Keraia
2 Kings 18

2 Kings 18:26

Sennacherib Threatens Jerusalem · 2 Kings 18:17–37
Read 2 Kings 18

Translations

Modern
Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah, along with Shebnah and Joah, said to the Rabshakeh, “Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, since we understand it. Do not speak with us in Hebrew in the hearing of the people on the wall.”
Traditional
Then said Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebna, and Joah, unto Rab–shakeh, 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.
Literal
And Eliakim son of Hilkiah, and Shebna, and Joah, said to the Rabshakeh, “Speak, please, to your servants in Aramaic, for we understand it, and do not speak with us in Judean in the ears of the people who are on the wall.”
Latin
Dixerunt autem Eliacim filius Helciæ, et Sobna, et Joahe Rabsaci: Precamur ut loquaris nobis servis tuis syriace: siquidem intelligimus hanc linguam: et non loquaris nobis judaice, audiente populo qui est super murum.

Original

Hebrew
English
Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah, along with Shebnah and Joah, said to the Rabshakeh, “Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, since we understand it. Do not speak with us in Hebrew in the hearing of the people on the wall.”

Notes

2 Kings 18:26

Please speak to your servants in Aramaic: Hezekiah’s officials asked the Assyrian delegation to speak in Aramaic, which was the language of diplomacy. They did not want the people listening to understand and become discouraged or afraid.

Events

Parallels

2 Chronicles 32:9–19 Isaiah 36:1–22

People

Eliakim: Palace administrator under King Hezekiah Hilkiah: An official during King Hezekiah's reign Joah: Son of Asaph, King Hezekiah's secretary Rabshakeh: A Babylonian official who taunted Hezekiah and Jerusalem's people Shebna: Steward of the palace during Hezekiah's reign

Glossary

Aramaic Asaph Assyria, Assyrians Eliakim Hezekiah Hilkiah Inscriptions Joah Kings, Books of First and Second Kohath, Kohathites Psalms, Book of Rabshakeh Shebna Warfare Writer

Topics

Assyria: Sennacherib Assyria: Sennacherib King of Insulted and Threatened Judah Diplomacy: Rab-Shakeh, in Trying to Induce Jerusalem to Capitulate by Bombastic Harangue Hilkiah: officer of Hezekiah Hypocrisy: Rabshakeh Jerusalem: Besieged by Sennacherib Joah: Son of Asaph Language: Kinds of, Mentioned: Syriack Language: Syrian Prophecies Concerning Israel: The King of Assyria Invades Judah, and Blasphemes the God of Judah Rab-Shakeh : Sent by Sennacherib Against Jerusalem Sennacherib: Invades Judah Shebna (Shebnah): A Scribe of Hezekiah Sieges: Cities Invested by Walls of, Defended by the Inhabitants Syria: Inhabitants of Spoke the Syriack Language Walls of Cities were Strongly Manned in War War: Enemy Harangued by the General of the Opposing Side