Eliakim אֶלְיָקִים
Palace administrator under King Hezekiah
Biography
Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah, served as the palace administrator under King Hezekiah of Judah. He is mentioned in 2 Kings 18-19, Isaiah 22, and Isaiah 36-37. During the Assyrian invasion, Eliakim, along with Shebna the secretary and Joah the recorder, was sent by Hezekiah to meet with the Assyrian officials (2Ki.18.18). The Assyrian commander, the Rabshakeh, delivered a threatening message, urging the people of Judah to surrender (2Ki.18.26-37). Eliakim and the others reported the message to Hezekiah, who sought the counsel of the prophet Isaiah (2Ki.19.2; Isa.37.2). Isaiah prophesied that God would deliver Jerusalem from the Assyrians (Isa.22.20-25). Eliakim's role as palace administrator suggests that he was a high-ranking official and trusted advisor to the king. His involvement in the diplomatic negotiations with the Assyrians highlights the critical situation Judah faced during this time.
Family
In Scripture
2 biblical books ; 1 with study content2 Kings 4 verses
- 2 Kings 18:18
"When they had called to the king, Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebnah the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder came out to them."
- 2 Kings 18:26
"Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, Shebnah, and Joah, said to Rabshakeh, “Please speak to your servants in the Syrian language, for we understand it. Don’t speak with us in the Jews’ language, in the hearing of the people who are on the wall.”"
- 2 Kings 18:37
"Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, came with Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder, to Hezekiah with their clothes torn, and told him Rabshakeh’s words."
- 2 Kings 19:2
"He sent Eliakim, who was over the household, Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz."
Isaiah 5 verses
- Isaiah 22:20
"It will happen in that day that I will call my servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah,"
Study Isaiah → - Isaiah 36:3
"Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah, the son of Asaph, the recorder came out to him."
Study Isaiah → - Isaiah 36:11
"Then Eliakim, Shebna and Joah said to Rabshakeh, “Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, for we understand it. Don’t speak to us in the Jews’ language in the hearing of the people who are on the wall.”"
Study Isaiah → - Isaiah 36:22
"Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah, the son of Asaph, the recorder, came to Hezekiah with their clothes torn, and told him the words of Rabshakeh."
Study Isaiah → - Isaiah 37:2
"He sent Eliakim, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz."
Study Isaiah →
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Strong's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | אֶלְיָקִים | H0471G |
Eliakim
ctions of his office are seen from the oracle of Isaiah in which Shebna is deposed and Eliakim set in his place (Isa 22:15 ff). He is the "treasurer" (the Revised Version, margin "steward"), and is "over the house" (Isa 22:15).
At his installation he is clothed with a robe and girdle, the insignia of his office, and, having the government committed into his hand, is the "father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah" (Isa 22:21). The key of the house of David is laid on his shoulder, and he alone has power to open and shut, this being symbolic of his absolute authority as the king's representative (Isa 22:22).
One of Solomon's officials is the first mentioned as occupying this position (1Ki 4:6), and this office was continued in both the Northern and Southern Kingdom (1Ki 16:9; 18:3; 2Ki 10:5; 15:5). Its importance is seen from the fact that after Azariah was smitten with leprosy, Jotham his heir "was over the household, judging the people of the land" (2Ki 15:5).
When Sennacherib sent an army against Jerusalem in 701, Eliskim was one of these Jewish princes who held on behalf of Hezekiah a parley with the Assyrian officers (2Ki 18:18,26,37; Isa 36:3,11,22). As a result of the invader's threats, he was sent by Hezekiah in sackcloth to Isaiah, entreating his prayers to Yahweh on behalf of Jerusalem (2Ki 19:2; Isa 37:2).
(2) The original name of Jehoiakim, the son of Josiah, whom Pharaoh-necoh made king of Judah (2Ki 23:34; 2Ch 36:4).
(3) A priest who assisted at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, rebuilt after his return from Babylon (Ne 12:41).
(4) A grandson of Zerubbabel and ancestor of Jesus (Mt 1:13).
(5) An ancestor of Jesus (Lu 3:30).
S. F. Hunter
/APC 1Esdras 9:34; possibly corresponds to "Binnui" in Ezr 10:38.
e-li'-am ('eli'-am, "people's God"?):
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