2 Kings 18:17 – Why would Rabshakeh speak in Hebrew if he didn’t want Judah’s people to hear his threats?

Historical and Political Context

In 2 Kings 18:17, the account describes how the king of Assyria sent three of his highest officials—identified as the Tartan, the Rabsaris, and the Rabshakeh—with a large army to confront King Hezekiah in Jerusalem. This event occurred during the reign of Sennacherib (ca. late eighth century BC), a powerful ruler who expanded Assyrian influence across the region. Assyria’s policy was to intimidate and subjugate the nations it invaded through displays of military might and psychological warfare.

Rabshakeh, an Assyrian official and spokesman, confronted Jerusalem’s leadership near the city walls, while the people of Judah—guards, citizens, and onlookers—were within earshot. According to 2 Kings 18:26, Hezekiah’s officials (Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah) specifically requested that Rabshakeh speak in Aramaic, the diplomatic language of the day, rather than Hebrew, so that the watching crowd would not understand his words.

Why Rabshakeh Addressed the People in Hebrew

Despite the officials’ plea, Rabshakeh remained adamant about speaking in Hebrew. The immediate question that arises is: if Rabshakeh wanted to intimidate the leadership but not necessarily stir up Judah’s people with fear, why did he continue speaking in Hebrew—the very language they would understand?

1. Deliberate Psychological Tactic

Rabshakeh’s strategy was to incite fear among the people of Judah. His intentions reflect a skillful form of psychological warfare: stirring panic and undermining the trust between Hezekiah and his subjects. By addressing them in Hebrew, Rabshakeh could threaten the population directly, planting seeds of doubt about their king’s leadership and God’s protection. The biblical text highlights this tactic when Rabshakeh says:

“But the Rabshakeh replied: ‘Has my master sent me to speak these words only to your master and to you, and not also to the men sitting on the wall?’” (2 Kings 18:27)

This shows that Rabshakeh’s goal was indeed for everyone to hear his threats—not to hide them.

2. Undermining Morale and Fostering Surrender

By speaking in Hebrew, Rabshakeh could convey messages of hopelessness to the ordinary people. He specifically promised them that they would suffer ruin—“eat their own dung and drink their own urine” (2 Kings 18:27)—if they continued to resist. This gruesome imagery was meant to erode confidence in any call to faithfulness or trust in divine deliverance. If enough panic spread, the city might surrender without a long siege.

3. Contrasting Assyrian Power with Trust in God

The speech in Hebrew also serves to contrast the perceived might of Assyria with the people’s faith in their God. Rabshakeh invoked other fallen nations’ gods to prove the supposed futility of trusting in Yahweh (2 Kings 18:33–35). Speaking plainly to the wider populace was a way to challenge them: if all these other nations had succumbed to Assyrian power, could Judah realistically hope to resist?

Insights from the Larger Biblical Account

Throughout Scripture, a recurring theme in times of crisis is whether the people will trust in human alliances or rely on the covenant promises of God (cf. Isaiah 31:1). In 2 Kings 18–19, Hezekiah sought the prophet Isaiah’s counsel, choosing to turn to prayer and reliance on divine deliverance rather than appeasing or succumbing to the Assyrians. This biblical narrative underscores that God’s sovereignty transcends the political pressures and rhetorical intimidation of powerful empires.

Archaeological and Historical Corroboration

Archaeological findings, such as Sennacherib’s Prism (also known as the Taylor Prism), mention the Assyrian campaign against Judah, corroborating an Assyrian siege of Jerusalem during Hezekiah’s reign. These records do not deny Judah’s resistance and survival, which aligns with 2 Kings 19:35, where the angel of the Lord struck down a vast number of Assyrian soldiers. The presence of siege ramps and relief artwork from Lachish confirms the lengths to which the Assyrian empire went to subdue the region. This broader historical scaffolding shows how the events in 2 Kings 18–19 fit neatly into the known patterns and policies of Assyrian conquest.

Linguistic Considerations

During the time of the Assyrian Empire, Aramaic served as a diplomatic lingua franca. Officials from both Assyria and Judah could converse efficiently in Aramaic. Hebrew, by contrast, was the local language of the Israelites and not as widely employed in the broader diplomatic realm. Rabshakeh’s mastery of Hebrew points to the Assyrian practice of using local tongues to impose fear directly on subjugated peoples, while also displaying Assyria’s wide reach and familiarity with their vassals’ cultures.

Theological Implications

1. God’s Protective Sovereignty

Despite the show of force and psychological manipulation, 2 Kings 19 shows that the God of Israel defended Jerusalem in response to Hezekiah’s faith and prayer. This emphasizes the biblical assertion that true power belongs to God, who can deliver His people against overwhelming odds.

2. Call to Faith Amid Threat

The incident illustrates the biblical motif of trusting divine providence rather than human schemes. Rabshakeh’s threatening words in Hebrew highlight the significance of communal faith: the people were forced to decide whether to give in to fear or to maintain confidence in God’s covenant.

3. Continuity with Other Scriptural Examples

The biblical account resonates with other instances where external threats tested Israel’s faith, such as the Philistine challenge under Goliath (1 Samuel 17) and the repeated calls in the Proverbs to trust the Lord rather than lean on one’s own understanding (Proverbs 3:5–6). All these narratives unify around the theme that God’s faithful intervention is consistent.

Answer to the Question

Far from being a contradiction, Rabshakeh’s choice to speak in Hebrew underscores his aim to intimidate the general populace of Judah, not merely the royal advisors. While the advisors requested a private conversation in Aramaic to contain the psychological threat, Rabshakeh leveraged the Hebrew language specifically to spread fear and unrest among every listener on the walls. His objective was to undermine confidence in Hezekiah’s leadership and in the promises of divine protection.

Conclusion

In 2 Kings 18:17 and its surrounding context, Rabshakeh’s speech in Hebrew was a strategic, coercive effort intended for all ears in Jerusalem. By making sure both leaders and common citizens heard his warnings, Rabshakeh hoped to demoralize the city into surrender. Instead, as biblical history records and outside evidence supports, Judah’s refusal to yield and God’s intervention became a profound testament to divine deliverance. This episode affirms the broader theme of Scripture: though enemies may employ cunning tactics, the faithful trust in God’s promises and purposes remains the key to true security.