Hilkiah

About Hilkiah Written by AI

Hilkiah is mentioned in 2Kings 18 and Isaiah 22 and 36 as a high-ranking official in the court of King Hezekiah of Judah. He held the position of "master of the household" (2 Kings 18:18, Isaiah 36:3), which was a significant role in the royal administration, overseeing the palace and its affairs. During the Assyrian invasion led by Sennacherib, Hilkiah, along with Shebna the scribe and Joah the recorder, was sent by Hezekiah to meet with the Assyrian officials (2 Kings 18:18, Isaiah 36:3). The Assyrian representative, the Rabshakeh, delivered a threatening message to Hezekiah, urging him to surrender. Hilkiah and his companions reported the message to the king, who then sought the counsel of the prophet Isaiah (2 Kings 18:37, Isaiah 36:22). In Isaiah 22:20 to 25, a prophecy is given concerning Eliakim son of Hilkiah, who would replace Shebna as the steward of the royal household. This prophecy emphasizes the importance of the role and the trust placed in the person holding this position. Hilkiah's involvement in these key events during Hezekiah's reign highlights his importance as a trusted advisor and official in the king's court.

Drafted by an AI model for STEPBible's TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Check it against the verses below.

Easton's Bible Dictionary, 1897

This entry is on the name Hilkiah, and may cover more than one person or place by that name.

Portion of Jehovah. (1.) 1 Chr. 6:54. (2.) 1 Chr. 26:11. (3.) The father of Eliakim (2 Kings 18:18, 26, 37). (4.) The father of Gemariah (Jer. 29:3). (5.) The father of the prophet Jeremiah (1:1).

(6.) The high priest in the reign of Josiah (1 Chr. 6:13; Ezra 7:1). To him and his deputy (2 Kings 23:5), along with the ordinary priests and the Levites who had charge of the gates, was entrusted the purification of the temple in Jerusalem. While this was in progress, he discovered in some hidden corner of the building a book called the “book of the law” (2 Kings 22:8) and the “book of the covenant” (23:2). Some have supposed that this “book” was nothing else than the original autograph copy of the Pentateuch written by Moses (Deut. 31:9-26). This remarkable discovery occurred in the eighteenth year of Josiah’s reign (B.C. 624), a discovery which permanently affected the whole subsequent history of Israel. (See JOSIAH; SHAPHAN.)

M. G. Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary, third edition (1897), public domain, from CrossWire. Shown as written; its Scripture quotes are from older translations.