Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible
Isaiah 22:15-19
The Self-Important First Minister (Isaiah 22:15).
The first to be dealt with is Shebna, the self-important First Minister. God determined to get him out of the way to a place where he could do no harm.
‘Thus says the Lord, Yahweh of hosts, “Go, get yourself to this Vizier, even to Shebna, who is over the house, and say, ‘What are you doing here, and whom have you here, that you have hewed yourself out here a sepulchre?' Hewing himself out a sepulchre on the height, cutting (graving) a habitation for himself in the rock.” '
Having depicted the false attitude of Judah this is now seen as reflected in their leadership. Shebna was ‘over the house', that is responsible for administration on behalf of the royal house (compare 1 Kings 4:6; 2 Chronicles 26:21). He was the Vizier or First Minister. But rather than concentrating on his responsibilities at this difficult time he was full of himself and seeking to establish his name for all time. He had utilised valuable resources by hewing out a sepulchre from rock, in a high place, so that all would see it and remember whose it was. If they were to die he was ensuring that he would be permanently remembered. He was seeking a permanent name, a permanent resting place, and full prominence in men's eyes, seeking to some extent to replace God in their eyes. He wanted men to look to him, admiring him because of the grand tomb that awaited him, and then admiring him in death. So the questions mean, ‘who does he think he is? What permanent status does he think that he has?'
We are probably intended to recognise as significant that all his thoughts were seen to be concentrated on death.
‘This Vizier.' A contemptuous way of depicting how unimportant he really is in God's eyes. The fact that his father's name is not given suggests that he has come from humble beginnings, or that it is deliberately omitted in order to humble him. But he is not condemned for that, only for his self-promulgation.
‘Behold, Yahweh will hurl you away violently, O you great man, yes he will wrap you up closely (take firm hold of you). He will surely twist you and throw you like a ball into a large country. There you will die, and there will be the chariots of your glory, you disgrace of your lord's house. “And I will thrust you from your office.” And he will pull you down from your high position.'
God has no time for this man. He intends to get rid of him. He will play with him as a child plays, wrapping him up in His hand and twisting him into a ball and hurling him into a wide open space. No doubt the game was familiar to his readers. ‘O you great man' is sarcastic. He is not really seen as great at all, he only thinks that he is. And now he has become but a plaything.
The purpose is to be rid of him. He is something to be thrown away. The ‘large country' may simply mean somewhere well away from the palace where he can do no harm, ‘the wide open spaces', or it may suggest that he will be forcibly exiled or more probably sent somewhere as an ambassador or similar. For while he is to be demoted, he will still have his chariots which he thinks bring him glory, which is why it seems possible that he will be an ambassador or something similar. God will let him keep his chariots, but he will die there. God will exile him permanently even if man does not. ‘You disgrace of your lord's house' is clearly said with some feeling. It is clear that Shebna is advising the king unwisely, against the will of God, possibly to enter into foreign alliances.
“And I will thrust you from your office.” These words are probably to be seen as quoting Yahweh. He is so moved at the situation that He conveys His own message. Isaiah then declares that He will do precisely that. He will be pulled down from his high position. We possibly find the partial fulfilment of this Isaiah 36:3; Isaiah 37:2, although that may have been a different Shebna.
A similar indictment might be made against some preachers who try to make themselves look big, with big homes and big cars and big egos.