2 Chronicles 32:7

Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him:

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(7) Be not afraid . . . the multitude.—Comp. 2Chronicles 20:15, “Be not afraid nor dismayed for this great multitude.” “Be strong and courageous, be not afraid” occurs in Deuteronomy 31:6 (Heb.).

For there be more with us than with him.—A reminiscence of 2Kings 6:16, “Be not thou afraid; for more are they that are with us than they that are with them.” It is not necessary to suppose that the chronicler professes to give the exact words of Hezekiah’s exhortation, but only the substance and spirit of it.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

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.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

On the language, compare the marginal references, for details, see Isaiah 22:5-13; Isaiah 29:3.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

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.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

No text from Poole on this verse.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Be strong and courageous,.... Be of good heart and spirit, and quit yourselves like men:

be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him; which was very large; for no less than 185,000 were slain of them by an angel in one night, 2 Kings 19:35.

for there be more with us than with him; though not in number, yet in power and might; and if angels are meant, they are more in number; but it seems, by what follows, that Hezekiah had only the Lord his God in his thoughts and view.

Geneva Study Bible

Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him:

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

7. and courageous] R.V. and of a good courage.

there be moe] R.V. there is a greater.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 7. - Several of the descriptive dramatic touches of Isaiah 22:4-14 are forcible and apt commentary to this verse. 2 Chronicles 32:7

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

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.