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 18:17KJVWhat does 2 Kings 18:17 mean?
2 Kings 18:17 describes how the king of Assyria sent three high-ranking officials—Tartan, Rabsaris, and Rabshakeh—from the city of Lachish to deliver a message to King Hezekiah in Jerusalem, bringing with them a large army. These officials arrived and stood near the conduit of the upper pool, a public place along the road to the fuller's field, signaling an official and intimidating approach.
The verse sets the stage for a tense confrontation between Assyria and Judah. The Assyrian king is not present himself but sends trusted leaders to pressure Hezekiah, the king of Judah, into surrender. The location mentioned—the conduit of the upper pool by the highway of the fuller's field—was likely a well-known spot in Jerusalem, making this a very public display of Assyrian power and intent.
The Hebrew behind 2 Kings 18:17
- תַּרְתָּן (Tartan): This is a title, not a personal name, often understood as the commander-in-chief or a top general in the Assyrian army. The presence of Tartan shows the seriousness of the Assyrian threat.
- רַב־סָרִיס (Rabsaris): Another title, likely meaning "chief officer" or "chief eunuch," indicating a high-ranking official trusted by the Assyrian king.
- רַבְשָׁקֵה (Rabshakeh): This title is often taken to mean "chief cupbearer" or "field commander," someone who would speak on behalf of the king. Rabshakeh is the main spokesman in the coming dialogue.
- תְּעָלָה (conduit, te'alah): Refers to an aqueduct or water channel. The mention of this specific location points to a strategic spot, possibly where leaders would meet or where water supply could be threatened during a siege.
Why 2 Kings 18:17 matters
- This verse highlights the seriousness of the Assyrian threat by naming the specific officials and the size of the army, showing that Jerusalem is facing a real and organized danger.
- The choice of meeting place—the conduit by the fuller's field—connects to earlier events in Isaiah 7, suggesting a repeated moment of crisis for Jerusalem at the same spot.
- By describing the officials and their titles, the verse helps readers understand the structure and power of the Assyrian empire, setting up the dramatic confrontation that follows in the narrative.