Eliakim

Eli´akim [JEHOIAKIM]

1. A king of Judah, 2Ki 23:24 . See JEHOIAKIM.\par 2. An officer of king Hezekiah’s court, appointed with others to treat with Rabshakeh, general of the Assyrian forces them besieging Jerusalem, 2Ki 18:1-19:37 Isa 36:22. See SENNACHERIB.\par

Eli’akim. (raised up by God).

1. Son of Hilkiah, master of Hezekiah’s household, ("over the house," as), Isa 36:3. 2Ki 18:18; 2Ki 18:26; 2Ki 18:37. (B.C. 713). Eliakim was a good man, as appears by the title emphatically applied to him by God, "my servant Eliakim," Isa 22:20, and also in the discharge of the duties of his high station, in which he acted as a "father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah." Isa 22:21.

2. The original name of Jehoiakim, king of Judah. 2Ki 23:34; 2Ch 36:4.

3. A priest, in the days of Nehemiah, who assisted at the dedication of the new wall of Jerusalem. Neh 12:41. (B.C. 446).

4. Eldest son of Abiud or Judah; brother of Joseph, and father of Azor. Mat 1:13.

5. Son of Melea, and father of Jonan. Luk 3:30-31.

1. Hilkiah’s son, over Hezekiah’s household (Isa 36:3). As Joseph over Pharaoh’s palace, Azrikam "governor of Ahaz’ house" (2Ch 28:7); chamberlain, treasurer, prefect of the palace (Gen 41:40), chief minister. Successor of Shebna, whose deposition for his pride was foretold (Isa 22:15-20). Elevated at the time of the Assyrian invasion as the one most adapted to meet such a crisis. Same as Azariah son of Hilkiah (1Ch 6:13); the same man often bearing two names (Kimchi). God calls him "My servant": a pious patriot (compare 2Ki 18:37; 2Ki 19:1-5). 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" (Isa 9:6; Isa 22:22); He shuts or opens at will the access to the heavenly mansion (Rev 3:7), He has the keys also of hell (the grave) and death (Rev 1:18).

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): Heb 3:2-6. 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 (2Ki 18:37), who became "treasurer," or as Hebrew coken (Isa 22:15) from caakan, "to dwell" means, intimate friend of the king, dwelling on familiar terms, and "steward of the provisions" (compare 1Ch 27:33).

2. King JEHOIAKIM’S original name.

3. Neh 12:41.

4. Luk 3:26; Mat 1:13.

5. Luk 3:30-31.

(Hebrews Elyakim’, אֶלְיָקַיַם whom God will raise up; Sept. Ε᾿λιακίμ and Ε᾿λιακείμ; N.T. Ε᾿λιακείμ; Josephus, Ε᾿λιάκιμος, Ant. 10:1, 2; Vulg. Eliacim), the name of five men.

1. The son of Melea and father of Jonan, in the genealogy (q.v.) of Christ (Luke in, 30); probably the grandson of Nathan, of the private line of David’s descent (Strong’s Harm. and Expos. page 16). B.C. considerably post 1013.

2. Son of Hilkiah, and praefect of the palace under king Hezekiah, who sent him to receive the message of the invading Assyrians, and report it to Isaiah (2Ki 18:18; 2Ki 19:2; Isa 36:3; Isa 36:11; Isa 36:22; Isa 37:2). B.C. 713. He succeeded Shebna in this office after the latter had been ejected from it (Grotius thinks by reason of his leprosy) as a punishment for his pride (Isa 22:15-20). Eliakim was a good man, as appears by the title emphatically applied to him by God, "my servant Eliakim" (Isa 22:20), and as was evinced by his conduct on the occasion of Sennacherib’s invasion (2Ki 18:37; 2Ki 19:1-5), and also in the discharge of the duties of his high station, in which he acted as a "father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah" (Isa 22:21). It was as a special mark of the divine approbation of his character and conduct, of which, however, no further details have been preserved to us, that he was raised to the post of authority and dignity which he held at the time of the Assyrian invasion. What this office was has been a subject of some perplexity to commentators. The ancients, including the Sept. and Jerome, understood it of the priestly office, as appears by the rendering of סֹכֵן (Isa 22:15; A.V. "treasurer") by παστοφόριον, the "priest’s chamber," by the former, and of עִל9הִבִּיַת("over the house," as Isa 36:3) by "praepositus templi," by the latter. Hence Nicephorus, as well as the author of the Alexandrian Chronicle, includes in the list of high priests Somnas or Sobnas (i.e., Shebna), and Eliakim, identifying the latter with Shallum or Meshullam. But it is certain from the description of the office in Isa 22:1-25, and especially from the expression in Isa 22:22, "The key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder," that it was the king’s house, and not the house of God, of which Eliakim was praefect, as Ahishar had been in the reign of Solomon (1Ki 4:6), and Azrikam in that of Ahaz (2Ch 28:7). With this agrees both all that is said, and all that is not said, of Eliakim’s functions. The office seems to have been the highest under the king, as was the case in Egypt, when Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Thou shalt be over my house (עִלבֵּיתַי) ... only in the throne will I Le greater than thou" (Gen 41:40; compare 39:4). In 2Ch 28:7, the officer is called "governor (נָגַרד) of the house." It is clear that the "scribe" was inferior to him, for Shebna, when degraded from the prefecture of the house, acted as scribe under Eliakim (2Ki 18:37). The whole description of it too by Isaiah implies a place of great eminence and power. This description is transferred in a mystical or spiritual sense to Christ the son of David in Rev 3:7, thus making Eliakim in some sense typical of Christ. The true meaning of סֹכֵן, soken’, is very doubtful. "Friend," i.e., of the king, and "steward of the provisions," are the two most probable significations. SEE TREASURER. Eliakim’s career was a most honorable and splendid one. Most commentators agree that Isa 22:25 does not apply to him, but to Shebna.

3. The original name of Jehoiakim (q.v.), king of Judah (2Ki 23:34; 2Ch 36:4).

4. Son of Abiud and father of Azor, of the posterity of Zerubbabel (Mat 1:13). He is probably identical with the SHECHANIAH SEE SHECHANIAH (q.v.) of 1 Chronicles in, 21 (Strong’s Harmony and Expos. of the Gospels, page 11). SEE GENEALOGY (OF CHRIST).

5. A priest in the days of Nehemiah, who assisted at the dedication of the new wall of Jerusalem (Neh 12:41). B.C. 446.

Eliakim (e-lî’a-kĭm), whom God establishes. 1. The master of the household of Hezekiah, and one of the commissioners appointed to treat with the king of Assyria. 2Ki 18:18; 2Ki 18:26; 2Ki 18:37; 2Ki 19:2; Isa 22:20; Isa 36:3; Isa 36:11; Isa 36:22; Isa 37:2. 2. The son and successor of Josiah, king of Judah. His name was changed to Jehoiakim. 2Ki 23:34; 2Ch 36:4. There are five persons of this name mentioned in the Bible.

[Elia’kim]

1. Son of Hilkiah, and chief of the household of Hezekiah. 2Ki 18:18; 2Ki 18:26; 2Ki 18:37; 2Ki 19:2; Isa 22:20; Isa 36:3; Isa 36:11; Isa 36:22; Isa 37:2. Eliakim must have held a high office; he is named before the scribe and the recorder. In Isa. 22 God calls him His servant: Shebna was to be set aside, and Eliakim was to be clothed and raised up as governor. He was to have the key of David, and be able effectually to open and shut. He is here a type of Christ when He comes to take His place over Israel.

2. The original name Of JEHOIAKIM, q.v. 2Ki 23:34; 2Ch 36:4.

3. A priest who assisted at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem. Neh 12:41.

4. Son of Abiud in the genealogy of the Lord Jesus. Mat 1:13.

5. Son of Melea in the genealogy of the Lord Jesus. Luk 3:30-31.

ELIAKIM.—Two ancestors of Jesus bore this name, according to Mat 1:13 and Luk 3:30.

By: Solomon Schechter, S. Mendelsohn

A Palestinian scholar of the third century. His name is connected with no halakot, and with a single haggadah only. He construes the Psalmist's saying (Ps. i. 6), "The Lord knoweth the way of the righteous; but the way of the ungodly shall perish," as teaching that God causes the ways of the wicked to be lost out of sight for the sake of the righteous, that the latter be not misled by them (Midr. Teh. l.c., ed. Buber, p. 22; comp. Berechiah II. on same verse). Eliakim is probably identical with the better-known Jakim (the first syllable being dropped to avoid the frequent and unnecessary repetition of "El" [God], as in 'Anani from 'Ananiel). Jakim was father of Ashian b. Jakim, who once applied to R. Jesa (Assi II.) for a ritualistic decision (Yer. Yeb. xi. 12a). He was senior to Ammi, the latter explaining an observation of the former.

Eliakim classes the Jewish people among themost stubborn of the animal kingdom, which Ammi explains as referring to Jewish pertinacity in religion; that the Jew would submit to crucifixion rather than live as an apostate (Ex. R. xlii. 9; in Beẓah 25b Simeon ben Laḳish makes a remark very similar to Jakim's). Elsewhere (Pesiḳ. R. xxi. 107a) Eliakim is found to differ with Judah (b. Shalom) in surveying the scope of the prohibition (Ex. xx. 17), "Thou shalt not covet." Judah argues that its transgression leads to the violation of the seven prohibitions contained in the Decalogue; viz., in the second, third, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth commandments. Eliakim asserts that he who violates the prohibition, "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife," is as if he had violated all the ten commandments. This declaration is followed in the Pesiḳta (l.c.) by citations illustrating Eliakim's doctrine.

ELIAKIM (‘God will establish’).—1. The son of Hilkiah, he who was ‘over the household’ of king Hezekiah, and one of the three who represented the king during the interview with Sennacherib’s emissaries (2Ki 18:18, Isa 36:3). In Isa 22:20-24 (Isa 22:25 seems to be out of place) he is contrasted favourably with his predecessor Shebnah (who is still in office), and the prophet prophesies that Eliakim shall be a ‘father’ in the land. 2. The name of king Josiah’s son, who reigned after him; Pharaoh-necho changed his name to Jehoiakim (2Ki 23:34). 3. In Neh 12:41 a priest of this name is mentioned as one among those who assisted at the ceremony of the dedication of the wall. 4. The son of Abind (Mat 1:13). 5. The son of Melea (Luk 3:30). The last two occur in the genealogies of our Lord.

W. O. E. Oesterley.

ē̇-lı̄´a-kim (אליקים, ’elyāḳı̄m; Ἐλιακείμ, Eliakeı́m, “God sets up”):

(1) The son of Hilkiah who succeeded Shebna as gorvernor of the palace and “grand vizier” under Hezekiah (Isa 22:20). The functions of his office are seen from the oracle of Isaiah in which Shebna is deposed and Eliakim set in his place (Isa 22:15). He is the “treasurer” (the Revised Version, margin “steward”), and is “over the house” (Isa 22:15). At his installation he is clothed with a robe and girdle, the insignia of his office, and, having the government committed into his hand, is the “father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah” (Isa 22:21). The key of the house of David is laid on his shoulder, and he alone has power to open and shut, this being symbolic of his absolute authority as the king’s representative (Isa 22:22).

One of Solomon’s officials is the first mentioned as occupying this position (1Ki 4:6), and this office was continued in both the Northern and Southern Kingdom (1Ki 16:9; 1Ki 18:3; 2Ki 10:5; 2Ki 15:5). Its importance is seen from the fact that after Azariah was smitten with leprosy, Jotham his heir “was over the household, judging the people of the land” (2Ki 15:5).

When Sennacherib sent an army against Jerusalem in 701, Eliskim was one of these Jewish princes who held on behalf of Hezekiah a parley with the Assyrian officers (2Ki 18:18, 2Ki 18:26, 2Ki 18:37; Isa 36:3, Isa 36:11, Isa 36:22). As a result of the invader’s threats, he was sent by Hezekiah in sackcloth to Isaiah, entreating his prayers to Yahweh on behalf of Jerusalem (2Ki 19:2; Isa 37:2).

(2) The original name of Jehoiakim, the son of Josiah, whom Pharaoh-necoh made king of Judah (2Ki 23:34; 2Ch 36:4).

(3) A priest who assisted at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, rebuilt after his return from Babylon (Neh 12:41).

(4) A grandson of Zerubbabel and ancestor of Jesus (Mat 1:13).

(5) An ancestor of Jesus (Luk 3:30).