What does Isaiah 22:19 mean?
Believing that he will soon die at the hands of the Assyrians who are besieging the city, an elevated official in the royal court has abandoned both prayer and responsibilities to prepare his tomb for his burial (Isaiah 22:15–16). The Lord is not pleased with Shebna's lack of faith in His God to overcome the Assyrians (Isaiah 22:17). Others may be mindlessly partying (Isaiah 22:12–13), but Shebna's choice is just as incorrect.Through Isaiah, the Lord sentenced Shebna to die far away from his home in a foreign land. This fancy tomb will do him no good (Isaiah 22:18). Before that time Isaiah, on the Lord's behalf, will see that Shebna loses his prestigious position. Shebna will be pulled down from his important place in Jerusalem society. The Lord has someone specific in mind for Shebna's replacement, as the next verse shows. This replacement is Eliakim the son of Hilkiah (Isaiah 22:20).