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.