TWO POOR STEWARDS
Key verse: 22
NIV
15 This is what the Lord, the Lord Almighty, says:
“Go, say to this steward,
to Shebna(A) the palace(B) administrator:(C)
16 What are you doing here and who gave you permission
to cut out a grave(D) for yourself(E) here,
hewing your grave on the height
and chiseling your resting place in the rock?
17 “Beware, the Lord is about to take firm hold of you
and hurl(F) you away, you mighty man.
18 He will roll you up tightly like a ball
and throw(G) you into a large country.
There you will die
and there the chariots(H) you were so proud of
will become a disgrace to your master’s house.
19 I will depose you from your office,
and you will be ousted(I) from your position.(J)
20 “In that day(K) I will summon my servant,(L) Eliakim(M) son of Hilkiah. 21 I will clothe him with your robe and fasten your sash(N) around him and hand your authority(O) over to him. He will be a father to those who live in Jerusalem and to the people of Judah. 22 I will place on his shoulder(P) the key(Q) to the house of David;(R) what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.(S) 23 I will drive him like a peg(T) into a firm place;(U) he will become a seat[a] of honor(V) for the house of his father. 24 All the glory of his family will hang on him: its offspring and offshoots—all its lesser vessels, from the bowls to all the jars.
25 “In that day,(W)” declares the Lord Almighty, “the peg(X) driven into the firm place will give way; it will be sheared off and will fall, and the load hanging on it will be cut down.” The Lord has spoken.(Y)
Footnotes
- Isaiah 22:23 Or throne
Cross references
- Isaiah 22:15 : S 2Ki 6:30; S 18:18
- Isaiah 22:15 : S Ge 41:40
- Isaiah 22:15 : ver 21
- Isaiah 22:16 : Mt 27:60
- Isaiah 22:16 : S Ge 50:5; S Nu 32:42
- Isaiah 22:17 : Jer 10:18; 13:18; 22:26
- Isaiah 22:18 : S Job 18:11; Isa 14:19; 17:13
- Isaiah 22:18 : S Ge 41:43
- Isaiah 22:19 : S 1Sa 2:7; S Ps 52:5
- Isaiah 22:19 : Lk 16:3
- Isaiah 22:20 : ver 25
- Isaiah 22:20 : S Isa 20:3
- Isaiah 22:20 : S 2Ki 18:18; S Isa 36:3
- Isaiah 22:21 : S Isa 5:27
- Isaiah 22:21 : ver 15
- Isaiah 22:22 : Isa 9:6
- Isaiah 22:22 : 1Ch 9:27; Mt 16:19; Rev 3:7
- Isaiah 22:22 : S Isa 7:2
- Isaiah 22:22 : S Job 12:14
- Isaiah 22:23 : ver 25; Eze 15:3; Zec 10:4
- Isaiah 22:23 : S Ezr 9:8; S Job 6:25
- Isaiah 22:23 : S 1Sa 2:7-8; S Job 36:7
- Isaiah 22:25 : ver 20
- Isaiah 22:25 : S ver 23
- Isaiah 22:25 : Isa 46:11; Mic 4:4
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
15 Thus says the Lord God of hosts, “Come, go to this steward, to (A)Shebna, who is over the household, and say to him: 16 What have you to do here, and whom have you here, (B)that you have cut out here a tomb for yourself, you (C)who cut out a tomb on the height and carve a dwelling for yourself in the rock? 17 Behold, the Lord will hurl you away violently, O you strong man. (D)He will seize firm hold on you 18 and whirl you around and around, and throw you like a ball into a wide land. There you shall die, and there shall be (E)your glorious chariots, you shame of your master's house. 19 (F)I will thrust you from your office, and you will be pulled down from your station. 20 In that day I will call my servant (G)Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, 21 and (H)I will clothe him with your robe, and will bind your sash on him, and will commit your authority to his hand. And he shall be (I)a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. 22 And I will place (J)on his shoulder (K)the key of the house of David. (L)He shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open. 23 And I will fasten him (M)like a peg in a secure place, and he will become (N)a throne of honor to his father's house. 24 And they will hang on him the whole honor of his father's house, the offspring and issue, every small vessel, from the cups to all the flagons. 25 In that day, declares the Lord of hosts, (O)the peg that was fastened in a secure place will give way, and it will be cut down and fall, and the load that was on it will be cut off, for the Lord has spoken.”
Read full chapterCross references
- Isaiah 22:15 : ch. 36:3, 11, 22; 37:2; 2 Kgs. 18:18, 26, 37; 19:2
- Isaiah 22:16 : 2 Chr. 16:14
- Isaiah 22:16 : Matt. 27:60
- Isaiah 22:17 : [Dan. 3:21]
- Isaiah 22:18 : [ch. 36:9]
- Isaiah 22:19 : [ver. 25]
- Isaiah 22:20 : ch. 36:3; 37:2; 2 Kgs. 18:18, 26, 37; 19:2
- Isaiah 22:21 : [See ver. 20 above]; ch. 36:3; 37:2; 2 Kgs. 18:18, 26, 37; 19:2
- Isaiah 22:21 : Gen. 45:8
- Isaiah 22:22 : ch. 9:6
- Isaiah 22:22 : Rev. 3:7
- Isaiah 22:22 : [Job 12:14]
- Isaiah 22:23 : [ch. 33:20; 54:2; Eccles. 12:11]
- Isaiah 22:23 : [Rev. 3:21]
- Isaiah 22:25 : [See ver. 23 above]; [ch. 33:20; 54:2; Eccles. 12:11]
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. Shebna's bad influence (15-19)
In the time of the Assyrian crisis (Isa 36), Shebna was the steward in charge of the palace. He was very close to the king. He used his high position to enjoy personal glory and an easy life. When the city was threatened, he abandoned his mission and only worked hard to prepare an elaborate tomb for himself. He planted despair and fear of death in the hearts of his people. His selfishness angered God.
2. Eliakim, a servant honored by God (2
-25)
Eliakim was put in charge in Shebna's place. God wanted him to be a true shepherd and father to the people of Jerusalem. He was given great authority. But he could not bear God's blessings to the end. He became too involved with his own family. God does not want his servants to become involved in 'civilian affairs' (2Ti 2:4).
Prayer: Lord, teach me to seek your glory, and help me to be a faithful shepherd to the end.
One Word: For the glory of God and the highest good of his people
