Tartan

Easton's Bible Dictionary

One of Sargon's generals ( Isaiah 20:1 ).

Copyright Statement These dictionary topics are from M.G. Easton M.A., DD Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition, published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain.

Bibliography Information Easton, Matthew George. Entry for 'Tartan'. Easton's Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/ebd/t/tartan.html. 1897.

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

Tartan . The title borne by two Assyr. [Note: Assyrian.] officers, one of whom was sent by Sargon to Ashdod (  Isaiah 20:1 ), while the other, with the Rab-saris and the Rab-shakeh , was sent by Sennacherib to demand from Hezekiah the surrender of Jerusalem (  2 Kings 18:17 ). The word is a transcription in Heb. of the Assyr. [Note: Assyrian.] tartânu or turtânu , the title borne by the commander-in-chief of the army.

L. W. King.

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

Next to the Assyrian king in apparent rank. The commander-in-chief, who commanded his armies in his absence ( Isaiah 20:1). One sent against Ashdod by Sargon, distinct from Sennacherib's tartan ( 2 Kings 18:17). After the tartan came the Rubsaris , "chief eunuch," who had right of near approach to the king's person, and introduced strangers and attended to his comforts; then the Rabshakeh , "chief cupbearer," representing his master in embassies.

Webster's Dictionary

(1): ( n.) Woolen cloth, checkered or crossbarred with narrow bands of various colors, much worn in the Highlands of Scotland; hence, any pattern of tartan; also, other material of a similar pattern.

(2): ( n.) A small coasting vessel, used in the Mediterranean, having one mast carrying large leteen sail, and a bowsprit with staysail or jib.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Tar'tan. Tartan, which occurs only in  2 Kings 18:17 and  Isaiah 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.

Morrish Bible Dictionary

The title of an Assyrian officer sent to Hezekiah.  2 Kings 18:17 . The same or another was sent to Ashdod.  Isaiah 20:1 . The name is supposed to signify 'commander in chief.'

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

An Assyrian general, sent to Jerusalem with Rabshakeh, by Sennacherib,  2 Kings 18:17; and perhaps the same who captured Ashdod in the reign of Sargon,  Isaiah 20:1 .

King James Dictionary

T`ARTAN, n. A small coasting vessel with one mast and a bowsprit, and the principal sail, which is very large, extended by a lateen-yard.

Holman Bible Dictionary

 2 Kings 18:17 Isaiah 20:1

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(Heb. Tartan', תִּרְתָּן ; Sept. Θαρθάν v.r. Τανάθαν or Ταραθάν ; Vulg. Tharthan), which occurs only in  2 Kings 18:17 and  Isaiah 20:1, has been generally regarded as a proper name (Gesenius, Lex. Heb. s.v.). Winer assumes, on account of the identity of name, that the same person is intended in the two places (Realw. s.v.). Recent discoveries make it probable that in Tartan, as in Rabsaris and Rabshakeh, we have not a proper name at all, but a title or official designation, like Pharaoh among the Egyptians, or Surena among the Parthians (Tacit. Ann. 6:42). The Assvrian Tartan is a general, or commander-in-chief. It seems as if the Greek translator of 2 Kings had an inkling of the truth, and therefore prefixed the article to all three names, which he very rarely prefixes to the names of persons where they are first mentioned. If this be the true account of the term Tartan, we must understand in  2 Kings 18:17 that Sennacherib sent "a general," together with his "chief eunuch" and "chief cup-bearer," on an embassy to Hezekiah, and in  Isaiah 20:1 that "a general"-probably a different person-was employed by Sargon against Ashdod, and succeeded in taking the city. (See Tribute).

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

tar´tan ( תּרתּן , 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   Isaiah 20:1 it is used of the officer sent by Sargon, king of Assyria, against Ashdod; according to   2 Kings 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.

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

Tar´tan, an Assyrian general whom Sennacherib sent, accompanied by Rabsaris and Rabshakeh, to Jerusalem . It is not known whether this is the same officer who in a preceding reign besieged and took Ashdod for his master .