chief
rav denotes a chief or senior official, most often the leader identified with the guard.
The attested use most often identifies the chief associated with the guard, particularly Nebuzaradan in accounts of Jerusalem's capture and exile. In a smaller set of contexts, it designates other senior figures: a chief of eunuchs, household officers, chief officers of a king, and a ship's captain.
Senses in use
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Chief associated with the guard · dominant
The singular construct form occurs in designations for Nebuzaradan, who comes to Jerusalem in 2 Kings 25:8, carries people into exile in Jeremiah 52:15, and takes temple articles in Jeremiah 52:19. In Jeremiah 40:5, the same official gives Jeremiah provisions and sends him away; the APB renders the designation with expressions such as “captain of the guard” and “chief guard.”
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Senior official or captain in other settings · occasional
Outside the guard designation, the singular construct form identifies Ashpenaz in the king's command in Daniel 1:3 and the captain who addresses the sleeping Jonah in Jonah 1:6. In Esther 1:8 the APB places the term among the king's household officers, while Jeremiah 41:1 uses the plural construct form for one of the king's chief officers.
In the Anselm Project Bible: Across the verses, the APB variously uses “captain of the guard,” “chief of the guards,” “chief guard,” “chief of his eunuchs,” “officers,” and “captain.” These render the surrounding designations loosely, so the translation does not by itself isolate the term's contribution in every clause.