(6) Captains of war.--Literally, captains of battles: a phrase found here only.

In the street.--Into the open space. In like manner, "the open space that was before the water gate" is mentioned in Nehemiah 8:1; Nehemiah 8:16.

The gate.--Which gate we are not told; but the

LXX. reads, ??? ???????? ??? ????? ??? ????????, "the broad place of the gate of the ravine."

Spake comfortably to them.--Encouraged them. 2Chronicles 30:22. (See margin.)

Verse 6. - The street of the gate; translate, the wide area at the gate, etc.; what gate is not specified, but presumably either "the gate of Ephraim," which would be the one opposed to the camp of the besiegers, or possibly "the comer gate" (2 Chronicles 25:23; and Courier's 'Handbook,' pp. 343-345).

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.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.