The street of the gate ... - Or, "the square at the gate" (compare 2 Chronicles 29:4 note). The gate intended is probably that of Ephraim 2 Chronicles 25:23 - the great northern gate, opposite the "Camp of the Assyrians " - represented by the modern Damascus gate.

Set captains of war over the people - in the street of the gate of the city - That is, the open places at the gate of the city, whither the people came for judgment, etc.

And he set captains of war over the people,.... To teach them the exercises of war, to lead them on against the enemy, to direct them where to stand, and what to do in defence of the city:

and gathered them together to him in the street of the gate of the city; the street which led to the gate, and was large and commodious to assemble the people in:

and spake comfortably to them; to animate and encourage them to hold out the siege, and do all they could to repel the enemy;

saying; as follows.

And, moreover, he set captains of war over the people, i.e., the populace of Jerusalem, assembled them in the open space at the city gate (which gate is not stated; cf. Nehemiah 8:1, Nehemiah 8:16), and addressed them in encouraging words; cf. 2 Chronicles 30:22. On 2 Chronicles 32:7, cf. 2 Chronicles 20:15, Deuteronomy 31:6, etc. "For with us is more than with him." רב, quite general, the closer definition following in 2 Chronicles 32:8 : "With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is Jahve, our God, to help us." An arm of flesh equals frail human power; cf. Isaiah 21:3 : their (the Egyptians') horses are flesh, not spirit; Jeremiah 17:5; Psalm 56:5. "And the people leaned themselves on (i.e., trusted in) the words of Hezekiah." These statements are not inconsistent with the account in 2 Kings 18:14-16, that Hezekiah began to negotiate with the Assyrian king Sennacherib when he had begun to take the fenced cities of the land unto Lachish, promised to pay him tribute, and actually paid the sum demanded, employing for that purpose even the sheet gold on the temple doors. These negotiations are passed over, not only in our narrative, but also in Isaiah 36, because they had no influence upon the after course and the issue of the war. Sennacherib was not induced to withdraw by the payment of the sum demanded, and soon after the receipt of it he sent a detachment from Lachish against Jerusalem, to summon the city to surrender. The fortification of Jerusalem which the Chronicle records began before these negotiations, and was continued while they were in progress.

And he set captains of war over the people, and gathered them together to him in the street of the gate of the city, and spake comfortably to them, saying,

spake...: Heb. he spoke to their heart

6. he . gathered them together . in the street-that is, the large open space at the gate of Eastern cities. Having equipped his soldiers with a full suit of military accoutrements, he addressed them in an animated strain, dwelling on the motives they had to inspire courage and confidence of success, especially on their consciousness of the favor and helping power of God.

32:1-23 Those who trust God with their safety, must use proper means, else they tempt him. God will provide, but so must we also. Hezekiah gathered his people together, and spake comfortably to them. A believing confidence in God, will raise us above the prevailing fear of man. Let the good subjects and soldiers of Jesus Christ, rest upon his word, and boldly say, Since God is for us, who can be against us? By the favour of God, enemies are lost, and friends gained.