2 Kings 18:17

Sennacherib Threatens Jerusalem

17 Nevertheless, the king of Assyria sent the Tartan, ^[a] the Rabsaris, ^[b] and the Rabshakeh, ^[c] along with a great army, from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem. They advanced up to Jerusalem and stationed themselves by the aqueduct of the upper pool, on the road to the Launderer’s Field. ¹

2 Kings 18:17 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 18:17

And the king of Assyria sent Tartan and Rabsaris, and
Rabshakeh from Lachish to King Hezekiah with a great host against
Jerusalem
Notwithstanding he took the above large sum of money of him, so false and deceitful was he: these were three generals of his army, whom he sent to besiege Jerusalem, while he continued the siege of Lachish; only Rabshakeh is mentioned in ( Isaiah 36:2 ) he being perhaps chief general, and the principal speaker; whose speech, to the end of this chapter, intended to intimidate Hezekiah, and dishearten his people, with some circumstances which attended it, are recorded word for word in ( Isaiah 36:1 ) throughout; (See Gill on Isaiah 36:1) and notes on that chapter.

2 Kings 18:17 In-Context

15 Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the house of the LORD and in the treasuries of the royal palace.

16 At that time Hezekiah stripped the gold with which he had plated the doors and doorposts of the temple of the LORD, and he gave it to the king of Assyria.

17 Nevertheless, the king of Assyria sent the Tartan, the Rabsaris, and the Rabshakeh, along with a great army, from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem. They advanced up to Jerusalem and stationed themselves by the aqueduct of the upper pool, on the road to the Launderer’s Field.

18 Then they called for the king. And Eliakim son of Hilkiah the palace administrator, Shebnah the scribe, and Joah son of Asaph the recorder, went out to them.

19 The Rabshakeh said to them, “Tell Hezekiah that this is what the great king, the king of Assyria, says: What is the basis of this confidence of yours?

Cross References

• 1. (2 Chronicles 32:9–19; Isaiah 36:1–22)

Footnotes

• [a]. Hebrew Tartan is the title of a field marshal, general, or commander in the Assyrian military.
• [b]. Hebrew Rabsaris is the title of the chief eunuch in the Assyrian military.
• [c]. Hebrew Rabshakeh is the title of a high-ranking Assyrian military officer; here and throughout chapters 18 and 19, as well as Isaiah 36 and 37.