Eliakim
Eliakim was the palace administrator under King Hezekiah during the Assyrian invasion.
Biography
Eliakim son of Hilkiah served as palace administrator, the official "over the household", under King Hezekiah of Judah during the crisis of the Assyrian invasion led by Sennacherib (2 Kings 18–19; Isaiah 36–37). When the Assyrian field commander Rabshakeh appeared outside Jerusalem's walls and delivered a threatening speech designed to demoralize the population, it was Eliakim who led the delegation sent to negotiate. He requested that the Assyrians speak in Aramaic rather than Hebrew so as not to frighten the people on the wall. Subsequently, he joined Shebna and Joah in bringing Rabshakeh's words to Hezekiah, who tore his clothes in grief. Isaiah prophesied that Eliakim would replace Shebna as chief administrator, describing him as a "peg in a sure place" who would bear the honor of his father's house (Isaiah 22:20–25).
Significance
Eliakim son of Hilkiah stands as one of the most theologically significant administrative figures in the Hebrew Bible. Isaiah's oracle concerning him (Isaiah 22:20–25) invests his appointment with messianic overtones: he is called God's servant, placed in authority with "the key of the house of David" on his shoulder, a phrase later applied to Christ in Revelation 3:7. His faithful representation of Hezekiah during the Assyrian crisis exemplifies the godly statesman who serves both king and people with integrity. His story demonstrates that God works not only through prophets and priests but also through wise and courageous civil servants who stand firm in moments of national crisis.
Verse Appearances (9)
References
- Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Wikidata contributors (n.d.) Wikidata. Available at: https://www.wikidata.org. [CC0]
- Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]