"Nowtherefore, let your handsbe strongand be valiant;for Saulyour lordis dead,and alsothe houseof Judahhas anointedme kingoverthem."
Afterthesethingsthe wordof the LORDcameto Abramin a vision,saying,"Do not fear,Abram,I am a shieldto you; Your rewardshall be verygreat."
"Be strong,and let us showourselves courageousfor the sakeof our peopleand for the citiesof our God;and may the LORDdowhatis goodin His sight."
"Nowmay the LORDshowlovingkindnessand truthto you; and I alsowill showthisgoodnessto you, becauseyou have donethisthing.
But Abnerthe sonof Ner,commanderof Saul'sarmy,had takenIsh-bosheththe sonof Sauland broughthim overto Mahanaim.
So allthe eldersof Israelcameto the kingat Hebron,and KingDavidmadea covenantwith them beforethe LORDat Hebron;then they anointedDavidkingoverIsrael.
Then he broughtthe king'ssonout and putthe crownon him and [gave him] the testimony;and they madehim kingand anointedhim, and they clappedtheir handsand said,"[Long] livethe king!"
I toldthem howthe handof my Godhad been favorableto me and alsoabout the king'swordswhichhe had spokento me. Then they said,"Let us ariseand build."So they puttheir handsto the good[work].
Be on the alert,stand firmin the faith,act like men,be strong.
Finally,be strongin the Lordand in the strengthof His might.
allthe valiantmenroseand walkedallnight,and tookthe bodyof Sauland the bodiesof his sonsfrom the wallof Beth-shan,and they cameto Jabeshand burnedthem there.
When the menof Israelwhowere on the othersideof the valley,with those whowere beyondthe Jordan,sawthat the menof Israelhad fledand that Sauland his sonswere dead,they abandonedthe citiesand fled;then the Philistinescameand livedin them.
"Takecourageand be men,O Philistines,oryou will becomeslavesto the Hebrews,as they have beenslavesto you; therefore, be menand fight."
