What does Isaiah 22:24 mean?
Eliakim's role to the king of Judah could be described as a steward. However, some commentators suggest it might be closer to chief of staff or even prime minister over the government. Isaiah's description of the man paints him as an ideal servant-leader. He handles things. He gets things done. He carries the burdens of the king while also serving as someone to look up to for the people of Jerusalem and the house of Judah (Isaiah 22:21).He has been compared to a peg fastened securely to the wall and able to bear enormous weight (Isaiah 22:23). Now Isaiah states that the king and the people will hang everything on this faithful servant. Eliakim will carry the honor of his father's house, at first. Isaiah calls the king Eliakim's father, though it doesn't appear they are related by blood. This could be a sign of honor for Eliakim more than Isaiah referring to a blood relation. Eliakim serves the king as a son would serve a father. He serves with such integrity and excellence that he can uphold the honor of the household on his shoulders.
In addition, the "offspring and the issue" are hung from the "peg" of Eliakim. This phrase seems to say that he oversees, to some extent, the care and training of the king's children. Isaiah completes the analogy by saying all the vessels, or the serving ware, are hung on Eliakim. He will handle the big and small tasks. This leader will serve both the great ones in Jerusalem and the regular people. He can handle it all as the Lord's servant and as the man Judah needs in this season after the Assyrian invasion, defeat, and retreat.
But even this servant of the Lord will give way eventually (Isaiah 22:25).