With this phrase, David may have been encouraging the men of this town to show the same bravery they had shown in rescuing the bodies of Saul and his sons by swearing fealty to David and recognizing him as king.1 Since the town of Jabesh was 20 kilometres north of Mahanaim,2 it would be very costly for them to do so since they were in the territory ruled by those opposed to David.3
7 Que vos mains se fortifient, et soyez de vaillants hommes; car votre maître Saül est mort, et c'est moi que la maison de Juda a oint pour roi sur elle.