Isaiah 36:3

3 Then came forth to him Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah, the son of Asaph, the recorder.

Isaiah 36:3 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 36:3

Then came forth unto him
Being sent by Hezekiah; for otherwise Rabshakeh had the impudence to call to him, in order to parley, and treat with him about the surrender of the city; but as this was not thought either safe or honourable for the king to go in person, his following ministers went; see ( 2 Kings 18:18 ) : Eliakim, Hilkiah's son, which was over the house;
not over the house of the Lord, the temple, as some, but the king's house, being high steward of if, or "major domo". This is the same person as is mentioned in ( Isaiah 22:20 ) : and Shebna the scribe;
not of the book of the law, a copier, or interpreter of that, but secretary of state; he had been treasurer, but now removed, ( Isaiah 22:15 ) : and Joah, Asaph's son, the recorder;
the master of requests, or the "remembrancer" ^F5; who, as the Targum, was appointed over things memorable; whose business it was to take notice of things worthy of memory, write them down, and digest them in order; perhaps the king's historiographer.

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FOOTNOTES:

F5 (rykzmh) "recordator, commonfactor", Vatablus; "commenefaciens", Montanus: "a nemoria", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.

Isaiah 36:3 In-Context

1 Now it happened in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah, that Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah, and took them.

2 The king of Assyria sent Rabshakeh from Lachish to Jerusalem to king Hezekiah with a great army. He stood by the conduit of the upper pool in the highway of the fuller's field.

3 Then came forth to him Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah, the son of Asaph, the recorder.

4 Rabshakeh said to them, Say you now to Hezekiah, Thus says the great king, the king of Assyria, What confidence is this in which you trust?

5 I say, [your] counsel and strength for the war are but vain words: now on whom do you trust, that you have rebelled against me?