Then said Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebna, and Joah, unto Rabshakeh, Speak, I pray thee, to thy servants in the Syrian language; for we understand it: and talk not with us in the Jews' language in the ears of the people that are on the wall.
2 KINGS 18:26KJVWhat does 2 Kings 18:26 mean?
2 Kings 18:26 describes how Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah—officials of King Hezekiah—ask the Assyrian spokesman, Rabshakeh, to speak to them in the Syrian (Aramaic) language rather than in the Jews’ language (Hebrew), so that the people listening on the city wall would not understand the conversation. The officials are trying to prevent the people from hearing and being alarmed by the Assyrian threats.
In this scene, the Assyrian army is outside Jerusalem, and Rabshakeh is delivering a message meant to intimidate the city’s leaders and people. Eliakim and his companions want the discussion to be private, using a language only the educated officials understand. This request shows their concern for the morale of the people and highlights the tense, high-stakes negotiations happening as Jerusalem faces a siege.
The Hebrew behind 2 Kings 18:26
- "language" (אַרָמִית, ʾaramit): This word refers to the Aramaic language, which was used for diplomacy in the region. The officials ask for this language to keep the conversation from the common people, who spoke Hebrew.
- "language" (יְהוּדִית, yehudit): This term means the language of Judah, that is, Hebrew. The officials specifically do not want Rabshakeh to use Hebrew, as it would be understood by everyone on the wall.
- "ears" (אָזֶן, ʾozen): The officials are concerned about what the people "hear," showing their worry about the psychological impact of Rabshakeh’s words on the population.
- "wall" (חוֹמָה, ḥomah): Mentioning the wall emphasizes that the people are listening from a place of defense, underlining the siege situation and the vulnerability of those inside Jerusalem.
Why 2 Kings 18:26 matters
- This verse clarifies that the leaders of Jerusalem were trying to shield their people from fear and panic by controlling what information was shared in public.
- The request to use Aramaic shows that international languages were used for diplomacy, while Hebrew was the everyday language of the people—giving insight into the linguistic setting of ancient Judah.
- The verse sets up the tension in the story, as it shows the officials’ anxiety and the psychological warfare being used by the Assyrians, which becomes a key theme in the surrounding chapters.