Bible Encyclopedia: Shebna

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International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

SHEBNA

sheb'-na (shebhna'; Somnas; but shebhnah, in 2 Kings 18:18, 26; meaning uncertain (2 Kings 18:18, 26, 37; 2 Kings 19:2 = Isaiah 36:3, 11, 22; Isaiah 37:2; Isaiah 22:15)):

1. Position in Isaiah 22:

In Isaiah 22:15 Shebna is referred to as he "who is over the house," or household, apparently that of the king. The phrase is translated "steward of the house" in the Revised Version (British and American) of Genesis 43:16, 19; Genesis 44:1, and occurs also in 39:4, "overseer"; 44:04:00. It is used of an officer of the Northern Kingdom in 1 Kings 16:9; 1 Kings 18:3 2 Kings 10:5. This officer is distinguished from him "that was over the city" in 2 Kings 10:5, and it is said in 2 Kings 15:5 that after his father Azariah was stricken with leprosy, "Jotham, the king's son, was over the household, judging all the people of the land." Again Isaiah 22:15 speaks of "this cokhen," a phrase that must apply to Shebna if the prophecy refers to him. This word is the participle of a verb meaning "to be of use or service," so "to benefit" in Job 15:3; Job 22:2; Job 34:9. The feminine participle is employed of Abishag in 1 Kings 1:2, 4, where King James Version, margin translates "cherisher"; BDB renders it "servitor" or "steward" in Isaiah 22:15. It occurs also as a Canaanite gloss in the Tell el-Amarna Letters (Winckler, number 237, 9). The cokhen was evidently a high officer: Shebna had splendid chariots (22:18), but what the office exactly was is not certain. The other reference to Shebna in the title of the prophecy would lead one to conclude that it denoted him "who was over the household," i.e. governor of the palace, probably, or major-domo. The word cokhen is thus a general title; others deny this, maintaining that it would then occur more frequently.

2. Shebna in 2 Kings 18 f:

In 2 Kings 18 = Isaiah 36 we find too a Shebna mentioned among the officers of Hezekiah. There he is called the copher, "scribe" or "secretary," i.e. a minister of state of some kind, whereas Eliakim is he "who is over the household." Is then the Shebna of Isaiah 22 the same as this officer? It is of course possible that two men of the same name should hold high office about the same time. We find a Joshua (ben Asaph) "recorder" under Hezekiah (2 Kings 18:18) and a Joshua (ben Joahaz) having the very same position under Josiah a century later (2 Chronicles 34:8). But such a coincidence is rare. Had there been two high officers of state bearing this name, it is most probable that they would somehow have been distinguished one from the other. Shebna's name is thought to be Aramaic, thus pointing to a foreign descent, but G. B. Gray, "Isaiah," ICC, 373;, denies this. We can perhaps safely infer that he was a parvenu from the fact that he was hewing himself a sepulcher in Jerusalem, apparently among those of the nobility, whereas a native would have an ancestral burial-place in the land.

However, in 2 Kings, Shebna is the scribe and not the governor of the palace. How is this to be explained? The answer is in Isaiah's prophecy.

3. Isaiah 22:15;:

The prophecy of Isaiah 22 divides itself into 3 sections. The words "against (not as the Revised Version (British and American) "unto") Shebna who is over the house," or palace, are properly the title of the prophecy, and should come therefore at the very beginning of verse 15.

(1) Isaiah 22:15-18 form one whole. In 22:16 the words "hewing him out a sepulchre," etc., should be placed immediately before the rest of the verse as 22:16a with the rest of the section is in the second person. We thus read (22:15-17): `Against Shebna who was over the house. Thus saith the Lord, Yahweh of hosts, Go unto this steward (Revised Version margin) that is hewing him out a sepulchre on high, graying a habitation for himself in the rock, (and say) What doest thou here and whom hast thou here that thou hast hewed thee out here a sepulchre? Behold, Yahweh of hosts,....' etc. G.H. Box (Isaiah) would further transpose some parts of 22:17 f. Shebna is to be tossed like a ball into "a land wide of sides," i.e. a broad extensive land. He is addressed as a disgrace to the house of his royal master. The prophet's language is that of personal invective, and one asks what had made him so indignant. Some (e.g. Dillmann, Delitzsch) suggest that Shebna was the leader of a pro-Egyptian party, while others (e.g. Cheyne) believe that the party was pro-Assyrian (compare Isaiah 8:5-8 a). The actual date of the prophecy can only be inferred.

(2) Isaiah 22:19-23 contains a prophecy which states that Eliakim is to be given someone's post, apparently that of Shebna, if this section be by Isaiah; 22:23, however, is held by many to be a gloss. These verses are not so vehement in tone as the previous ones. Some maintain that the section is not by Isaiah (Duhm, Marti). It can, however, be Isaianic, only later in date than 22:15;, being possibly meant to modify the former utterance. The palace governor is to lose his office and to be succeeded by Eliakim, who is seen to hold that post in 2 Kings 18 f.

See ELIAKIM.

(3) Isaiah 22:24 are additions to the two utterances by a later hand; they predict the ruin of some such official as Eliakim owing to his own family.

4. Date of the Prophecy:

There is nothing a priori against believing that these three sections are entirely independent one of another, but there seems to be some connection between (1) and (2), and again between (2) and (3). Now the question that has to be solved is that of the relation of Isaiah 22:15; with 2 Kings 18 = Isaiah 36, where are given the events of 701 B.C. We have the following facts:

(a) Shebna is scribe in 701, and Eliakim is governor of the palace;

(b) Shebna is governor of the palace in Isaiah 22:15, and is to be deposed;

(c) if Isaiah 22:18-22 be by Isaiah, Eliakim was to succeed Shebna in that post.

Omitting for the moment everything but (a) and (b), the only solution that is to any extent satisfactory is that Isaiah 22:15-18 is to be dated previous to 701 B.C. This is the view preferred by G.B. Gray, in the work quoted And this is the most satisfactory theory if we take (2) above into consideration. The prophecy then contained in (1) had not been as yet fulfilled in 701, but (2) had come to pass; Shebna was no longer governor of the palace, but held the position of scribe. Exile might still be in store for him.

Another explanation is put forward by K. Fullerton in AJT, IX, 621-42 (1905) and criticized by E. Konig in X, 675-86 (1906). Fullerton rejects verses 24 as not due to Isaiah, and maintains that Isaiah 22:15-18 was spoken by the prophet early in the reign of Manasseh, i.e. later than 2 Kings 18, "not so much as a prophecy, a simple prediction, as an attempt to drive Shebna from office..... It must be admitted that Isaiah probably did not succeed. The reactionary party seems to have remained in control during the reign of Manasseh..... Fortunately, the moral significance of Isaiah does not depend on the fulfillment of this or that specific prediction. We are dealing not with a walking oracle, but with a great character and a noble life" (p. 639). He then infers from the massacres of Manasseh (2 Kings 21:16) "that a conspiracy had been formed against him by the prophetic party which proposed to place Eliakim on the throne" (p. 640). Isaiah he thinks would not "resort to such violent measures," and so the character of Isaiah makes it questionable whether he was the author of 22:20-23. This part would then be due to the prophetic party "who went a step farther than their great leader would approve." This view assumes too much,

(a) that the terms in 22:20-23 refer to kingly power;

(b) that Eliakim was of Davidic descent, unless we have a man of non-Davidic origin aiming at the throne, which is again a thing unheard of in Judah; and

(c) that there was such a plot in the reign of Manasseh, of which we have no proof.

David Francis Roberts

Strong's Hebrew

7644. Shebna -- secretary and majordomo of Hezekiah
Shebna or Shebnah. 7643, 7644. Shebna or Shebnah. 7645 . secretary and
majordomo of Hezekiah. Transliteration: Shebna or Shebnah ...
/hebrew/7644.htm - 6k

7645. Shebanyah -- the name of several Israelites
... Word Origin from the same as Shebna and from Yah Definition the name of several
Isr. NASB Word Usage Shebaniah (7). ... see HEBREW Shebna'. see HEBREW Yahh. ...
/hebrew/7645.htm - 6k

790. Eshban -- son of an Edomite leader
... Eshban. Probably from the same as Shebna'; vigorous; Eshban, an Idumaean -- Eshban.
see HEBREW Shebna'. 789, 790. Eshban. 791 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/790.htm - 6k

Library

The Nail
... They furnish a striking foreshadowment of the End-time. Shebna was holding some
office over (note "government" in v.21) Israel. Apparently he was a usurper. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the antichrist/17 the nail.htm

Knox in England: the Black Rubric: Exile: 1549-1554
... In Lent, 1553, preaching before the boy king, he denounced his ministers in trenchant
historical parallels between them and Achitophel, Shebna, and Judas. ...
/.../lang/john knox and the reformation/chapter iv knox in england .htm

Isaiah
... Shebna, one of the court officials and probably a foreigner, is threatened with
exile and the consequent loss of his office: probably he championed the policy ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/isaiah.htm

What the Keyes of the Kingdome of Heaven Be, and what their Power.
... As the key of the House of David was given to Hilkiah (Isa.22.22.) who succeeded
Shebna in his office; and his office was lhbyt over the house, v.15. ...
/.../the keyes of the kingdom of heaven and power thereof/chap i what the keyes.htm

Philadelphia
... In Isaiah 22:22 there is a further reference to this point. Shebna, the Treasurer,
had misused his trust for his own glorification (see Isaiah 22:15-19). ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bullinger/commentary on revelation/philadelphia.htm

How Sennacherib Made an Expedition against Hezekiah; What
... himself come out to them for fear, but he sent three of his most intimate friends;
the name of one was Eliakim, who was over the kingdom, and Shebna, and Joah ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 1 how sennacherib made.htm

Sennacherib (705-681 BC )
... incur the vengeance of Assyria without other help than that of Tyre or Ethiopia,
and Eliakim, son of Hilkiah, spoke in the same strain; but Shebna, the prefect ...
/.../chapter isennacherib 705-681 b c.htm

The Reign of David.
... (5) The rebellion of Shebna and following events, which almost destroyed the empire.
(6) Many incidents in the family and kingdom of Solomon, his son. ...
/.../tidwell/the bible period by period/chapter xi the reign of.htm

The Greater Prophets.
... Arabia. Next follows a prophecy against "the valley of vision," that is,
Jerusalem, to which is appended one against Shebna. The ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxii the greater prophets.htm

The People on the Earth: Chapters 2-3
... The Treasurer of the State "who was over the house" (Shebna), carried the key in
token of his office; and he presumptuously thought he was going to retain his ...
/.../bullinger/commentary on revelation/the people on the earth .htm

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

Shebna

who rests himself; who is now captive

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Shebna

(vigor), a person of high position in Hezekiah's court, holding at one time the office of prefect of the palace, (Isaiah 22:15) but subsequently the subordinate office of secretary. (Isaiah 36:3; 2 Kings 19:2) (B.C. 713.)

ATS Bible Dictionary

Shebna

Steward of King Hezekiah's palace, Isaiah 22:15, afterwards his secretary, 2 Kings 18:18,37.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Tender youth, "treasurer" over the house in the reign of Hezekiah, i.e., comptroller or governor of the palace. On account of his pride he was ejected from his office, and Eliakim was promoted to it (Isaiah 22:15-25). He appears to have been the leader of the party who favoured an alliance with Egypt against Assyria. It is conjectured that "Shebna the scribe," who was one of those whom the king sent to confer with the Assyrian ambassador (2 Kings 18:18, 26, 37; 19:2; Isaiah 36:3, 11, 22; 37:2), was a different person.

Thesaurus

Shebna (9 Occurrences)
... It is conjectured that "Shebna the scribe," who was one of those whom the king sent
to confer with the Assyrian ambassador (2 Kings 18:18, 26, 37; 19:2; Isaiah ...
/s/shebna.htm - 20k

Eliakim (14 Occurrences)
... Assyrians and report it to Isaiah (2 Kings 18:18; 19:2; Isaiah 36:3; 37:2). In his
office as governor of the palace of Hezekiah he succeeded Shebna (Isaiah 22 ...
/e/eliakim.htm - 15k

Administrator (8 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 18:37 Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, came
with Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder, to Hezekiah ...
/a/administrator.htm - 9k

Joah (10 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 18:37 Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, came
with Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder, to Hezekiah ...
/j/joah.htm - 11k

Eli'akim (12 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 19:2 And he sent Eliakim, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe,
and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, unto Isaiah the ...
/e/eli'akim.htm - 9k

Secretary (34 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 18:37 Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, came
with Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder, to Hezekiah ...
/s/secretary.htm - 18k

Remembrancer (8 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 18:18 And they call unto the king, and go out unto them doth Eliakim son
of Hilkiah, who 'is' over the house, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah son of ...
/r/remembrancer.htm - 9k

Recorder (10 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 18:37 Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, came
with Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder, to Hezekiah ...
/r/recorder.htm - 12k

Scribe (55 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 18:37 Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, came
with Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder, to Hezekiah ...
/s/scribe.htm - 27k

Jo'ah (8 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 36:3 And there came out to him Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah, who was over
the house, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah, the son of Asaph, the recorder. ...
/j/jo'ah.htm - 8k

Bible Concordance

Shebna (9 Occurrences)

2 Kings 18:18 When they had called to the king, there came out to them Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebnah the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Kings 18:26 Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebnah, and Joah, said to Rabshakeh, "Please speak to your servants in the Syrian language; for we understand it. Don't speak with us in the Jews' language, in the hearing of the people who are on the wall."
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Kings 18:37 Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, came with Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder, to Hezekiah with their clothes torn, and told him the words of Rabshakeh.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Kings 19:2 He sent Eliakim, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Isaiah 22:15 Thus says the Lord, Yahweh of Armies, "Go, get yourself to this treasurer, even to Shebna, who is over the house, and say,
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Isaiah 36:3 Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah, the son of Asaph, the recorder came out to him.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Isaiah 36:11 Then Eliakim, Shebna and Joah said to Rabshakeh, "Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, for we understand it; and don't speak to us in the Jews' language in the hearing of the people who are on the wall."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Isaiah 36:22 Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah, the son of Asaph, the recorder, came to Hezekiah with their clothes torn, and told him the words of Rabshakeh.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Isaiah 37:2 He sent Eliakim, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Subtopics

Shebna

Shebna (Shebnah): A Scribe of Hezekiah

Shebna (Shebnah): An official of the King

Related Terms

Eliakim (14 Occurrences)

Administrator (8 Occurrences)

Joah (10 Occurrences)

Eli'akim (12 Occurrences)

Secretary (34 Occurrences)

Remembrancer (8 Occurrences)

Recorder (10 Occurrences)