וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֶלְיָקִ֣ים בֶּן־חִ֠לְקִיָּהוּ וְשֶׁבְנָ֨ה וְיוֹאָ֜ח אֶל־רַב־שָׁקֵ֗ה דַּבֶּר־נָ֤א אֶל־עֲבָדֶ֙יךָ֙ אֲרָמִ֔ית כִּ֥י שֹׁמְעִ֖ים אֲנָ֑חְנוּ וְאַל־תְּדַבֵּ֤ר עִמָּ֙נוּ֙ יְהוּדִ֔ית בְּאָזְנֵ֣י הָעָ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֖ר עַל־הַחֹמָֽה׃
Lalu Elyakim bin Hilkia, Sebna, dan Yoah berkata kepada Rabsake: “Berbicaralah kiranya kepada hamba-hambamu ini dalam bahasa Aram, karena kami mengerti bahasa itu. Janganlah berbicara dengan kami dalam bahasa Yehuda sehingga didengar oleh rakyat yang ada di atas tembok.”
Rashi
For we understand it. We are residents of the palace, and understand Aramaic and other languages. But do not speak Hebrew to us, which all the people understand,18They were concerned about the morale of the people and therefore wanted to keep the conversation private. and we do not want them to hear.19It is not proper to reveal matters of war to the general public.—Metzudas Dovid