ישעיהו, פרק ל״ו, פסוק י״א

During the tense siege of Jerusalem, a critical political negotiation unfolds at the foot of the city walls. King Hezekiah's ministers attempt to control the flow of information to prevent panic among the trapped population. They ask the Assyrian representative to conduct the discussion in Aramaic, which served as the international language of diplomacy at the time [ביאור שטיינזלץ] and held a highly respected status within the Assyrian royal court [שד״ל]. The Judean ministers may have also recognized from his accent that he was of Aramean descent [שד״ל]. They assure him that they are fully fluent in this diplomatic tongue and can easily manage the negotiation without a language barrier [רש״י, מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

Their main goal is to stop him from speaking the local Hebrew language, referred to as Judean because the tribe of Judah formed the core of the kingdom [מלבי״ם]. The primary approach among commentators is that this request is driven by a deep fear of crushing the morale of the soldiers and civilians listening from the walls. The ministers view the standoff as a high-level political negotiation regarding King Hezekiah and the payment of taxes to Assyria, matters they believe should not be broadcast to the general public [מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם].

Beyond these practical concerns, the exchange involves complex psychological and diplomatic maneuvering, particularly because the Assyrian spokesman is a Jewish apostate. Some suggest the Judean ministers hope he does not truly want to terrify the masses, attempting instead to awaken his mercy toward his original people [רש״י]. Alternatively, the ministers may be employing clever diplomatic manipulation. While their true goal is to protect the public's morale, they frame their language request as a matter of protecting his honor and status. They suggest it is beneath his dignity to share royal secrets with commoners, while also delivering a veiled warning: if he continues speaking Hebrew and invoking God's name, his Assyrian comrades might suspect him of harboring secret loyalties to his Jewish heritage. By switching to Aramaic, they advise, he can easily deflect any such suspicion [אברבנאל].