SOBNA (Heb. Šebhnā', Septuagint Σόφυζε). - Steward of the royal household of Judah and prime minister (cf. II Chron. 26:21 etc.) in the time of Ezechia (721–693 B.C.).
As war with the Assyrians was impending, he was having a sumptuous tomb hewn in the rock, in a conspicuous place; he displayed magnificent chariots; his conduct was a disgrace to Ezechia. Therefore, about the year 701, Isaiah confronted him, predicting his removal from office and that “he will roll like a ball into a broad plain (Egypt, Assyria?), where he will die dishonoured.” Eliacim will succeed him (Is. 22:12–25).
In Is. 36:3, 11, 22; 37:2 and II Kings 18:18, 26, 37; 19:2, among the envoys sent by Ezechia to Sennacherib’s rabh tāqēh, after Eliacim (steward) S. is named as secretary (has-sāphār). Many identify the two S. In his demotion to secretary, Is. 22:15–25 would have been fulfilled. However, it seems more probable to distinguish them because of their different offices and because Ezechia would not have retained in so high a position one who was the disgrace of his house. His name in II Kings differs from that in Is. (Šebhnāh); in Is. 36:3 ff. it may have been harmonized with Is. 22:15 ff. A seal found at Tell ed-Duwejr (Lachis) bears the inscription: “Of S. (son) of Achab.”