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Wednesday, August 27th, 2025
the Week of Proper 16 / Ordinary 21
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New Living Translation

2 Kings 18:18

They summoned King Hezekiah, but the king sent these officials to meet with them: Eliakim son of Hilkiah, the palace administrator; Shebna the court secretary; and Joah son of Asaph, the royal historian.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Asaph;   Assyria;   Diplomacy;   Eliakim;   Hilkiah;   Hypocrisy;   Israel, Prophecies Concerning;   Jerusalem;   Joah;   Rab-Shakeh (Rabshakeh);   Secretary (Recordist);   Sennacherib;   Shebna (Shebnah);   Scofield Reference Index - Times of the Gentiles;   Thompson Chain Reference - Eliakim;   Recorder;   Scribes;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Assyria;   Kings;   Sieges;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Asaph;   Eliakim;   Hezekiah;   Hilkiah;   Isaiah;   Recorder;   Sennacherib;   Shebna;   Temple;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Assyria;   Hezekiah;   Nahum;   Scribes;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Asaph;   Eliakim;   Hilkiah;   Joah;   Rabmag;   Rabshakeh;   Recorder;   Scribes;   Shebna;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Ambassador;   Asaph;   Hezekiah;   Proverbs, the Book of;   Recorder;   Sennacherib;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Archaeology and Biblical Study;   Assyria, History and Religion of;   Cupbearer;   Eliakim;   Hilkiah;   Isaiah;   Joah;   King, Kingship;   Kings, 1 and 2;   Rabshakeh;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Asaph;   Eliakim;   Hezekiah;   Hilkiah;   Isaiah, Book of;   Israel;   Joah;   Philistines;   Rab-Shakeh;   Shebna;   Text, Versions, and Languages of Ot;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Asaph ;   Eliakim ;   Hilkiah ;   Joah ;   Rabshakeh ;   Sennacherib ;   Shebna ;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Hezekiah;   Hilkiah;   Scribe;   Shebna;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Asaph;   Eliakim;   Hezekiah;   Rabshakeh;   Smith Bible Dictionary - A'saph;   Eli'akim;   Recorder,;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Rabshakeh;   Scribes;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Kingdom of Judah;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Eliakim;   Hilkiah;   Joah;   Recorder;   Shebna;   Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia - Asaph;   Assyria;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Concordance;   Government;   Shebna;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
They called for the king, but Eliakim son of Hilkiah, who was in charge of the palace, Shebnah the court secretary, and Joah son of Asaph, the court historian, came out to them.
Hebrew Names Version
When they had called to the king, there came out to them Elyakim the son of Hilkiyah, who was over the household, and Shebnah the Sofer, and Yo'ach the son of Asaf the recorder.
King James Version
And when they had called to the king, there came out to them Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder.
English Standard Version
And when they called for the king, there came out to them Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebnah the secretary, and Joah the son of Asaph, the recorder.
New Century Version
They called for the king, so the king sent Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah out to meet them. Eliakim son of Hilkiah was the palace manager, Shebna was the royal secretary, and Joah son of Asaph was the recorder.
New English Translation
They summoned the king, so Eliakim son of Hilkiah, the palace supervisor, accompanied by Shebna the scribe and Joah son of Asaph, the secretary, went out to meet them.
Amplified Bible
When they called for the king, Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was in charge of the [king's] household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the secretary went out to [meet] them.
New American Standard Bible
Then they called to the king, and Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was in charge of the household, Shebnah the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the secretary, went out to them.
World English Bible
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.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And called to the King. Then came out to them Eliakim the sonne of Hilkiah, which was steward of the house, and Shebnah the chanceller, and Ioah the sonne of Asaph the recorder.
Legacy Standard Bible
Then they called to the king, and Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebnah the scribe and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder, came out to them.
Berean Standard Bible
Then they called for the king; and Eliakim son of Hilkiah the palace administrator, Shebnah the scribe, and Joah son of Asaph the recorder, went out to them.
Contemporary English Version
They called out to Hezekiah, and three of his highest officials came out to meet them. One of them was Hilkiah's son Eliakim, who was the prime minister. The other two were Shebna, assistant to the prime minister, and Joah son of Asaph, keeper of the government records.
Complete Jewish Bible
They summoned the king, but those answering the call were Elyakim the son of Hilkiyahu, who was in charge of the household, Shevnah the general secretary and Yo'ach the son of Asaf the foreign minister.
Darby Translation
And they called to the king. Then came forth to them Eliakim the son of Hilkijah, who was over the household, and Shebnah the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph, the chronicler.
Easy-to-Read Version
These men called for the king, but Eliakim son of Hilkiah, Shebna, and Joah son of Asaph went out to meet them. Eliakim was the palace manager, Joah was the record keeper, and Shebna was the royal secretary.
George Lamsa Translation
And when they had called to the king, there came out to them Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was the steward of the household, and Shebna the scribe and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder.
Good News Translation
Then they sent for King Hezekiah, and three of his officials went out to meet them: Eliakim son of Hilkiah, who was in charge of the palace; Shebna, the court secretary; and Joah son of Asaph, who was in charge of the records.
Lexham English Bible
Then they called to the king, so Eliakim the son of Hilkiah who was over the palace, Shebna the secretary, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder, came out to them.
Literal Translation
And they called to the king, and Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the house, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder went out to them.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
and called vnto the kynge. The came there forth vnto them Eliachim the sonne of Helchias the stewarde, and Sobna the scrybe, & Ioah the sonne of Assaph the Secretary.
American Standard Version
And 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.
Bible in Basic English
And they sent for the king, and Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah, who was over the house, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah, the son of Asaph, the recorder, came out to them.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And when they had called to the king, there came out to them Eliakim the sonne of Elkia, which was stewarde of the houshold, and Sobna the scribe, and Ioah the sonne of Asaph, the recorder.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And 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.
King James Version (1611)
And when they had called to the king there came out to them Eliakim the sonne of Helkiah, which was ouer the houshold, and Shebna the Scribe, and Ioah the sonne of Asaph the Recorder.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And they cried to Ezekias: and there came to him Heliakim the son of Chelcias the steward, and Somnas the scribe, and Joas the son of Saphat the recorder.
English Revised Version
And when they had called to the king, there came out to them Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, which was over the household, and Shebnah the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And thei clepiden the kyng; sotheli Eliachym, sone of Elchie, the souereyn of the hows, and Sobna, scryueyn, and Joahe, chaunseler, the sone of Asaph, yeden out to hem.
Young's Literal Translation
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 Asaph the remembrancer.
Update Bible Version
And 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.
Webster's Bible Translation
And when they had called to the king, there came out to them Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who [was] over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder.
New King James Version
And when they had called to the king, Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph, the recorder, came out to them.
New Life Bible
When they called to the king, Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebnah, and Joah the son of Asaph came out to them. Eliakim was the head of the house. Shebnah was the writer, and Joah wrote down the things of the nation.
New Revised Standard
When they called for the king, there came out to them Eliakim son of Hilkiah, who was in charge of the palace, and Shebnah the secretary, and Joah son of Asaph, the recorder.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Then called they for the king, and there went out unto them Eliakim son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, - and Shebnah, the scribe, and Joah son of Asaph, the recorder.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And they called for the king: and there went out to them Eliacim, the son of Helcias, who was over the house, and Sobna, the scribe, and Joahe, the son of Asaph, the recorder.
Revised Standard Version
And when they called for the king, there came out to them Eli'akim the son of Hilki'ah, who was over the household, and Shebnah the secretary, and Jo'ah the son of Asaph, the recorder.
THE MESSAGE
They called loudly for the king. Eliakim son of Hilkiah who was in charge of the palace, Shebna the royal secretary, and Joah son of Asaph the court historian went out to meet them.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
When they called to the king, Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebnah the scribe and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder, came out to them.

Contextual Overview

17 Nevertheless, the king of Assyria sent his commander in chief, his field commander, and his chief of staff from Lachish with a huge army to confront King Hezekiah in Jerusalem. The Assyrians took up a position beside the aqueduct that feeds water into the upper pool, near the road leading to the field where cloth is washed. 18 They summoned King Hezekiah, but the king sent these officials to meet with them: Eliakim son of Hilkiah, the palace administrator; Shebna the court secretary; and Joah son of Asaph, the royal historian. 19 Then the Assyrian king's chief of staff told them to give this message to Hezekiah: "This is what the great king of Assyria says: What are you trusting in that makes you so confident? 20 Do you think that mere words can substitute for military skill and strength? Who are you counting on, that you have rebelled against me? 21 On Egypt? If you lean on Egypt, it will be like a reed that splinters beneath your weight and pierces your hand. Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, is completely unreliable! 22 "But perhaps you will say to me, ‘We are trusting in the Lord our God!' But isn't he the one who was insulted by Hezekiah? Didn't Hezekiah tear down his shrines and altars and make everyone in Judah and Jerusalem worship only at the altar here in Jerusalem? 23 "I'll tell you what! Strike a bargain with my master, the king of Assyria. I will give you 2,000 horses if you can find that many men to ride on them! 24 With your tiny army, how can you think of challenging even the weakest contingent of my master's troops, even with the help of Egypt's chariots and charioteers? 25 What's more, do you think we have invaded your land without the Lord 's direction? The Lord himself told us, ‘Attack this land and destroy it!'" 26 Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah, Shebna, and Joah said to the Assyrian chief of staff, "Please speak to us in Aramaic, for we understand it well. Don't speak in Hebrew, for the people on the wall will hear."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Eliakim: 2 Kings 19:2, Isaiah 22:20-24, Isaiah 36:3, Isaiah 36:22, Isaiah 37:2

Shebna: Isaiah 22:15-19

the scribe: or, secretary, 2 Samuel 8:17, *marg.

the recorder: 2 Samuel 8:16, 2 Samuel 20:24, 1 Kings 4:3, 2 Chronicles 34:8

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 22:9 - the scribe 1 Chronicles 6:45 - Hilkiah Ezra 4:8 - scribe Isaiah 33:7 - the ambassadors

Cross-References

Genesis 18:2
He looked up and noticed three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he ran to meet them and welcomed them, bowing low to the ground.
Genesis 18:3
"My lord," he said, "if it pleases you, stop here for a while.
Genesis 18:17
"Should I hide my plan from Abraham?" the Lord asked.
Genesis 18:18
"For Abraham will certainly become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed through him.
Genesis 18:25
Surely you wouldn't do such a thing, destroying the righteous along with the wicked. Why, you would be treating the righteous and the wicked exactly the same! Surely you wouldn't do that! Should not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?"
Genesis 18:26
And the Lord replied, "If I find fifty righteous people in Sodom, I will spare the entire city for their sake."
Genesis 26:4
I will cause your descendants to become as numerous as the stars of the sky, and I will give them all these lands. And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed.
Psalms 72:17
May the king's name endure forever; may it continue as long as the sun shines. May all nations be blessed through him and bring him praise.
Galatians 3:8
What's more, the Scriptures looked forward to this time when God would make the Gentiles right in his sight because of their faith. God proclaimed this good news to Abraham long ago when he said, "All nations will be blessed through you."
Galatians 3:14
Through Christ Jesus, God has blessed the Gentiles with the same blessing he promised to Abraham, so that we who are believers might receive the promised Holy Spirit through faith.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

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Barnes' Notes on the Bible

When they had called to the king - The ambassadors summoned Hezekiah, as if their rank were equal to his. Careful of his dignity, he responds by sending officers of his court.

Eliakim ... which was over the household - Eliakim had been promoted to fill the place of Shebna Isaiah 22:20-22. He was a man of very high character. The comptroller of the household, whose position 1 Kings 4:6 must have been a subordinate one in the time of Solomon, appears to have now become the chief minister of the crown. On the “scribe” or secretary, and the “recorder,” see the 1 Kings 4:3 note.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 2 Kings 18:18. Called to the king — They wished him to come out that they might get possession of his person.

Eliakim - over the household — What we would call lord chamberlain.

Shebna the scribe — The king's secretary.

Joah - the recorder. — The writer of the public annals.


 
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