Isaiah 36:3

Then came forth unto him Eliakim, Hilkiah's son, which was over the house, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah, Asaph's son, the recorder. ELIAKIM - successor to Shebna, who had been "over the household" - i:e., chief minister of the king: in Isaiah 22:15 this was foretold. SCRIBE - secretary. RECORDER - literally, one who reminds; a remembrancer to keep the king informed on important facts, and to act as historiographer. In the additional fact is given, that the Assyrian envoys "called to the king," in consequence of which Eliakim, etc., "came out to them....

3._And Eliakim went to him. Eliakim _was formerly mentioned. It was he to whom the Lord promised that he would give him the chief power in the kingdom after the banishment of Shebna. (Isaiah 22:20.) It now appears as if that promise had failed, when he is sent to an enemy as a suppliant, and as one who is about to surrender himself and his companions, and to undergo cruel tyranny. This might also fill the hearts of believers with anxiety, and lead them to doubt the promises of God. Besides, the godly king had such a scarcity of good men, that, along with Eliakim, he was compelled to send Shebna, whom he knew well to be deceitful and treacherous. ספר _(sopher) _means_scribe; _and accordingly it often denotes learned men or doctors, and sometimes those who took charge of writings and those who had the custody of the royal records. I ha

Verse Isaiah 36:3. _THEN CAME FORTH UNTO HIM_] Before these words the other copy, 2 Kings 18:18, adds, ויקראו אל המלך _vaiyikreu el hammelech_, "And they demanded audience of the king....

THEN CAME FORTH UNTO HIM - Isaiah has here omitted what is recorded in 2 Kings 18:18, namely, that Rabshakeh and his companions ‘called to the king,’ and as the result of that probably Hezekiah sent out Eliakim. ELIAKIM, HILKIAH’S SON, WHICH WAS OVER THE HOUSE - Respecting Eliakim, and his character, see the notes at Isaiah 22:20. AND SHEBNA THE SCRIBE - This may have been some other man than the one mentioned in Isaiah 22:15. He is there said to have been ‘over the house,’ and it is stated that he should be degraded from that office, and succeeded by Eliakim. It is possible, however, that Hezekiah ret

PART II. HISTORICAL SKETCH OF EVENTS IN THE REIGN OF HEZEKIAH (CH. 36-39.). SECTION I. SENNACHERIB'S ATTEMPTS TO REDUCE JUDAEA, AND HIS OVERTHROW (Isaiah 36:1; Isaiah 37:1.). EXPOSITION IF the Book of Isaiah be regarded as the result of a gradual accretion (see the General Introduction), whether that accretion is to be ascribed to the action of the prophet himself or to that of later editors, we may equally consi

THEN CAME FORTH UNTO HIM,.... Being sent by Hezekiah; for otherwise Rabshakeh had the impudence to call to him, in order to parley, and treat with him about the surrender of the city; but as this was not thought either safe or honourable for the king to go in person, his following ministers went; see 2 Kings 18:18: ELIAKIM, HILKIAH'S SON, WHICH WAS OVER THE HOUSE; not over the house of the Lord, the temple, as some, but the king's house, being high steward of if, or "major domo". This is the same person as is mentioned in Isaiah 22:20: AND SHEBNA THE SCRIBE; not of the book of the law, a copier, or interpreter of that, but secretary of state; he had been treasurer, but now removed,...

THE HISTORICAL PARENTHESIS (36-39) The center of the book of Isaiah is a brief but deeply interesting historical account of events during the reign of King Hezekiah. His name is mentioned not less than thirty-one times in these Chapter s. His great works in reformation and otherwise are recorded in 2 Kings 18:4, 2 Chronicles 29:1; 2Ch 30:5-22, 2 Kings 20:20. From Proverbs 25:1 we learn that he was a great lover of the Word of God, for he had it copied, perhaps by many scribes. He was 25 years old when he ascended the throne and reigned 29 years, 727-699 B.C. No doubt he was one of the greatest kings of Judah. T

ISAIAH 36-39. This section has been extracted from 2 Kings 18:13 to 2 Kings 20:19, and the Song of Hezekiah has been added. For an exposition see the notes on 2 K.; here we have simply to deal with the Song of Hezekiah. ISAIAH 38:10. THANKSGIVING FOR DELIVERANCE FROM IMMINENT DEATH. This is now generally regarded as a post-exilic psalm. Its absence in the parallel narratine in Kings is significant. Apparently it was inserted here by an editor who thought it suitable to Hezekiah's circumstances. If, as seems likely, it has been influenced by the Book of Job, it must be post-exilic. The title cannot, any more than the Psalm titles, weigh against internal evidence. Hezekiah's writing after his recov

ELIAKIM. See and Compare Isaiah 22:20. The promise of Isaiah 22:20; Isaiah 22:21 was already fulfilled. HOUSE. Put by Figure of speech _Metonymy_ (of Subject), for household. Eliakim fulfils Shebna's office, as foretold in Isa 22:15-26. SHEBNA. See Isaiah 22:15. SCRIBE: or, secretary. Title used of. state officer, first in 2 Samuel 8:17. Connected with finance (2 Kings 22:3)....

The words "and they called the king" in 2 Kings 18:18 are omitted. _which was over the house_ See ch. Isaiah 22:15. It will be seen that in accordance with ch. Isaiah 22:20, Eliakim here occupies the office formerly held by Shebna, although the latter still appears in a subordinate capacity as _scribe_or rather SECRETARY (R.V. marg.). _the recorder_ Lit. THE REMEMBRANCER....