2 Samuel 10:12
in 2 Samuel 10Be strong and let us fight bravely for our people and for the cities of our God. May the LORD do what is good in His sight.”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Be of good courage, and let us play the man for our people, and for the cities of our God: and Jehovah do that which seemeth him good.
KJV
Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our God: and the Lord do that which seemeth him good.
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This verse in 2 Samuel 10
Commentary
6 notes on this verseBe of good courage - This is a very fine military address, and is equal to any thing in ancient or modern times. Ye fight pro aris et focis; for every good, sacred and civil; for God, for your families, and for your country.
This site's exposition
Be of good courage
Joab's charge holds courage and surrender in one breath, be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and the LORD do that which seemeth him good. He commands the fight and hands the outcome to God in the same sentence, owing nothing to fatalism, since he has just finished arraying his troops with care. The same surrender in nearly the same words is spoken by Eli at the ark's loss in 1 Samuel 3:18, it is the LORD, let him do what seemeth him good, and later by David fleeing his own son in 2 Samuel 15:26, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Be of good courage, and let us play the men,....
Christ's soldiers should thus strengthen one another's hands in their spiritual warfare. The strong must succour and help the weak. Those that through grace are conquerors over temptation must counsel, and comfort, and pray for, those that are tempted.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
It was a just and necessary war that had been forced on Israel, and they could hope for the blessing of God upon their arms. With great judgment the battle opened against the mercenaries, who could not stand against the furious onset of Joab, and not feeling the cause their own, consulted their safety by flight.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
For the cities of our God - This rather indicates that the relief of Medeba was one of the immediate objects in view, and consequently that at this time Medeba was still in the possession of the Reubenites. To prevent an Israelite city falling into the hands of a pagan people, and the rites of Moloch being substituted for the worship of Yahweh, was a very urgent motive to valor.
The words behind it
11 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| חֲזַ֤ק | chazak | be strong | H2388 → | 291 times |
| וְנִתְחַזַּק֙ | venitchazak | so we may show ourselves strong | H2388 → | 291 times |
| בְּעַד־ | bead- | for | H1157 → | 105 times |
| עַמֵּ֔נוּ | ʾamenu | people our | H5971 → | 1873 times |
| וּבְעַ֖ד | uvead | and for | H1157 → | 105 times |
| עָרֵ֣י | ʾarei | [the] cities of | H5892 → | 1090 times |
| אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ | ʾeloheinu | God our | H430 → | 2601 times |
| וַֽיהוָ֔ה | vayahweh | and Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| יַעֲשֶׂ֥ה | yaaseh | he will do | H6213 → | 2628 times |
| הַטּ֖וֹב | hatov | the good | H2896 → | 538 times |
| בְּעֵינָֽיו׃ | beeinav | in view his | H5869 → | 887 times |
חֲזַ֤קbe strong
chazakH2388 →291 times
וְנִתְחַזַּק֙so we may show ourselves strong
venitchazakH2388 →291 times
בְּעַד־for
bead-H1157 →105 times
עַמֵּ֔נוּpeople our
ʾamenuH5971 →1873 times
וּבְעַ֖דand for
uveadH1157 →105 times
עָרֵ֣י[the] cities of
ʾareiH5892 →1090 times
אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּGod our
ʾeloheinuH430 →2601 times
וַֽיהוָ֔הand Yahweh
vayahwehH3068 →6520 times
יַעֲשֶׂ֥הhe will do
yaasehH6213 →2628 times
הַטּ֖וֹבthe good
hatovH2896 →538 times
בְּעֵינָֽיו׃in view his
beeinavH5869 →887 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Hebrews 13:6So we say with confidence: “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”
it leads to
- Isaiah 41:10
Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My right hand…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Psalms 118:6–9
The LORD is on my side; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?
- Romans 8:31
What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
- Psalms 27:1–3
The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— whom shall I dread?
- Psalms 124:8
Our help is in the name of the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
- Isaiah 41:10
Through
1 Corinthians 16:13Be on the alert. Stand firm in the faith. Be men of courage. Be strong.
it leads to
- Joshua 1:9
Have I not commanded you to be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Ephesians 6:10
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Ephesians 6:13–18
Therefore take up the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground, and having done everything, to stand.
- Joshua 1:9
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About 2 Samuel
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.