Isaiah 22 Study Notes
Share
This resource is exclusive for PLUS Members
Upgrade now and receive:
- Ad-Free Experience: Enjoy uninterrupted access.
- Exclusive Commentaries: Dive deeper with in-depth insights.
- Advanced Study Tools: Powerful search and comparison features.
- Premium Guides & Articles: Unlock for a more comprehensive study.
22:15 The office of steward was an important role, analogous to an American president’s chief of staff. Shebna is known elsewhere as a high-ranking officer in the court of Hezekiah (36:3,11,22; 37:2; 2Kg 18:18; 19:2), though in these passages he is called a “secretary” which may indicate that he had been demoted.
22:16 Shebna was concerned more about himself and his own glory than with the well-being of the city. Rock-hewn tombs from antiquity may be seen today all around Jerusalem, but particularly east of the city. Archaeologists discovered a tomb near Jerusalem that contained an inscription with the title of a person who was “in charge of the palace” (v. 15). However, there was no name on the tomb. Since he was demoted, it was probably not Shebna’s.
22:18 Shebna not only exalted himself by the type of tomb he was building, but also by driving glorious chariots.
22:19 Because of Shebna’s vanity and self-promotion, God will replace him in his position as steward.
22:20 Shebna’s replacement will be Eliakim son of Hilkiah, also known as a high official in King Hezekiah’s court (36:3,11,22; 37:22; 2Kg 18:18,26,37). He will be God’s servant, a title used elsewhere for Isaiah (20:3).
22:21 The robe and sash were symbols of the office of steward. As opposed to self-serving Shebna, Eliakim will function like a father, looking after the needs of his people.
22:22 The key, whether literal or metaphorical, indicates the control the steward had over the distribution of resources.
22:23 Eliakim will not be shaken like Shebna but will be a firmly implanted peg. The metaphor probably refers to a peg driven into a plastered wall to hold up shelves.
22:24-25 Eliakim is compared to a shelf on which his family put a tremendous burden. The weight ultimately sheared off the peg, causing the shelf (Eliakim) to crash and its contents (his family’s burdens) to break. The message of the pronouncement seems to be that the people could not trust even a competent, well-intentioned person to resolve Jerusalem’s problems.