Isaiah 22:23 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And I will fasten him like a peg in a secure place, and he will become a throne of honor to his father’s house.

NIV: I will drive him like a peg into a firm place; he will become a seat of honor for the house of his father.

NASB: I will drive him like a peg in a firm place, And he will become a throne of glory to his father’s house.

CSB: I will drive him, like a peg, into a firm place. He will be a throne of honor for his father's family.

NLT: He will bring honor to his family name, for I will drive him firmly in place like a nail in the wall.

KJV: And I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place; and he shall be for a glorious throne to his father's house.

NKJV: I will fasten him as a peg in a secure place, And he will become a glorious throne to his father’s house.

Sometimes the servant to a king will serve with such reliability, integrity, and wisdom that the king is happy to give that servant more authority and power to speak in his name. The Lord, through His prophet Isaiah, declares that Eliakim will be that kind of trusted servant (Isaiah 22:20–22).

The word picture Isaiah uses is of a peg attached to the wall so securely that a significant amount of weight can be hung from it without worry of it coming crashing down. The other picture is that Eliakim will become like a throne that a king sits upon. In both pictures, the king can lay his burdens upon his servant and trust that they will be well handled.

All of Judah will benefit from having such a man in that position during this time in the history of God's people.

Chapter 22:15–25 concludes Isaiah's oracle against Jerusalem with a focus on two men. Shebna is the steward of the king's household. The Lord condemns him for carving his elaborate tomb, with the enemy at the gates, instead of seeking the Lord or serving the king. The Lord gives this steward's authority and position to Eliakim. Eliakim serves with such strength, faithfulness, and integrity that he becomes a father figure to the people. However, he also falls away eventually.

Isaiah presents a prophecy against the city of Jerusalem: "the valley of vision." The prophet condemns the people for partying, perhaps following an astonishing deliverance from the Lord. Instead, they should remember all who died. They should be sobered to realize how helpless they had been. When destruction seemed certain, they should have mourned and cried out to the Lord to save them. Instead, they reveled like nothing mattered. The Lord condemns the steward of the king's house for carving out his tomb instead of trusting God. He puts a man named Eliakim in that position. Eliakim serves with great integrity, faithfulness, and excellence. Yet, he, too, falls away.

Isaiah has recorded several prophecies in preceding chapters. These spoke of nations such as Egypt as well as various tribes. Chapter 22 is an oracle against the city of Jerusalem. Isaiah condemns the people for celebrating instead of mourning and seeking the Lord's help. This could be either before or after a great siege of the city. The prophet weeps for the lost and calls the people to repent. The Lord condemns the king's steward for faithlessness. His replacement, Eliakim, serves with strength and integrity. The next oracles concern Tyre and Sydon, before addressing the entire world.

Isaiah is among the most important prophetic books in the entire Bible. The first segment details God's impending judgment against ancient peoples for sin and idolatry (Isaiah 1—35). The second part of Isaiah briefly explains a failed assault on Jerusalem during the rule of Hezekiah (Isaiah 36—39). The final chapters predict Israel's rescue from Babylonian captivity (Isaiah 40—48), the promised Messiah (Isaiah 49—57), and the final glory of Jerusalem and God's people (Isaiah 58—66).

Accessed 5/1/2024 7:49:36 PM