Tartan תַּרְתָּן
Title of an Assyrian military commander
Who is Tartan in the Bible?
Tartan was the title of a high-ranking Assyrian military commander, likely second in command to the king and responsible for leading major military campaigns. The name appears in 2 Kings 18:17 and Isaiah 20:1, where it refers to officers serving different Assyrian kings. In 2 Kings, King Sennacherib sent the Tartan along with other officials to Jerusalem to intimidate King Hezekiah and demand his surrender, while in Isaiah, the Tartan served under King Sargon and led an attack against the city of Ashdod. The title, derived from Akkadian, designated the commander-in-chief of the Assyrian army. These references illustrate Assyria's military might during the period of Israelite monarchy and underscore the threat posed by the empire's organized military structure to the kingdoms of the ancient Near East.
Biography
The Tartan is mentioned in 2Ki.18.17 and Isa.20.1 as a title of a high-ranking Assyrian military commander. In 2 Kings, the Tartan, along with the Rabsaris and the Rabshakeh, was sent by King Sennacherib of Assyria to Jerusalem to intimidate King Hezekiah and demand his surrender. In Isaiah, the Tartan was sent by Sargon king of Assyria to attack the city of Ashdod. The Tartan was likely second in command to the king and led major military campaigns. The title is of Akkadian origin and refers to the commander-in-chief of the Assyrian army.
In Scripture
2 biblical books ; 1 with study content2 Kings 1 verse
- 2 Kings 18:17
"Nevertheless, the king of Assyria sent the Tartan, the Rabsaris, and the Rabshakeh, along with a great army, from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem. They advanced up to Jerusalem and stationed themselves by the aqueduct of the upper pool, on the road to the Launderer’s Field."
Isaiah 1 verse
- Isaiah 20:1
"Before the year that the chief commander, sent by Sargon king of Assyria, came to Ashdod and attacked and captured it,"
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Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | תַּרְתָּן | tarĕtān | Tartan , an Assyrian |
| (same form as previous) | Hebrew | תַּרְתָּן | tarĕtān | Tartan , an Assyrian |
Tartan
the highest official next to the king, which in a military empire like Assyria would be the "commander-in-chief." The Assyrian form of the name is tartanu or turtanu. In both Old Testament passages the reference is to a military officer. In Isa 20:1 it is used of the officer sent by Sargon, king of Assyria, against Ashdod; according to 2Ki 18:17, Sennacherib sent Tartan and RAB-SARIS (which see) and RABSHAKEH (which see) with a great host against Jerusalem. The names of the-two officials are not known.
F. C. Eiselen
task'-mas-ter. (sar mac, "chief of the burden" or "levy" (Ex 1:11); noghes, "distress," "driver," "oppressor," "raiser of taxes," "taskmaster" (Ex