1 Kings 4:5

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

(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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

General Information:

The list of Solomon's officials continues.

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.

Over the officers. He had twelve officers to provide sustenance for the king and his household.

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.