ELIAKIM (a+p41i, whom God hath lied vtp Sept. 'EXtaid,ic and 'EXuuifil2). I. Son of Helkiah and Prefect of the palace, or minister of the royal house—' over the house,'—under Hezekiah (Is. xxxvi. 3). There is no solid reason for regarding him as a priest, or for rendering r1'3r1-9v by templi, after the Vulgate, which would re quire rozn-3.t. The meaning of his name was fulfilled in his history ; as he was raised by God to the high position he occupied, instead of Shebna, who was removed for misconduct, according to Isaiah's prophecy, and was made ' a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem,' and had ' the key of the house of David' laid `upon his shoulder,' Is. xxii. 15, 25. He thus became a type of Christ (Rev. iii. 7). He was one of the three persons sent by Hezekiali to treat with Rabshakeh (2 Kings xviii. IS ; Is. xxxvi. 3), and afterwards to consult Isaiah as to Rabshekah's blasphemous message.
2. A son of Josiah, whom Pharaoh Necho set upon the throne instead of his brother Jehoahaz (the people's choice) changing his name to Jehoia kim whom yelzovah hath lifted up ; • : 2 Kings xxiii. 31-34. This change is significant of his dependance and loss of liberty, as heathen kings were accustomed to give new names to those who entered their service (Gen. xli. 45 ; Ezra v.
; Dan. i. 7), usually after their gods. In this case, as the new name is Israelitish, it is probable that Pharaoh Necho gave it at the request of Elia kim himself, whom Hengstenberg supposes to have been influenced by a desire to place his name in closer connection with the promise (2 Sam. vii. 12), where not El but Jehovah is the promiser ; and to have done this out of opposition to the sentence of the prophets respecting the impending fall of the house of David (Christol. ii. 401, Eng. Trans.) There exists the most striking contrast between his beautiful name and his miserable fate. The Lord, instead of raising him up, will cast him down to the lowest depth. Not even an honourable burial is to be bestowed upon him. Unwept, his carcase was to be cast without the gates of Jerusalem, and buried with the burial of an ass' (Jer. xxxii. IS, 19).
3. A priest of the returned captives who took part in the dedication of the walls of Jerusalem (Neh. xii. 41).
4. Son of Abiud and father of Azor, in the genealogical line of Jesus (Matt. i. 13).
5. Father of Jonan, and son of Melea, in the second genealogical table of Jesus (Luke iii. 30, 31).—I. J.