Isaiah 22:24 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And they will hang on him the whole honor of his father’s house, the offspring and issue, every small vessel, from the cups to all the flagons.

NIV: All the glory of his family will hang on him: its offspring and offshoots--all its lesser vessels, from the bowls to all the jars.

NASB: So they will hang on him all the glory of his father’s house, the offspring and the descendants, all the least of vessels, from bowls to all the jars.

CSB: They will hang on him all the glory of his father's family: the descendants and the offshoots--all the small vessels, from bowls to every kind of jar.

NLT: They will give him great responsibility, and he will bring honor to even the lowliest members of his family. '

KJV: And they shall hang upon him all the glory of his father's house, the offspring and the issue, all vessels of small quantity, from the vessels of cups, even to all the vessels of flagons.

NKJV: ‘They will hang on him all the glory of his father’s house, the offspring and the posterity, all vessels of small quantity, from the cups to all the pitchers.

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).

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).