Now then, let your hands be strong and be valiant, since Saul your lord is dead, and also the house of Judah has anointed me king over them.”
Parallel translations
- WEB Now therefore let your hands be strong, and be valiant; for Saul your lord is dead, and also the house of Judah have anointed me king over them.”
- KJV Therefore now let your hands be strengthened, and be ye valiant: for your master Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah have anointed me king over them.
- BSB Now then, be strong and courageous, for though Saul your lord is dead, the house of Judah has anointed me as their king.”
- NKJV Now therefore, let your hands be strengthened, and be valiant; for your master Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah has anointed me king over them.”
- NLT Now that Saul is dead, I ask you to be my strong and loyal subjects like the people of Judah, who have anointed me as their new king.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
David urges them to be strong and valiant, noting Judah has anointed him king. He gently invites their allegiance.
Overview
With Saul dead, David encourages the men of Jabesh Gilead to courage and informs them of his anointing over Judah. He does not coerce but appeals to them, leaving room for their loyalty to grow. This patient, non-coercive approach contrasts with the political maneuvering that follows under Abner and points to a kingship grounded in trust rather than force.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Eph 6:10Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might.
- 2 Sam 10:12Be courageous, and let us be strong for our people, and for the cities of our God; and may Yahweh do what seems good to him.”
- 1 Sam 31:12all the valiant men arose, went all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth Shan; and they came to Jabesh, and burned them there.
- Gen 15:1After these things Yahweh’s word came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Don’t be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”
- 1 Sam 4:9Be strong, and behave like men, O you Philistines, that you not be servants to the Hebrews, as they have been to you. Strengthen yourselves like men, and fight!”
- 1 Cor 16:13Watch! Stand firm in the faith! Be courageous! Be strong!
- 1 Sam 31:7When the men of Israel who were on the other side of the valley, and those who were beyond the Jordan, saw that the men of Israel fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned the cities and fled; and the Philistines came and lived in them.
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Christ at the center
God's covenant with David — a son whose throne and kingdom would last forever (7:12–16) — finds its yes in Jesus, the Son of David who reigns without end.
How 2 Samuel 2:7 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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