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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comFausset Bible Dictionary: Eliakim
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1. Hilkiah's son, over Hezekiah's household (). As Joseph over Pharaoh's palace, Azrikam "governor of Ahaz' house" (); chamberlain, treasurer, prefect of the palace (), chief minister. Successor of Shebna, whose deposition for his pride was foretold (-20). Elevated at the time of the Assyrian invasion as the one most adapted to meet such a crisis. Same as Azariah son of Hilkiah (); the same man often bearing two names (Kimchi). God calls him "My servant": a pious patriot (compare ; -5). A "father to (counseling, befriending, and defending) the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the inhabitants of Judah."
Type of Messiah: "the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder (the key hung from the kerchief on the shoulder as emblem of his office, or figuratively for sustaining the government on his shoulder); so he shall open and none shall shut:, and he shall shut and none shall open;" i.e., all access to the royal house shall be through him. Antitypically, "the government shall be upon Messiah's shoulder" (; ); He shuts or opens at will the access to the heavenly mansion (), He has the keys also of hell (the grave) and death ().
As Eliakim supplanted Shebna, so Christ the Heir of David's throne shall supplant all the stewards who abuse their trust in God's spiritual house, the church and the world (hereafter to become coextensive with the church): -6. For the rest of Isaiah's imagery as to Eliakim, (See NAIL; SHEBNA, when degraded, was "scribe" (i.e. secretary, remembrancer, keeping the king informed on important facts, historiographer) under Eliakim (), who became "treasurer," or as Hebrew coken () from caakan, "to dwell" means, intimate friend of the king, dwelling on familiar terms, and "steward of the provisions" (compare ).
2. King JEHOIAKIM'S original name.
3. .
4. ; .
5. -31.