Azariah the son of Nathan was over the officers; Zabud the son of Nathan was chief minister, the king’s friend;
Parallel Translations
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Azariah the son of Nathan was over the officers; Zabud the son of Nathan was chief minister, the king’s friend;
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And Azariah the son of Nathan was over the officers: and Zabud the son of Nathan was principal officer, and the king’s friend:
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and Azariah the son of Nathan was over the officers; and Zabud the son of Nathan was chief minister and the king's friend;
Cross-references (15)
Passages linked to 1 Kings 4:5 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.
- 2 Samuel 15:37 So Hushai, David’s friend, came into the city; and Absalom came into Jerusalem.
- 2 Samuel 16:16 When Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, had come to Absalom, Hushai said to Absalom, “Long live the king! Long live the king!”
- 1 Chronicles 27:33 Ahithophel was the king’s counselor. Hushai the Archite was the king’s friend.
- 2 Samuel 7:2 the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but God’s ark dwells within curtains.”
- 2 Samuel 8:18 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites, and David’s sons were chief ministers.
- 2 Samuel 12:1-15 Yahweh sent Nathan to David. He came to him, and said to him, “There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor. The rich man had very many flocks and herds, but the poor man had nothing, except one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and raised. It grew up together with him, and with his children. It ate of his own food, drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was like a daughter to him. A traveler came to the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to prepare for the wayfaring man who had come to him, but took the poor man’s lamb, and prepared it for the man who had come to him.” David’s anger burned hot against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As Yahweh lives, the man who has done this deserves to die! He must restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity!” Nathan said to David, “You are the man. This is what Yahweh, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul. I gave you your master’s house, and your master’s wives into your bosom, and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that would have been too little, I would have added to you many more such things. Why have you despised Yahweh’s word, to do that which is evil in his sight? You have struck Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and have taken his wife to be your wife, and have slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon. Now therefore the sword will never depart from your house, because you have despised me, and have taken Uriah the Hittite’s wife to be your wife.’ “This is what Yahweh says: ‘Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes, and give them to your neighbor, and he will lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. For you did this secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.’ ” David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against Yahweh.” Nathan said to David, “Yahweh also has put away your sin. You will not die. However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to Yahweh’s enemies to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you will surely die.” Nathan departed to his house. Yahweh struck the child that Uriah’s wife bore to David, and it was very sick.
- 2 Samuel 12:25 and he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet, and he named him Jedidiah, for Yahweh’s sake.
- 2 Samuel 19:37-38 Please let your servant turn back again, that I may die in my own city, by the grave of my father and my mother. But behold, your servant Chimham; let him go over with my lord the king; and do to him what shall seem good to you.” The king answered, “Chimham shall go over with me, and I will do to him that which shall seem good to you. Whatever you request of me, that I will do for you.”
- 2 Samuel 20:26 and Ira the Jairite was chief minister to David.
- 1 Kings 1:10-53 but he didn’t call Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother. Then Nathan spoke to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, “Haven’t you heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith reigns, and David our lord doesn’t know it? Now therefore come, please let me give you counsel, that you may save your own life, and your son Solomon’s life. Go in to king David, and tell him, ‘Didn’t you, my lord, king, swear to your servant, saying, “Assuredly Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne?” Why then does Adonijah reign?’ Behold, while you are still talking there with the king, I will also come in after you and confirm your words.” Bathsheba went in to the king in his room. The king was very old; and Abishag the Shunammite was serving the king. Bathsheba bowed, and showed respect to the king. The king said, “What would you like?” She said to him, “My lord, you swore by Yahweh your God to your servant, ‘Assuredly Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne.’ Now, behold, Adonijah reigns; and you, my lord the king, don’t know it. He has slain cattle and fatlings and sheep in abundance, and has called all the sons of the king, Abiathar the priest, and Joab the captain of the army; but he hasn’t called Solomon your servant. You, my lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are on you, that you should tell them who will sit on the throne of my lord the king after him. Otherwise it will happen, when my lord the king sleeps with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon will be considered criminals.” Behold, while she was still talking with the king, Nathan the prophet came in. They told the king, saying, “Behold, Nathan the prophet!” When he had come in before the king, he bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground. Nathan said, “My lord, king, have you said, ‘Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne?’ For he has gone down today, and has slain cattle, fatlings, and sheep in abundance, and has called all the king’s sons, the captains of the army, and Abiathar the priest. Behold, they are eating and drinking before him, and saying, ‘Long live king Adonijah!’ But he hasn’t called me, even me your servant, Zadok the priest, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and your servant Solomon. Was this thing done by my lord the king, and you haven’t shown to your servants who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?” Then king David answered, “Call Bathsheba in to me.” She came into the king’s presence and stood before the king. The king swore, and said, “As Yahweh lives, who has redeemed my soul out of all adversity, most certainly as I swore to you by Yahweh, the God of Israel, saying, ‘Assuredly Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne in my place;’ I will most certainly do this today.” Then Bathsheba bowed with her face to the earth, and showed respect to the king, and said, “Let my lord king David live forever!” King David said, “Call to me Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada.” They came before the king. The king said to them, “Take with you the servants of your lord, and cause Solomon my son to ride on my own mule, and bring him down to Gihon. Let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there king over Israel. Blow the trumpet, and say, ‘Long live king Solomon!’ Then come up after him, and he shall come and sit on my throne; for he shall be king in my place. I have appointed him to be prince over Israel and over Judah.” Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king, and said, “Amen. May Yahweh, the God of my lord the king, say so. As Yahweh has been with my lord the king, even so may he be with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord king David.” So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites went down and had Solomon ride on king David’s mule, and brought him to Gihon. Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the Tent, and anointed Solomon. They blew the trumpet; and all the people said, “Long live king Solomon!” All the people came up after him, and the people piped with pipes, and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth shook with their sound. Adonijah and all the guests who were with him heard it as they had finished eating. When Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, “Why is this noise of the city being in an uproar?” While he yet spoke, behold, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came; and Adonijah said, “Come in; for you are a worthy man, and bring good news.” Jonathan answered Adonijah, “Most certainly our lord king David has made Solomon king. The king has sent with him Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and they have caused him to ride on the king’s mule. Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king in Gihon. They have come up from there rejoicing, so that the city rang again. This is the noise that you have heard. Also, Solomon sits on the throne of the kingdom. Moreover the king’s servants came to bless our lord king David, saying, ‘May your God make the name of Solomon better than your name, and make his throne greater than your throne;’ and the king bowed himself on the bed. Also thus said the king, ‘Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, who has given one to sit on my throne today, my eyes even seeing it.’ ” All the guests of Adonijah were afraid, and rose up, and each man went his way. Adonijah was afraid because of Solomon; and he arose, and went, and hung onto the horns of the altar. Solomon was told, “Behold, Adonijah fears king Solomon; for, behold, he is hanging onto the horns of the altar, saying, ‘Let king Solomon swear to me first that he will not kill his servant with the sword.’ ” Solomon said, “If he shows himself a worthy man, not a hair of his shall fall to the earth; but if wickedness is found in him, he shall die.” So king Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the altar. He came and bowed down to king Solomon; and Solomon said to him, “Go to your house.”
- 1 Kings 4:7 Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel, who provided food for the king and his household. Each man had to make provision for a month in the year.
- Proverbs 22:11 He who loves purity of heart and speaks gracefully is the king’s friend.
- John 13:23 One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was at the table, leaning against Jesus’ breast.
- John 15:14-15 You are my friends, if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant doesn’t know what his lord does. But I have called you friends, for everything that I heard from my Father, I have made known to you.
- James 2:23 So the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God.
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this verse (15 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
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John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain 1Ki 4:5 And Azariah the son of Nathan [was]…
1Ki 4:5 And Azariah the son of Nathan [was] over the officers: and Zabud the son of Nathan [was] principal officer, [and] the king’s friend:
Ver. 5. And Azariah the son of Nathan, &c.] These two had been Solomon’s fellow pupils, his play fellows, likely, and sons to his tutor, Nathan the prophet, who had done much for him, and for whom he could never do enough. Our king Edward VI did much for his tutor, Mr Cheek, and Queen Elizabeth for Dr Cox, upon whom she conferred many church dignities and real favours.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain Over the officers, or overseers, or surveyors, to wit,…
Over the officers, or overseers, or surveyors, to wit, over those twelve officers named 1Ki 4:7, &c., where this Hebrew word is used, who were all subject, and to give up their accounts to him; though the word signifies any governors or commanders of the higher sort, as 1Ki 5:16; 2Ch 8:10.
Son of Nathan, the prophet, who had been so highly instrumental in Solomon’s establishment in the throne.
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Principal officer; possibly president of the king’s council. The Hebrew word is cohen, which, 1Ki 4:2, is rendered priest; whence some read this place thus: Zabud the son of Nathan the priest, or the minister, (as the word properly signifies, and that title well enough agrees to a prophet; or the prince, for the prophet Nathan was a man considerable both for his quality, and for his honour and esteem with the king,) was the king’s friend.
The king’s friend; either his special favourite, both for his father’s sake and for his own, having, it seems, been brought up with him; or his confidant, with whom he used to communicate his most secret counsels.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain And Abiathar was over the household,.... Steward of the…
And Abiathar was over the household,.... Steward of the household:
and Adoniram the son of Abda was over the tribute, over those that collected the tribute, as the Targum, whether from the people of Israel or other nations, or both; this man was in the same post in David's time, Sa2 20:24.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain Officers - Over those twelve Officers, named ver. 7,…
Officers - Over those twelve Officers, named ver. 7, &c. who were all to give up their accompts to him. Nathan - The prophet, who had been so highly instrumental in Solomon's establishment in the throne. Principal officer - Possibly, president of the king's council. Friend - His confident, with whom he used to communicate his most secret counsels.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain Verse 5. Azariah - was over the officers] He…
Verse 5. Azariah - was over the officers] He had the superintendence of the twelve officers mentioned below; see 1Kg 4:7.
Zabud - was principal officer] Perhaps what we call premier, or prime minister.
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The king's friend] His chief favourite - his confidant.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain 1Ki 4:5-6. The son of Nathan was over the…
1Ki 4:5-6. The son of Nathan was over the officers — Over those twelve officers named 1Ki 4:7, &c., who were all to give up their accounts to him. The Hebrew word, נצביםnitsabim, here, and 1Ki 4:7, rendered officers, signifies any governors, or commanders of the higher sort. See 2Ch 8:10. Zabud the son of Nathan — The prophet, who had been so highly instrumental in establishing Solomon on the throne; was principal officer — Possibly president of the king’s council. The Hebrew word is כהן, cohen, which, 1Ki 4:2, and generally, is rendered priest, although, as we have observed there, it may also be translated prince. And the king’s friend — His confidant, with whom he used to communicate his most secret counsels. Ahishar was over the household — Steward of the king’s house. Over the tribute — The personal tribute, or levy of men, as appears by comparing this with 1Ki 5:13-14; it being very fit that there should be some one person to whom the chief conduct or inspection of that great business should be committed.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain The son of Nathan - It is uncertain whether…
The son of Nathan - It is uncertain whether the Nathan of this verse is the prophet or the son of David 2Sa 5:14. While on the one hand the position of “king’s friend” is more likely to have been held by a contemporary, which the prophet’s son would have been, than by one so much younger as the son of a younger brother; on the other hand the title “cohen” seems to point to a member of the royal family. (See the next note.) Azariah who was “over the officers” was chief, that is, of the “officers” mentioned in 1Ki 4:8-19, as appears from the identity of the term here used with the title by which they are designated in 1Ki 4:7.
Principal officer - Or, “cohen.” The fact that the title כהן kôhên was borne by sons of David 2Sa 8:18, who could not be “priests” in the ordinary sense of the word, seems to identify the Nathan of this verse with David’s son 2Sa 5:14 rather than with the prophet.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain King. President of the council, (Menochius) steward of the…
King. President of the council, (Menochius) steward of the household. --- Priest refers to Zabud here, though the Hebrew is ambiguous. It means also a prince. (Haydock) --- He was chief officer and favourite of Solomon, (Calmet) as Chusai had been of David, 2 Kings xvi. 16.
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain over the officers--that is, the provincial governors enumerated in…
over the officers--that is, the provincial governors enumerated in Kg1 4:17-19.
principal officer, and the king's friend--perhaps president of the privy council, and Solomon's confidential friend or favorite. This high functionary had probably been reared along with Solomon. That he should heap those honors on the sons of Nathan was most natural, considering the close intimacy of the father with the late king, and the deep obligations under which Solomon personally lay to the prophet.
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain 5. Son of Nathan — This Nathan may have…
5. Son of Nathan — This Nathan may have been either the prophet or son of David mentioned 2Sa_5:14.
Over the officers — That is, the twelve officers mentioned in 1Ki_4:7. So he was a sort of commissary-general for the whole kingdom.
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Principal officer — Here the word כהן, which usually means priest, manifestly has a different signification. By comparing 2Sa_8:18 with 1Ch_18:17, we infer that it means a high officer whom the king treats as his intimate counsellor and confidential adviser. David chose his own sons for this office; and where is the monarch or chieftain who has not had some person or persons to serve him in this capacity? During his short triumph Absalom virtually set Ahithophel and Hushai in this office. That the king always, or even usually, followed the counsels of this officer is not to be supposed.
His work was to suggest, not to adopt or decide, plans for his sovereign. He is further described as being the king’s friend — that is, his personal confidant and favourite.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 5. the officers] The word signifies such persons as…
5. the officers] The word signifies such persons as had the oversight of any work. Thus the same word is used for the victualling officers in 1Ki_4:7; it is again used in 1Ki_5:16 for the persons at the head of the preparation for the temple-building, and in 1Ki_9:23 of those who bare rule over the people that wrought in such works as the building of cities which is there described.
principal officer] The Hebrew word is cohen, usually = ‘priest,’ but see on 1Ki_4:2.
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the king’s friend] This means a chief and intimate counsellor. It is applied to Hushai (2Sa_15:37; 2Sa_16:16) and from the relation in which Hushai stood to David we may see what is implied in the title.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain (5) Son of Nathan.—Probably Nathan, son of David, and…
(5) Son of Nathan.—Probably Nathan, son of David, and own brother of Solomon (1Ch_3:5), is here intended; for the title Cohen, here given to Zabud, is expressly ascribed in 2Sa_8:18 to the “sons of David;” and Nathan the prophet always has his title, “the prophet,” appended to his name wherever first mentioned in this book. (See 1Ki_1:8; 1Ki_1:10; 1Ki_1:22; 1Ki_1:32, &c.)
Azariah is the “chief of the officers”—that is, chief over the twelve officers mentioned below (1Ki_4:7-19)—living, however, at Court.
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Zabud, besides the title of Cohen, has that of “the king’s friend,” previously given to Hushai (2Sa_15:37; 2Sa_16:16), and apparently indicating special intimacy and wisdom as a “privy counsellor.”
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain And Azariah the son of Nathan Azariah was clearly…
And Azariah the son of Nathan Azariah was clearly not an uncommon name (ver. 2, and cf. 1Ch_2:39 Hebrews; A.V 6:9-14), especially in the high priest"s family. Keil and Bahr pronounce somewhat positively that this Nathan is not the prophet of that name, but Nathan the son of David (2Sa_5:14; Luk_3:31) It is quite impossible to decide with certainty which is meant, if either, though Zec_12:12 undoubtedly favours the supposition that the latter is here intended was over the officers the twelve prefects mentioned in vers. 7 sqq.: and Zabud the son of Nathan was principal officer Heb. priest, Vulg. sacerdos. Singularly, as before, the LXX (Vat.) omits the word. The expression can hardly mean "the son of Nathan the priest," but it may either signify that "Zabud ben Nathan, a priest, was king"s friend," or that (as in the A. V) he was a priest and king"s friend. But the former is every way preferable. I find it easier to believe that the true import of 2Sa_8:18 the passage which is cited (sometimes along withv) 2Sa_20:26, where the LXX, however, has iJereu to prove that there were secular "priests is not yet understood, than to hold (with Gesenius, Ewald, etc.), that there were sacrificing priests who were not of the sons of Aaron (cf., 2Ch_26:18) or that the word heK, the meaning of which was thoroughly fixed and understood, can have been familiarly applied, except in the strictly conventional way already indicated, to lay persons, and omit the king"s friend. "This appears to have been now a recognized office (2Sa_15:37 2Sa_16:16;" 1Ch_27:33) Rawlinson.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 General Information:
General Information:
The list of Solomon's officials continues.
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Azariah ... Nathan ... Zabud ... Ahishar ... Adoniram ... Abda
men's names (See: How to Translate Names)
the men who were subjected to forced labor
This can be translated in active form. AT: "the men whom Solomon forced to work for him" (See: Active or Passive)
translationWords
Nathan
household
subject
labor
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 4:5 Two sons of Nathan also served in Solomon’s…
4:5 Two sons of Nathan also served in Solomon’s inner circle. Azariah supervised the twelve district governors, while Zabud . . . was a trusted adviser, a post held by Hushai under David (2 Sam 15:37).
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.