12-16. The words of Jehovah.
confederacy—rather, a conspiracy; an appropriate term for the unnatural combination of Israel with Syrian foreigners against Judea and the theocracy, to which the former was bound by ties of blood and hereditary religion [Maurer].
to all … say—rather, of all which this people calleth a conspiracy [G. V. Smith].
their fear—namely, object of fear: the hostile conspiracy.
be afraid—rather [Maurer], "nor make others to be afraid."