Shebna

Sheb'na (Heb. Shebna', שֶׁבנָא [occasionally Shebnah', שֶׁבנָה, 2Ki 18:18,26; 2Ki 19:2]. vigor; Sept. Σεβνάς v.r. Σομνάς; Josephus, Σοβναῖος [Ant. 10, 1,1]), a person of high position in Hezekiah's court, holding at one time the office of praefect of the palace (Isa 22:15), but subsequently the subordinate office of secretary (36:3;2 .Kings 19:2), his former post being given to Eliakim, .B.C. 713. This change appears to have been effected by Isaiah's interposition; for Shebna had incurred the prophet's extreme displeasure, partly on account of his pride (Isa 22:16), his luxury (ver. 18), and his tyranny (as implied in the title of "father" bestowed on his successor, ver. 21), and partly (as appears from his successor being termed a "servant of Jehovah," ver. 20) on account of his belonging to the political party which was opposed to the theocracy and in favor of the Egyptian alliance. From the omission of the usual notice of his father's name, it has been conjectured that he was a novrus homo. Winer thinks, from the Aramaean form of his name, that he was a foreigner. He is also mentioned in 2Ki 18:37; Isa 36:11,22; Isa 37:2.