2 Samuel 2:7

7 and now, are your hands strong, and be ye for sons of valour, for your lord Saul. [is] dead, and also -- me have the house of Judah anointed for 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 And David sendeth messengers unto the men of Jabesh-Gilead, and saith unto them, `Blessed [are] ye of Jehovah, in that ye have done this kindness with your lord, with Saul, that ye bury him.

6 `And, now, Jehovah doth with you kindness and truth, and also, I do with you this good because ye have done this thing;

7 and now, are your hands strong, and be ye for sons of valour, for your lord Saul. [is] dead, and also -- me have the house of Judah anointed for king over them.'

8 And Abner, son of Ner, head of the host which Saul hath, hath taken Ish-Bosheth, son of Saul, and causeth him to pass over to Mahanaim,

9 and causeth him to reign over Gilead, and over the Ashurite, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over Israel -- all of it.