shebna Summary and Overview

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 (Isa. 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; Isa. 36:3, 11, 22; 37:2), was a different person.

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

SHEB'NA (youth). 1. The "treasurer," or prefect of the palace of Hezekiah, Isa 22:15-25, a man of great pride, but whose ignominious fall is prophesied by the prophet. 2. The scribe or secretary of Hezekiah; a different person from the preceding, though with the same name. Isa 36:3; 2 Kgs 18:18 2 Kgs 18:37; 2 Kgs 19:2. He was one of the ambassadors sent to Rabshakeh.

Hezekiah, whose treasurer or prefect, of the palace Shebna was (Isaiah 22:15); also see Eliakim. (See HEZEKIAH; ELIAKIM.) For pride (Isaiah 22:16), luxury (Isaiah 22:18), oppression (in contrast to Eliakim a "father" to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Isaiah 22:21), and alienation from God (contrasted with "God's servant," Isaiah 22:20), he was doomed to be "tossed" away as a ball. Repenting, he was only degraded to the lower post of scribe (Isaiah 36:3). Whether the threat was finally fulfilled on himself, he apostatizing, or on his posterity, is uncertain. frontTOMB.)