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ELIAKIM

(Heb. ʾelyāqîm)

1. A court official under King Hezekiah, involved in negotiations to end Sennacherib’s invasion of Judah (2 Kgs. 18:17–19:7 = Isa. 36:3–37:7). Eliakim, described as being “in charge of the palace,” was sent, along with Shebnah and Joah, to meet an Assyrian delegation comprised of the Tartan, the Rabsaris, and the Rabshakeh. When the Rabshakeh pointed out the precarious position of Judah, Eliakim and his cohorts asked that he speak in Aramaic rather than Hebrew so the people of Jerusalem would not understand. When the Rabshakeh refused, the three messengers reported the news to Hezekiah. Hezekiah went into mourning and sent Eliakim, Shebna, and some priests to see Isaiah, who delivered an oracle of hope. In another oracle (which appears to predate the events described above), Isaiah proclaimed that Eliakim would usurp the role of Shebna as “master of the household,” but he too seems to have lost favor (Isa. 22:15-25).

2. A son of Josiah, brother of Jehoahaz (2 Kgs. 23:29–24:7 = 2 Chr. 36:3-8). When Josiah was killed in battle with Pharaoh Neco in 609 b.c.e., Jehoahaz became king. After three months Neco deposed Jehoahaz, exiling him to Riblah, and made Eliakim king, changing his name to Jehoiakim. Eliakim ruled from 609 to 597. At first loyal to Egypt, Eliakim switched his allegiance to the Babylonian Nebuchadnezzar, only to rebel against Nebuchadnezzar in hope of siding with Egypt. According to 2 Kgs. 24:7 he died during the subsequent Babylonian siege of Jerrusalem, while according to 2 Chr. 36:6-7 he was taken captive to Babylon.

3. A priest who participated in the thanksgiving service for the completion of the walls of Jerusalem during the governorship of Nehemiah, part of a group playing trumpets (Neh. 12:41).

4. The grandson of Zerubbabel, the son of Abiud, and the father of Azor in Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus (Matt. 1:13).

5. A descendant of David, son of Melea and father of Jonam in Luke’s genealogy of Jesus (Luke 3:30).

Michael L. Ruffin

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

ELIAKIM

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)