In the history of the Judean monarchy, the name Eliakim (meaning “God shall establish”) represents the transition from corrupt leadership to faithful stewardship. While several men bear this name, the most significant is the son of Hilkiah, who served as the prime minister under King Hezekiah during one of Israel’s greatest hours of peril.
The Replacement of Shebna
Eliakim first enters the biblical record as a servant of the king. At that time, the office of “over the household” (the highest administrative post under the king) was held by a man named Shebna. Shebna was a proud and worldly official who was building a magnificent tomb for himself. Because of his pride, God declared through the prophet Isaiah that Shebna would be deposed and replaced by Eliakim.
“And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will call my servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah: And I will clothe him with thy robe, and strengthen him with thy girdle, and I will commit thy government into his hand…” (Isaiah 22:20-21, KJV)
The Bearer of the Key
God described Eliakim as a “father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.” The most striking imagery associated with him is the “key of the house of David.” This symbol of total authority was placed upon his shoulder, granting him the power to regulate access to the king.
“And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall let.” (Isaiah 22:22, KJV)
The Confrontation with Assyria
Eliakim’s faith was tested when Sennacherib, the King of Assyria, besieged Jerusalem. Eliakim was one of the three officials sent out to meet the Rabshakeh (the Assyrian general). He stood firm despite the blasphemies and threats of the enemy, and he was the one who rent his clothes and sought out the prophet Isaiah for a word from the Lord (2 Kings 18:18, 19:2). His steadfastness during this crisis helped preserve the city until God miraculously destroyed the Assyrian host.
Other Men Named Eliakim
- The King (Jehoiakim): Pharaoh-necho changed the name of Josiah’s son from Eliakim to Jehoiakim when he placed him on the throne of Judah (2 Kings 23:34).
- The Priest: A priest who participated in the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem under Nehemiah (Nehemiah 12:41).
- The Ancestor of Christ: Eliakim appears in the genealogies of Jesus in both Matthew and Luke, proving that God did indeed “establish” his line (Matthew 1:13, Luke 3:30).
The Theological Lesson: A Type of Christ
Eliakim the son of Hilkiah is widely regarded as a type of Christ. In the book of Revelation, the Lord Jesus Christ applies the very words spoken of Eliakim to Himself:
“These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;” (Revelation 3:7, KJV)
Eliakim teaches us that:
- God Displaces the Proud: Just as Shebna was removed for Eliakim, God removes those who seek their own glory to make room for those who will be “servants.”
- Reliable Stewardship: Eliakim was described as a “fastened nail in a sure place” (Isaiah 22:23). He was someone the King and the people could lean on during a storm.
- The Power of the Key: Authority is given by God to those who will use it to protect and provide for His people.