Eliakim

Family: Judah · Role: servant and future governor · First appears: Isaiah 22

In Isaiah 22, Eliakim is identified as Hilkiah’s son and God’s servant. God gives him Shebna’s office and authority, clothing him with a robe, strengthening him with a girdle, and declaring, “I will commit thy government into his hand.” Yet God also declares that Eliakim’s secure position will eventually be removed and cut down.

In Isaiah 36, Eliakim is over the household and stands with Shebna and Joah before Rabshakeh, asking him to speak in the Syrian language rather than in the hearing of the people. After Rabshakeh’s challenge, Eliakim and the others return to Hezekiah “with their clothes rent” and report his words. In Isaiah 37, Hezekiah sends Eliakim with Shebna and the elders of the priests to Isaiah to seek prophetic help.

Relationship record

Life events

• God appoints Eliakim son of Hilkiah, giving him Shebna’s office and authority.(Isaiah 22)
  • With: God Hilkiah
  • “And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will call my servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah: And I will clothe him with thy robe, and strengthen him with thy girdle, and I will commit thy government into his hand:”
• God declares that Eliakim’s secure position will eventually be removed and cut down.(Isaiah 22)
  • With: God
  • “In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, shall the nail that is fastened in the sure place be removed, and be cut down, and fall; and the burden that was upon it shall be cut off: for the LORD hath spoken it.”
• Hezekiah’s officials returned distressed and reported Rabshakeh’s words to him.(Isaiah 36)
  • With: Shebna Joah Hezekiah
  • “Then came Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah, that was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah, the son of Asaph, the recorder, to Hezekiah with their clothes rent, and told him the words of Rabshakeh.”
• Hezekiah sent Eliakim and Shebna to seek Isaiah’s prophetic help.(Isaiah 37)
  • With: Hezekiah Shebna Isaiah
  • “And he sent Eliakim, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests covered with sackcloth, unto Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz.”

Isaiah 22

• parent: Hilkiah “And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will call my servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah:”
• with God (God appoints and invests Eliakim with authority.) “And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will call my servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah: And I will clothe him with thy robe, and strengthen him with thy girdle, and I will commit thy government into his hand:”

Isaiah 36

• with Rabshakeh (interaction) “Then said Eliakim and Shebna and Joah unto Rabshakeh, Speak, I pray thee, unto thy servants in the Syrian language; for we understand it: and speak not to us in the Jews’ language, in the ears of the people that are on the wall.”
• commander: Rabshakeh “Then came forth unto him Eliakim, Hilkiah’s son, which was over the house, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah, Asaph’s son, the recorder. And Rabshakeh said unto them, Say ye now to Hezekiah, Thus saith the great king, the king of Assyria, What confidence is this wherein thou trustest?”
• with Hezekiah (reported Rabshakeh’s words to Hezekiah) “Then came Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah, that was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah, the son of Asaph, the recorder, to Hezekiah with their clothes rent, and told him the words of Rabshakeh.”

Isaiah 37

• sender: Hezekiah “And he sent Eliakim, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests covered with sackcloth, unto Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz.”
• with Isaiah (Eliakim, together with Shebna, delivered Hezekiah's message to Isaiah.) “And they said unto him, Thus saith Hezekiah, This day is a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and of blasphemy: for the children are come to the birth, and there is not strength to bring forth.”

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Extracted from the original text of The Prophets. Made with Rho MD.