Definition: Then came Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah, that [was] over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah, the son of Asaph, the recorder, to Hezekiah with [their] clothes rent, and told him the words of Rabshakeh.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Isaiah 36:22. It's a really interesting and dramatic passage about a secret meeting. Here’s what it means in simpler terms: The Basic Idea: This verse describes a group of people – Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah – who were essentially acting as messengers for a powerful figure named Rabshakeh. They were bringing news to King Hezekiah. Let's unpack it piece by piece: “Then came Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah, that [was] over the household…” : This tells us who was involved. Eliakim is a person named in the text. “That was” emphasizes that he was in charge of something – likely overseeing a large group of people. “…and Shebna the scribe, and Joah, the son of Asaph, the recorder…” : These are two specific people within this group. They were tasked with recording and transmitting information. “The scribe” meant someone who wrote down things, and “the recorder” meant they were keeping a record of everything that happened. “…to Hezekiah with [their] clothes rent…” : This is the crucial part. Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah were bringing news to King Hezekiah . "Clothes rent" suggests they were dressed in luxurious clothing – perhaps to impress him or signify their importance. “…and told him the words of Rabshakeh.” : This is the most important part. Rabshakeh was a powerful, secretive figure who was delivering this news. The word “words” implies that Rabshakeh was speaking about something significant and potentially dangerous. In short: This verse describes a secret meeting between several people – likely messengers – who were bringing news of a plan to King Hezekiah. It suggests there was some kind of conspiracy or plotting happening. What does this all mean? It’s a little mysterious, but it points towards a potentially troubling situation. The fact that they were carrying news to the king suggests something big is brewing and could be related to political intrigue or rebellion. Important Note: This is a passage from an ancient text (Isaiah), so its meaning has been interpreted differently over time. It’s a good example of how biblical stories can be layered with symbolism and historical context. --- Do you want me to: Explain another part of the verse? Discuss the possible interpretations of this event in more detail?