“that all of your right eyes be gouged out​.” The right eye was invaluable to the warrior because in order for the body to be protected in war the shield had to be mostly in front of the warrior, covering the left eye (the soldier held the sword in his right hand). If the right eye was blind, the warrior had to move the shield so far to the left to see to fight that the shield became essentially useless and the soldier would be vulnerable. In making his demand, Nahash was saying to the men of Jabesh-gilead that they would no longer be able to fight in battle and would be defenseless against any aggression.