Isaiah 22:14

The *Lord knew the future. These people would never change their behaviour. So they would never qualify for him to forgive them.

God warns Shebna

v15 The *Lord (commander of heaven’s armies) told me to go to this man called Shebna. He was manager of the palace staff. The *Lord said, ‘Give him this message from me: v16 You have no right to be acting like this. You have no authority to cut a grave for yourself, high on the rock. And in the Kidron Valley, of all places. This is where they bury kings! v17 The *Lord will shake you and he will fold you, just like a dress. v18 Then he will roll you into the shape of a ball. He will throw you into a vast foreign country. There your life will end. And so will your splendid *chariots. Your master’s officials will laugh at you. v19 You will have no more employment in the royal service. I shall remove you from your important job.

v20 When that happens, I shall send for my servant Eliakim son of Hilkiah to replace you. v21 I shall cause Eliakim to wear your uniform. He will take your rank and authority. And he will be like a father to the people in *Jerusalem and in all Judah. v22 I shall place the keys of David’s palace upon his shoulders. So if he opens a door, nobody will be able to shut it. If he shuts a door, nobody will be able to open it. v23 I shall fix him firmly in place like a nail in the wall. Through him all the family of his father Hilkiah will obtain great honour. v24 The whole weight of Eliakim’s family will depend on him. All his relatives will be like a collection of little containers (objects that people use to store things) of all sorts, from cups to jars.’ v25 ‘One day’, declares the *Lord (commander of heaven’s armies), ‘the nail in the wall will break. That nail will pull out and fall. And that will be the end of all that was hanging on it. The *Lord has spoken.’