Thus saith the Lord GOD of hosts, Go, get thee unto this treasurer, even unto Shebna, which is over the house—God directly confronts Shebna (שֶׁבְנָא), whose name may be shortened from Shebaniah, meaning 'Yah has grown.' He held the office of al-habayit (עַל־הַבָּיִת, 'over the house'), the royal steward or palace administrator—second only to the king in authority (cf. 1 Kings 4:6). The title sōkēn (סֹכֵן, 'treasurer') indicates his control of royal finances.
This oracle is remarkable because it's one of Scripture's few prophecies naming a specific individual for judgment besides the king. Shebna's self-aggrandizement and foreign policy sympathies (likely pro-Egyptian) contradicted Hezekiah's reforms and Isaiah's counsel to trust Yahweh alone. The phrase Lord GOD of hosts (אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה צְבָאוֹת) emphasizes God's sovereign authority over all powers—earthly officials serve at His pleasure, not their own.
Historical Context
Shebna served as royal steward during Hezekiah's reign (715-686 BC), during the critical period of Assyrian expansion. His position 'over the house' made him Hezekiah's chief administrator, controlling access to the king and managing royal affairs. Archaeological evidence shows this office existed in surrounding nations (Egyptian, Assyrian parallels). Shebna later appears as 'the scribe' in Isaiah 36-37 (demoted), while Eliakim takes his position. This suggests the prophecy's fulfillment before Sennacherib's siege (701 BC). Shebna likely represented a pro-Egyptian faction advocating foreign alliances rather than trusting Yahweh, directly opposing Isaiah's message.
Questions for Reflection
What does God's confrontation of a royal official (not the king) teach about accountability at every level of leadership?
How did Shebna's position 'over the house' parallel—and fail to live up to—the stewardship responsibility God demands?
Why does Scripture preserve this oracle against a secondary figure rather than focusing only on kings and nations?
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Analysis & Commentary
Thus saith the Lord GOD of hosts, Go, get thee unto this treasurer, even unto Shebna, which is over the house—God directly confronts Shebna (שֶׁבְנָא), whose name may be shortened from Shebaniah, meaning 'Yah has grown.' He held the office of al-habayit (עַל־הַבָּיִת, 'over the house'), the royal steward or palace administrator—second only to the king in authority (cf. 1 Kings 4:6). The title sōkēn (סֹכֵן, 'treasurer') indicates his control of royal finances.
This oracle is remarkable because it's one of Scripture's few prophecies naming a specific individual for judgment besides the king. Shebna's self-aggrandizement and foreign policy sympathies (likely pro-Egyptian) contradicted Hezekiah's reforms and Isaiah's counsel to trust Yahweh alone. The phrase Lord GOD of hosts (אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה צְבָאוֹת) emphasizes God's sovereign authority over all powers—earthly officials serve at His pleasure, not their own.