2 Kings 18 17

2 Kings 18:17 kjv

And the king of Assyria sent Tartan and Rabsaris and Rabshakeh from Lachish to king Hezekiah with a great host against Jerusalem. And they went up and came to Jerusalem. And when they were come up, they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool, which is in the highway of the fuller's field.

2 Kings 18:17 nkjv

Then the king of Assyria sent the Tartan, the Rabsaris, and the Rabshakeh from Lachish, with a great army against Jerusalem, to King Hezekiah. And they went up and came to Jerusalem. When they had come up, they went and stood by the aqueduct from the upper pool, which was on the highway to the Fuller's Field.

2 Kings 18:17 niv

The king of Assyria sent his supreme commander, his chief officer and his field commander with a large army, from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem. They came up to Jerusalem and stopped at the aqueduct of the Upper Pool, on the road to the Washerman's Field.

2 Kings 18:17 esv

And the king of Assyria sent the Tartan, the Rab-saris, and the Rabshakeh with a great army from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem. And they went up and came to Jerusalem. When they arrived, they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool, which is on the highway to the Washer's Field.

2 Kings 18:17 nlt

Nevertheless, the king of Assyria sent his commander in chief, his field commander, and his chief of staff from Lachish with a huge army to confront King Hezekiah in Jerusalem. The Assyrians took up a position beside the aqueduct that feeds water into the upper pool, near the road leading to the field where cloth is washed.

2 Kings 18 verses

2 Kings 18 17 Meaning

This verse describes a pivotal moment in King Hezekiah's reign: Sennacherib, the powerful king of Assyria, having already devastated Judah and captured Lachish, dispatched three high-ranking officials—the Tartan, the Rabsaris, and the Rabshakeh—with a large army to besiege Jerusalem. They strategically positioned themselves at the conduit of the Upper Pool on the highway of the Fuller's Field, a critical location for both water supply and public communication, signaling their intent to demand surrender and psychologically intimidate King Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem.

2 Kings 18 17 Context

This verse is situated during a period of intense pressure on the Kingdom of Judah from the powerful Neo-Assyrian Empire. Prior to this, King Hezekiah had rebelled against Assyrian suzerainty, removing their idols and smashing the bronze serpent, acts of religious reform and reliance on Yahweh. In response, Sennacherib launched a devastating campaign, capturing many fortified cities in Judah, including the significant fortress of Lachish (2 Kgs 18:13). Hezekiah initially attempted to appease Sennacherib with a heavy tribute (2 Kgs 18:14-16), an act of weakness and a temporary lapse in faith, which emptied the temple and royal treasuries. Despite receiving the tribute, Sennacherib did not withdraw. Instead, 2 Kings 18:17 marks a dramatic escalation: the full might of Assyria is now directed at Jerusalem itself, despite the tribute payment, setting the stage for a monumental confrontation of human might versus divine power, ultimately leading to God's miraculous intervention to deliver Jerusalem.

2 Kings 18 17 Word analysis

• Then: wa-yišlah (וַיִּשְׁלַח). This temporal connector indicates a direct consequence and progression from the preceding events, particularly Hezekiah's payment of tribute (2 Kgs 18:14-16). Despite the large sum paid, Sennacherib's intention remained unchanged—to conquer Jerusalem. This shows the futility of human appeasement when divine protection is needed.
• the king of Assyria: melek 'aššûr (מֶלֶךְ אַשּׁוּר). This refers to Sennacherib, a renowned and historically powerful Assyrian monarch (reigned 705-681 BCE). His name and title invoke fear and convey the might of a vast, merciless empire that had conquered much of the known world, including the northern kingdom of Israel (Samaria, 722 BCE). His pride and perceived invincibility are major themes throughout the narrative (Isa 10:8-15).
• sent: yišlah (יִשְׁלַח), from the root shalach (שלח), meaning to send, extend, release. This highlights the Assyrian king's absolute authority and direct command over his vast military and administrative machine. The dispatch was deliberate and purposeful, designed to exert maximum pressure.
• Tartan, Rabsaris, and Rabshakeh: These are not personal names but official titles of high-ranking Assyrian officials, specifically chosen for their diplomatic and military functions in a siege situation. Their collective presence signifies the gravity of the mission:
  • Tartan: Tartan (תַּרְתָּן), typically transliterated from Akkadian as tartānu. This was the highest military commander, second only to the king himself, essentially the commander-in-chief of the army. His presence underscores the scale and importance of the invasion.
  • Rabsaris: Rab-Sārîs (רַב־סָרִיס), from Akkadian rab ša-rēši, meaning "chief of the eunuchs" or "chief officer." Eunuchs often held significant administrative and political power in ancient Near Eastern courts, making this a high-ranking court official. His role here likely involves administration and possibly ensuring royal policy execution.
  • Rabshakeh: Rab-Šāqêh (רַב־שָׁקֵה), from Akkadian rab šāqē, meaning "chief cupbearer" or "chief spokesman/field commander." This individual, uniquely among the three, addresses Hezekiah's officials and the people in Hebrew (2 Kgs 18:26-28). His ability to communicate directly, as an ambassador, signifies a psychological warfare tactic to undermine morale and authority, making him a central figure in the coming events.
• from Lachish: mil-lakîš (מִלָּכִישׁ). Lachish was a major fortified city in Judah, second only to Jerusalem. Its recent fall (historically attested by Assyrian reliefs) represented a severe blow to Judah and demonstrated the Assyrian's overwhelming power and ruthless efficiency. Its capture shows that Jerusalem was no isolated target but part of a systematic conquest, and it served as a forward operating base.
• to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem: ’el-ha-meleḵ ḥizqîyāhû yerûšālāyim (אֶל־הַמֶּלֶךְ חִזְקִיָּהוּ יְרוּשָׁלָ֑יִם). The precise target: the king and his capital, the spiritual and political heart of Judah. This direct challenge was intended to demoralize and force an immediate surrender, emphasizing the existential threat.
• with a great army: bə-ḥayil gādôl (בְּחַיִל גָּד֣וֹל). Literally "with a great force/host." This emphasizes the massive military might and overwhelming numerical superiority of the Assyrians, a stark contrast to Judah's smaller forces. It was designed to impress and intimidate, signaling the futility of resistance.
• And they went up and came to Jerusalem: wayya‘ălû wayyābo’û yerûšālāyim (וַיַּעֲל֤וּ וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ יְרוּשָׁלַ֔יִם). "Went up" refers to the geographical ascent to Jerusalem, which is situated on hills. This describes the physical arrival and deployment of the Assyrian forces, surrounding and initiating the siege or intimidation.
• and stood by the conduit of the Upper Pool, on the highway of the Fuller's Field: wayya‘amdû ‘al-tə‘ālat ha-bərēḵāh ha-‘elyônāh bə-derek śədê kôbēs (וַיַּעַמְד֖וּ עַל־תְּעָלַ֣ת הַבְּרֵכָה הָֽעֶלְיוֹנָה֙ בִּדְרֶ֣ךְ שְׂדֵה כוֹבֵ֔ס). This is a highly significant and specific location.
  • Conduit of the Upper Pool: Refers to a crucial water supply system for Jerusalem, essential for survival during a siege. Positioning here indicates a strategic intent to either cut off water or display their power over Jerusalem's lifeline, which Hezekiah had providentially prepared against (2 Chr 32:30, building the Siloam Tunnel).
  • Highway of the Fuller's Field: A public road outside the city walls. This visible and accessible spot was ideal for public declarations and psychological warfare, ensuring the common people would hear the Assyrian demands directly. This location is also famously where the prophet Isaiah met King Ahaz and delivered a message of trust during an earlier threat (Isa 7:3-9), drawing a clear parallel that the same location for a test of faith now presented itself to Hezekiah. This provides a deep layer of theological context—Jerusalem’s future depended, yet again, not on military might but on a response of faith.

2 Kings 18 17 Bonus section

• The archaeological find of the "Sennacherib Prism" provides extrabiblical corroboration for Sennacherib's campaign against Judah and Hezekiah's payment of tribute, though it naturally omits the miraculous defeat of the Assyrian army. The Lachish Reliefs in the British Museum also visually depict the siege and fall of Lachish, validating the biblical account.
• The Rabshakeh's ability to speak Hebrew was highly unusual for an Assyrian official in a foreign campaign. This detail suggests careful planning by Sennacherib to directly influence the morale of the common people of Jerusalem, bypassing the formal negotiations that would occur in Aramaic (the diplomatic language). This strategy highlights the Assyrian empire's intelligence gathering and psychological warfare prowess.
• The location "Fuller's Field" might be linked to the ritual cleansing process (fullers clean cloth using water). Placing this act of contamination/invasion near a place of purification could symbolize the enemy's intention to defile the holy city and its inhabitants' trust in God.
• This verse sets up the profound theological contrast between human reliance (on tribute, on foreign powers) and divine deliverance, which becomes the ultimate message of the surrounding chapters (2 Kgs 19, Isa 36-37).

2 Kings 18 17 Commentary

2 Kings 18:17 marks the zenith of the Assyrian threat against Judah. Sennacherib’s dispatch of his highest-ranking officials, fresh from the destruction of Lachish and commanding a massive army, was a calculated move to terrorize Jerusalem into immediate submission without a costly siege. The presence of the Tartan, Rabsaris, and especially the Rabshakeh, who spoke in Hebrew to intimidate the populace directly, demonstrates a sophisticated strategy beyond mere military force—it was a full-scale psychological operation. Their choice to position themselves at the conduit of the Upper Pool on the highway of the Fuller's Field was deeply symbolic. This was Jerusalem's primary public access point and a vital water source, making it the perfect stage for public demand and humiliation. Historically, this very location was where Isaiah had previously urged King Ahaz to trust God during another national crisis. Thus, for Hezekiah, this confrontation was not merely a military one, but a spiritual one, placing him at a crossroads of faith reminiscent of past challenges, poised for God's dramatic demonstration of power against overwhelming human might.