commanding general

In Bible versions:

commander: NIV
commanding general: NET
Tartan: AVS NRSV NASB TEV

a general (official title)

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title of a high Assyrian officer (IBD)

Hebrew

Strongs #08661: Ntrt Tartan

1) Tartan - field marshal, general, or commander
1a) a title used by the Assyrian military

8661 Tartan tar-tawn'

of foreign derivation; Tartan, an Assyrian: KJV -- Tartan.

Tartan [nave]

TARTAN, an Assyrian general, 2 Kin. 18:17; Isa. 20:1.

Tartan [ebd]

an Assyrian word, meaning "the commander-in-chief." (1.) One of Sennacherib's messengers to Hezekiah (2 Kings 18:17). (2.) One of Sargon's generals (Isa. 20:1).

TARTAN [smith]

which occurs only in (2 Kings 18:17) and Isai 20:1 Has been generally regarded as a proper name; like Rabsaris and Rabshakeh, it is more probably an official designation, and indicates the Assyrian commander-in-chief.

TARTAN [isbe]

TARTAN - tar'-tan (tartan): For a long time the word was interpreted as a proper name, but the Assyrian inscriptions have shown it to be the title of a high official. From the eponym lists it would seem that it was the title of 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 2 Ki 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