2 Samuel 2:7

7 Therefore let your hands be strong, and be valiant; for Saul your lord is dead, and the house of Judah has anointed me king over them."

2 Samuel 2:7 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 2:7

Now therefore let your hands be strengthened, and be ye
valiant
And not be afraid of the Philistines, who might resent their conduct in taking away from them the bodies of Saul and his sons, whom they had hung up in triumph; and these men might fear they would bring their armies against them, and destroy them; but David bids them be of good heart and courage, and not be afraid of them:

for your master Saul is dead;
or rather "though" ^F1 he is dead; for that he was dead they knew full well, having buried him, and needed no information of it; but being dead, they might be discouraged, as having none to protect and defend them, or come to their relief as he did, should they be attacked:

and also the house of Judah have anointed me king over them;
or "for even", or "notwithstanding" ^F2; and this therefore being the case, he would take their parts, and help and assist them; and which he suggests to them, to invite them to own him as their king also, and put themselves under his protection.

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FOOTNOTES:

F1 (yk) "licet enim", V. L. "quamvis", Piscator. So Pool and Patrick.
F2 (Mgw) "tamen", V. L. "nam similiter", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.

2 Samuel 2:7 In-Context

5 David sent messengers to the people of Jabesh-gilead, and said to them, "May you be blessed by the Lord, because you showed this loyalty to Saul your lord, and buried him!

6 Now may the Lord show steadfast love and faithfulness to you! And I too will reward you because you have done this thing.

7 Therefore let your hands be strong, and be valiant; for Saul your lord is dead, and the house of Judah has anointed me king over them."

8 But Abner son of Ner, commander of Saul's army, had taken Ishbaal son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim.

9 He made him king over Gilead, the Ashurites, Jezreel, Ephraim, Benjamin, and over all Israel.