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 18:17KJV
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2 Kings 18:17 (KJV)

What 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.

Where else these words appear

“Tartan” Hebrew H8661 · used in 2 verses

  • Isaiah 20:1 In the year that Tartan came unto Ashdod,(when Sargon the king of Assyria sent him,) and fought against Ashdod, and took it;

“Rabsaris” Hebrew H7249 · used in 3 verses

  • Jeremiah 39:3 And all the princes of the king of Babylon came in, and sat in the middle gate, even Nergalsharezer, Samgarnebo, Sarsechim, Rabsaris, Nergalsharezer, Rabmag, with all the residue of the princes of the king of Babylon.
  • Jeremiah 39:13 So Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard sent, and Nebushasban, Rabsaris, and Nergalsharezer, Rabmag, and all the king of Babylon's princes;

“host” Hebrew H2426 · used in 10 verses

  • 2 Samuel 20:15 And they came and besieged him in Abel of Bethmaachah, and they cast up a bank against the city, and it stood in the trench: and all the people that were with Joab battered the wall, to throw it down.
  • Psalms 122:7 Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces.
  • Lamentations 2:8 The LORD hath purposed to destroy the wall of the daughter of Zion: he hath stretched out a line, he hath not withdrawn his hand from destroying: therefore he made the rampart and the wall to lament; they languished together.

“conduit” Hebrew H8585 · used in 11 verses

  • 1 Kings 18:32 And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed.
  • 2 Kings 20:20 And the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and all his might, and how he made a pool, and a conduit, and brought water into the city, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
  • Isaiah 36:2 And the king of Assyria sent Rabshakeh from Lachish to Jerusalem unto king Hezekiah with a great army. And he stood by the conduit of the upper pool in the highway of the fuller's field.