2 Kings 18:17

The Assyrian army sent against Jerusalem. Rab-shakeh's arguments for a surrender of the city (2 Chronicles 32:2-12; Isaiah 36:2-10)

17. the king of Assyria sent Tartan In the light of the record in Chronicles, which says nothing of the previous proceedings of Sennacherib, we must consider that there was but one expedition, and that first came Hezekiah's submission, which was unavailing, and then followed the advance upon Jerusalem. We can imagine many things which induced Sennacherib not to keep faith with Hezekiah, but most probably it was the movements of the Egyptians in the south. Finding that they were advancing he would resolve on attacking and reducing Jerusalem before they arrived, and would care nothing for former compacts. Tartan,as well as the other two names here given, is probably an official title. Tartan is found in Isaiah 20:1, and the R.V. puts a note in the margin -the title of the Assyrian commander in chief". In that place it is the title of the officer sent by Sargon against Ashdod. As this title here stands first, we may suppose that he was the chief military officer, though Rab-shakeh was the spokesman. It would be more correct to say -the Tartan".

and Rabsaris The word is Hebrew in form and signifies -the chief of the eunuchs". It may be some title which the Jews modified so as to make of it a Hebrew word. Clearly in this place it indicates some high official. It need not necessarily be a military person, but some one like a lord chamberlain, who came with the Tartan to add civil dignity to the military. Rab-saris is found in Jeremiah (Jeremiah 39:3) among the titles of the princes of the king of Babylon.

and Rab-shakeh This word also has a Hebrew form, and means -the chief cup-bearer". The title may have been preserved and attached to an office, when the duties from which it was originally given had ceased to be performed, and others had been imposed in their place. And the Hebrew writers may have represented in their own way the meaning of a title for which they had no proper equivalent.

with a great host For Jerusalem was stronger than the other places in Judah which he had already captured, and news from Egypt-wards was perhaps such as to make haste urgent.

against Jerusalem R.V. unto Jerusalem. The original has no preposition, but the accusative of direction.

they came and stood by the conduit The Chronicler gives us details which shew that some time elapsed before the attack on Jerusalem was commenced. Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib was come and that he was purposed to fight against Jerusalem. He therefore took counsel with his princes and blocked up all the water courses and fountains, so that the Assyrians should have as little water supply as possible. He also strengthened the fortifications, provided new weapons, and organized his forces. Then he gathered the people and encouraged them, so that they -rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah". All this had been done before the arrival of Rab-shakeh and his fellows.

the upper pool This is probably what in 2 Chronicles 32:30 is called -the upper watercourse of Gihon". On -Gihon" see note on 1 Kings 1:33. The locality is described, in the same words as here, in Isaiah 7:3, so that it was a well-known spot. The pool was within the walls, but from it went a conduit to the fuller's field. The fuller's occupation was one which was carried on without the walls.