NAAS (EBR. NĀHĀ̄S «SERPENTE»)

NAAS (ebr. Nāhā̄s «serpente»). - Nome di due ammoniti, d'un israelita e di una città.
NAAS (ebr. Nāhā̄s «serpente»). - Nome di due ammoniti, d'un israelita e di una città.

1. King of the "children of Ammon" who, shortly after Saul's election, besieged Jabesh-gilead. Faced with the humiliating terms of surrender imposed by N., the besieged requested a seven-day truce and sent for help to the other Israelites. Saul came to their aid and defeated the Ammonites (1 Sam 11:1-11; 12:12). N.'s relations with David, however, were cordial (2 Sam 10:2; 1 Chr 19:1).

2. Another Ammonite, father of Shobi of Rabbah, who brought provisions to David in flight at Mahanaim (2 Sam 17:27). He may be identified with the previous N.

3. Father of Abigail and of Zeruiah, mother of Joab (ibid., 17:25). He is ordinarily identified with Jesse, father of David; cf. 1 Chr 2:16.

4. A city mentioned in the list of Judah (1 Chr 12). It is probably the present-day Deir Naḥḥās.

Bibl.: M. Sales, La S. Bibbia, Vecchio Testamento, II, Turin 1924, pp. 217 ff., 310, 337; L. Desnoyers, Histoire du peuple hébreu, II, Paris 1930, pp. 41 ff., 205 ff., 296; F.-M. Abel, Géographie de la Palestine, II, 2nd ed., ibid. 1938, p. 351.