During a tense moment in the Assyrian siege of Jerusalem, Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah, who are officials of King Hezekiah, ask the Assyrian field commander to speak in Aramaic. Aramaic was a common diplomatic language of the time, understood by educated officials but not by the general populace. By requesting this, the officials aim to keep the conversation private, preventing the people on the city wall from understanding and potentially panicking. This request underscores the gravity of the situation and the leaders' efforts to manage public morale and maintain control over the narrative. It also highlights the importance of language and communication in diplomatic and military contexts, as well as the leaders' concern for the psychological state of their people during a siege. This moment captures the intersection of language, power, and leadership in a time of national crisis.
Then Eliakim, Shebna and Joah said to the field commander, “Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, since we understand it. Don’t speak to us in Hebrew in the hearing of the people on the wall.”
Isaiah 36:11
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