THEOSISCyrill of Alexandria
And it will come to pass on that day that I will summon my servant Eliakim, the son of Helkiah. I will clothe him with your garments, place your crown upon his head, and entrust him with your authority. He shall act as a father to those living in Jerusalem and Judah. I will grant him the glory of David, and he will hold it without challenge. I will place the key of the house of David upon his shoulders; he will open doors that no one can close and shut doors that no one can open. I will establish his authority firmly, and he will occupy the throne of glory in his father's house. All who are esteemed in his father's house will trust in him, from the least to the greatest, and they will rely on him in that day.
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This account adheres to historical truth, yet it also serves as a condemnation of Somnan, the householder, who misused the honor of the priesthood, oppressing everyone who approached him, becoming an insatiably greedy man who engaged in disgraceful acts. Thus, he will be cast out—taken away to a vast and desolate land. At that time, I will call my servant Eliakim, the son of Helkiah. By referring to him as his servant, it testifies to his obedience. The promise of priestly glory is signified by the crown and the garments he will receive, along with authority to govern those entrusted to him. Additionally, he will be characterized by humility, a stark contrast to Somnan’s arrogance, embodying the qualities of a faithful and loving father. He will be firmly established in faithfulness, ensuring that every nobleman finds hope in him—not as in God, for he lacks much, but as a caring father. He will protect both the small and the great, earning affection such that the people under his care will rely on him deeply.
As I have mentioned, this narrative points back to a historical context, yet a deeper interpretation leads us to the mystery of Christ. The scribes and Pharisees, adorned with the priesthood under the law, were disobedient, cruel, and proud, consumed by greed, and they committed acts abominable to God. The prophet Isaiah expresses this well at the onset of his book, lamenting how Zion, once a faithful city filled with justice, is now marked by murderers, where truth has vanished, and the silver is tainted. The leaders are unrepentant, their relationships marred by bribery, failing to administer justice for the orphans and neglecting the plight of widows (Isaiah 1:21-23). The Savior rebuked them: Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites; you have abandoned the greater matters of the Law: justice, mercy, and faith (Matthew 23:23). They became increasingly wicked, committing heinous acts against God. Consequently, they were stripped of their priestly honors and removed from the authority entrusted to them over the people, losing the sacred garments and crowns associated with their office.
In their place came our Lord Jesus Christ, our Supreme High Priest. As the blessed Paul notes, no one takes this honor for himself, but he who is called by God, as Christ did not glorify Himself to be a high priest but was appointed by God, declared as a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek (Hebrews 5:4-6). Though He is God by nature and Lord of all—receiving service from all—He became man to serve as our High Priest. It is said of Him that He inherited the glory of David, signifying His dominion over Israel. However, we refer not to Israel in the flesh but to the spiritual Israel. Not all who are descended from Israel are true Israel, nor are all children of Abraham merely because they are of his lineage (Romans 9:6-7); rather, those justified by faith are considered to be true children of Abraham, referred to as the children of promise and Israel. When Christ, our common Archpriest, was revealed, it was declared that there would be no one to oppose Him; no adversary would prevail against Him, and the son of iniquity would not seize Him (Psalm 88:23).
This can also be understood in another manner: while Israel rejected Him, the Gentiles eagerly submitted to His reign. Through David, He speaks of Israel, pleading for deliverance from contentious men and calling upon the nations to heed His voice, lamenting how the children of strangers have deceived Him and turned away from their paths (Psalm 17:44-46). The Israelites, once the firstborn among the nations, became estranged from Him by their falsehoods and were ultimately labeled as children of perdition. Yet when He declares, I will set up Eliakim—interpreted as the resurrection of God, for God the Word has risen to aid us—He signifies that all who are glorious will place their trust in Him. The Church serves as the dwelling of Christ's Father, where all who are esteemed will rely on Christ, not only the notable according to worldly standards but even those who may seem insignificant, for the righteous and impartial God rewards everyone based on their spiritual maturity, recognizing that in the spiritual realm some are fathers, while others are still children, youths, or adolescents.