There is a great deal of redundancy in the first part of Hezekiah’s speech to the assembled army officers. But where adequate synonyms exist, it is best to retain the terms that are similar in meaning since they have a cumulative effect.

Be strong and of good courage: This exhortation recalls passages in Deuteronomy (31.6, 7, 23) and Joshua (1.6, 9, 18; 10.25) as well as 1 Chr 22.13 and 28.20 (see the comments there).

Do not be afraid or dismayed before the king of Assyria and all the horde that is with him: The words Do not be afraid or dismayed are also found in Josh 10.25 and are similar to those in Deut 31.6. The Hebrew verbal expressions for Do not be afraid and Do not be … dismayed are similar in meaning; but the first one has to do with fear, while the second one involves discouragement and the tendency to give up hope (see the comments on 1 Chr 22.13). Elsewhere in the Old Testament, the Hebrew word for horde is rendered “multitude” (Gen 17.4; 2 Chr 13.8; 20.2) or “troops” (Jdg 4.7). Here it clearly refers to the large army led by the Assyrian king.

For there is one greater with us than with him: The Hebrew conjunction rendered for introduces the reason why the leaders of Judah’s army should not be afraid or discouraged. There is one greater with us is a clear reference to God, as the next verse makes explicit. God’s Word says “Someone greater is on our side,” and New Living Translation has “there is a power far greater on our side.”

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Chronicles, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2014. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .