Introduction:
Rab-shakeh is a title rather than a personal name, referring to a high-ranking Assyrian military officer or official. The term is most notably associated with an Assyrian envoy who played a significant role during the reign of King Hezekiah of Judah. The Rab-shakeh is mentioned in the context of the Assyrian siege of Jerusalem, as recorded in the books of 2 Kings, 2 Chronicles, and Isaiah.

Biblical References:
The primary accounts of Rab-shakeh's activities are found in 2 Kings 18:17-37, 2 Chronicles 32:9-19, and Isaiah 36:2-22. These passages describe the Assyrian campaign against Judah during the reign of King Sennacherib.

Historical Context:
Rab-shakeh served under King Sennacherib of Assyria, who reigned from 705 to 681 BC. During this period, Assyria was a dominant power in the Near East, and Sennacherib sought to expand his influence by subjugating surrounding nations, including the Kingdom of Judah.

Role in the Siege of Jerusalem:
Rab-shakeh was part of a delegation sent by Sennacherib to demand the surrender of Jerusalem. The Assyrian army had already captured several fortified cities in Judah, and Jerusalem was under threat. Rab-shakeh's role was to deliver a message intended to demoralize the inhabitants of Jerusalem and persuade them to surrender without a fight.

Speech to the People of Jerusalem:
Rab-shakeh's speech, delivered in Hebrew to ensure that the people of Jerusalem could understand, is recorded in 2 Kings 18:19-35 and Isaiah 36:4-20. He questioned the trustworthiness of Hezekiah's leadership and the power of the God of Israel to deliver them from Assyrian hands. Rab-shakeh mocked the reliance on Egypt for military support and claimed that the LORD Himself had commanded the Assyrian invasion.

Key Verses:
In 2 Kings 18:19-20 , Rab-shakeh declares, "Tell Hezekiah: This is what the great king, the king of Assyria, says: On what are you basing this confidence of yours? You say you have strategy and military strength—but you speak only empty words. On whom are you depending, that you rebel against me?"

Response of Hezekiah and Isaiah:
King Hezekiah, upon hearing Rab-shakeh's words, sought the counsel of the prophet Isaiah. Isaiah assured Hezekiah that the LORD would defend Jerusalem and that Sennacherib would not succeed in capturing the city. This prophecy is fulfilled when the angel of the LORD strikes down 185,000 Assyrian soldiers, forcing Sennacherib to withdraw (2 Kings 19:35-36).

Theological Significance:
Rab-shakeh's encounter with Jerusalem serves as a testament to the sovereignty and power of God. Despite the overwhelming military might of Assyria, the LORD's protection of His people and His city is evident. The narrative underscores the futility of human arrogance and the ultimate triumph of divine will.

Conclusion:
Rab-shakeh's role in the biblical narrative highlights the tension between earthly power and divine authority. His attempt to undermine the faith of the Israelites serves as a reminder of the importance of trust in God, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges.Rab-Shakeh

cup-bearer of the prince

Rab-Shakeh

Chief butler or cup-bearer, an officer sent from Lachish by Sennacherib king of Assyria, to summon Hezekiah to surrender; which message he delivered in a most audacious and insolent manner. The history is told in 2 Kings 19:17 2 Chronicles 32:9 Isaiah 36:22. See NINEVEH and SENNACHERIB.

7262. Rabshaqeh -- perhaps "chief of the officers," an Assyr. ...
... military leader. Transliteration: Rabshaqeh Phonetic Spelling: (rab-shaw-kay') Short
Definition: Rabshakeh. ... military leader NASB Word Usage Rabshakeh (16). ...
/hebrew/7262.htm - 6k

How Sennacherib Made an Expedition against Hezekiah; What
... Threatenings Rabshakeh Made To Hezekiah When Sennacherib Was Gone Against The Egyptians;
How Isaiah The Prophet Encouraged Him; How Sennacherib Having Failed ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 1 how sennacherib made.htm

The Triumph of Faith
... A glance at the preceding chapters will show how the high military official, 'the
rabshakeh,' or chief of the officers, shaped all his insolent and yet skilful ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/the triumph of faith.htm

Deliverance from Assyria
... See Isaiah 52:5. "Speak ye now to Hezekiah," said Rabshakeh, one of Sennacherib's
chief officers, "Thus saith the great king, the king of Assyria, What ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 30 deliverance from assyria.htm

Further Examples from the Old Testament in Favour of Fasting.
... king of the Assyrians, Sennacherib, after already taking several cities, was volleying
blasphemies and menaces against Israel through Rabshakeh, nothing else ...
/.../chapter vii further examples from the.htm

Chapter xl
... In any case, we know both from secular parallels as well as from Scriptures (Nehemiah
1:11 "Nehemiah; and 2 Kings 18:17 "Rabshakeh, which Aramaic name ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xl.htm

Letter Lxxvi. To Abigaus.
... harvest. [2313]. 3. You request me by my exhortations to slay in you
Nebuchadnezzar and Rabshakeh and Nebuzar-adan and Holofernes. [2314 ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter lxxvi to abigaus.htm

Of the Removal of the Remains of John and of the Faith of ...
... When one of the barbarian chieftains ventured on his wonted blasphemy, and with
words like those of Rabshakeh and Sennacherib, madly threatened to burn the ...
/.../the ecclesiastical history of theodoret/chapter xxxvi of the removal of.htm

Order and Argument in Prayer
... It was well done of Hezekiah, when he took Rabshakeh's letter and spread it before
the Lord. Will that help him? It is full of blasphemy, will that help him? ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 12 1866/order and argument in prayer.htm

Nineveh.
... the latter years of his reign, Sennacherib undertook an expedition into Egypt, and
on his way sent a blasphemous message by his servant, Rabshakeh, to summon ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson ix nineveh.htm

Temptations.
... his prey, so doth Satan kill the spirit of those that hearken to him; for when he
tempteth, especially by way of accusation, he doth to us as Rabshakeh did to ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bunyan/the riches of bunyan/xv temptations.htm

Rabshakeh (15 Occurrences)
...RABSHAKEH. ...Rabshakeh sent through them a message to the king in which he
represented himself as the spokesman for the king of Assyria. ...
/r/rabshakeh.htm - 14k

Rab'shakeh (14 Occurrences)
Rab'shakeh. Rabshakeh, Rab'shakeh. Rab-shakeh . Multi-Version Concordance ... (See
RSV). Rabshakeh, Rab'shakeh. Rab-shakeh . Reference Bible.
/r/rab'shakeh.htm - 10k

Rab-shakeh (14 Occurrences)
...Rab-shakeh (14 Occurrences). 2 Kings 18:17 And the king of Assyria sent Tartan and
Rab-saris and Rabshakeh from Lachish to king Hezekiah with a great army unto ...
/r/rab-shakeh.htm - 10k

Fuller's (4 Occurrences)
... Here stood Rabshakeh in his interview with Eliakim and others on the wall (2 Kings
18:17 Isaiah 36:2); clearly the highway was within easy earshot of the walls ...
/f/fuller's.htm - 11k

Joah (10 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 18:26 Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebnah, and Joah, said to Rabshakeh,
"Please speak to your servants in the Syrian language; for we ...
/j/joah.htm - 11k

Rab-saris (3 Occurrences)
Rab-saris. Rab'saris, Rab-saris. Rabshakeh . Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia
RAB-SARIS. ... Rab'saris, Rab-saris. Rabshakeh . Reference Bible.
/r/rab-saris.htm - 9k

Eliakim (14 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 18:26 Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebnah, and Joah, said to Rabshakeh,
"Please speak to your servants in the Syrian language; for we ...
/e/eliakim.htm - 15k

Judean (7 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 18:28 Then Rabshakeh stood, and cried with a loud voice in the Jews' language ...
Isaiah 36:13 Then the Rab-shakeh got up and said with a loud voice in the ...
/j/judean.htm - 8k

Field (390 Occurrences)
... Here stood Rabshakeh in his interview with Eliakim and others on the wall (2 Kings
18:17 Isaiah 36:2); clearly the highway was within easy earshot of the walls ...
/f/field.htm - 44k

Recorder (10 Occurrences)
... His high rank is shown by the facts that, with other officers, he represented Hezekiah
in speaking with Rabshakeh (2 Kings 18:18), and, in the reign of Josiah ...
/r/recorder.htm - 12k

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