Then said Eliakim and Shebna and Joah unto Rabshakeh, Speak, I pray thee, unto thy servants in the Syrian language; for we understand it: and speak not to us in the Jews’ language, in the ears of the people that are on the wall.
Then Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah said to the Rabshakeh, 'Please speak to us in the Aramaic language, because we understand it. Don't speak to us in Hebrew where the people on the wall can hear you.'
The Jewish officials are asking the Assyrian commander to speak in a different language so their own people won't understand the threatening conversation.
📚 Historical Context
This occurs during the Assyrian siege of Jerusalem around 701 BC, when King Sennacherib's army surrounded the city. The Rabshakeh was an Assyrian field commander sent to negotiate Jerusalem's surrender. Aramaic was the diplomatic language of the ancient Near East, while Hebrew was the common language of the Jewish people.
Explore Similar Verses
Ask the AI Assistant
Have a question about this chapter or verse? Ask below for a clear explanation.