20:1 Tartan came unto Ashdod. Tartan (II Kings 18:17) was one of the three Assyrian commanders of the invading Assyrian armies. Ashdod was the chief city of Philistia.

20:1 Sargon the king. Both King Sargon and his captain, Tartan, are named in an inscription found in the ruins of Ashdod, confirming their conquest of Ashdod as noted in this verse. This is the only Biblical mention of the Assyrian king Sargon, although he is the one who claimed to have captured Samaria and taken the Israelites into captivity. See note on II Kings 18:11. The palace of Sargon has been discovered some twelve miles north of Nineveh.