Isa 22:20-25 | JFB | STEP | 20. son of Hilkiah —supposed by KIMCHI to be the same as Azariah, son of Hilkiah, who perhaps had two names, and who was "over the household" in Hezekiah's time ( ).

Isaiah 22:20-25

20. son of Hilkiah—supposed by KIMCHI to be the same as Azariah, son of Hilkiah, who perhaps had two names, and who was "over the household" in Hezekiah's time (1Ch 6:13).

21. thy robe—of office.

girdle—in which the purse was carried, and to it was attached the sword; often adorned with gold and jewels.

father—that is, a counsellor and friend.

22. key—emblem of his office over the house; to "open" or "shut"; access rested with him.

upon . . . shoulder—So keys are carried sometimes in the East, hanging from the kerchief on the shoulder. But the phrase is rather figurative for sustaining the government on one's shoulders. Eliakim, as his name implies, is here plainly a type of the God-man Christ, the son of "David," of whom Isaiah (Isa 9:6) uses the same language as the former clause of this verse. In Re 3:7, the same language as the latter clause is found (compare Job 12:14).

23. nail . . . sure place—Large nails or pegs stood in ancient houses on which were suspended the ornaments of the family. The sense is: all that is valuable to the nation shall rest securely on him. In Ezr 9:8 "nail" is used of the large spike driven into the ground to fasten the cords of the tent to.

throne—resting-place to his family, as applied to Eliakim; but "throne," in the strict sense, as applied to Messiah, the antitype (Lu 1:32, 33).

24. Same image as in Isa 22:23. It was customary to "hang" the valuables of a house on nails (1Ki 10:16, 17, 21; So 4:4).

offspring and the issue—rather, "the offshoots of the family, high and low" [VITRINGA]. Eliakim would reflect honor even on the latter.

vessels of cups—of small capacity: answering to the low and humble offshoots.

vessels of flagons—larger vessels: answering to the high offshoots.

25. nail . . . fastened—Shebna, who was supposed to be firmly fixed in his post.

burden . . . upon it—All that were dependent on Shebna, all his emoluments and rank will fail, as when a peg is suddenly "cut down," the ornaments on it fall with it. Sin reaches in its effects even to the family of the guilty (Ex 20:5).