studying with me for any length of time, I’m sure you’ve heard that word before.

It means “covenant”.

For example, B’RIT HADASHAH means the “New Covenant”.

Now, do you recall the procedures of how a new covenant was made in the Biblical era?

It was an oath sealed in blood.

What happened was an animal was sacrificed and cut up into pieces, and then the local deity’s name was invoked as an oath.

That’s why the Scriptures use the phrase to “cut” a covenant.

This ain’t metaphorical homies.

To “cut” a covenant was to be taken literally…

Again, because a real animal was cut up to seal the agreement.

And this is actually where we get our modern expression “to cut a deal”.

If the sacrificial animal was not cut up, the covenant was NOT valid.

Are you feeling me here homies?

So understand that when Nachash said he wanted to “cut” a covenant with Israelites…

Instead of sealing the deal by chopping up an animal…

He instead insisted on having the right eye of each and every Israelite gouged out.

He was being sarcastic as all hell.

Now, why the right eye as opposed to the left eye?

There’s some more ancient Middle Eastern nuance at play here.

The right side of anything was always considered the best and holy side.

So to have your right eye cut out would have brought great shame on the male Hebrew inhabitants of that town.

Again, Nachash was operating out of pure irrational hatred.

Just thought I’d share a little ancient Middle Eastern culture with you today.

Stay frosty.