Isaiah 22:20
And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will call my servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah:
Original Language Analysis
Cross References
Historical Context
Eliakim's appointment 'over the house' is confirmed in 2 Kings 18:18,37 and Isaiah 36:3,22, where he serves as Hezekiah's chief official during Sennacherib's siege. Unlike Shebna, who likely advocated Egyptian alliance, Eliakim worked with Isaiah's theological perspective, trusting Yahweh's deliverance rather than foreign treaties. His leadership during the 701 BC crisis, when God miraculously destroyed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers (Isaiah 37:36), vindicated his appointment. This demonstrates God's sovereignty in placing leaders who will implement His purposes at crucial moments in history. The contrast between Shebna (removed for self-serving ambition) and Eliakim (called as God's servant) established the biblical leadership principle: faithful service, not personal glory.
Questions for Reflection
- What does Eliakim's name ('God raises up') teach about the source of legitimate authority versus self-promoted position?
- How does the title 'my servant' given to Eliakim (but not Shebna) reveal God's criteria for leadership approval?
- In what ways did Eliakim's appointment 'in that day' prove providential for Judah's deliverance from Assyria?
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Analysis & Commentary
And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will call my servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah—The shift from judgment to hope is dramatic. Eliakim (אֶלְיָקִים, ʾelyāqîm) means 'God raises up' or 'God establishes'—a name signifying divine appointment, contrasting with Shebna's self-promotion. The designation my servant (עַבְדִּי, ʿaḇdî) is God's highest honor, used for Abraham, Moses, David, and ultimately the Messiah (Isaiah 42-53). God doesn't call Shebna 'my servant'—only Eliakim receives this title.
His father Hilkiah (חִלְקִיָּהוּ, ḥilqîyāhû, 'Yahweh is my portion') was possibly the high priest who later discovered the Book of the Law under Josiah (2 Kings 22:8), though chronology makes this uncertain. Either way, Eliakim came from a family known for faithfulness to Yahweh, contrasting with Shebna's apparent foreign origin and self-serving ambition. The phrase in that day (בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא, bayyôm hahûʾ) points to God's appointed timing—He removes and appoints according to His sovereign schedule.