2 Samuel 2:7

7 Strengthen your resolve and do what must be done. Your master, Saul, is dead. The citizens of Judah have made me their king."

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 men of Jabesh Gilead: "God bless you for this - for honoring your master, Saul, with a funeral.

6 God honor you and be true to you - and I'll do the same, matching your generous act of goodness.

7 Strengthen your resolve and do what must be done. Your master, Saul, is dead. The citizens of Judah have made me their king."

8 In the meantime, Abner son of Ner, commander of Saul's army, had taken Saul's son Ish-Bosheth to Mahanaim

9 and made him king over Gilead, over Asher, over Jezreel, over Ephraim, over Benjamin - king, as it turns out, over all Israel.