TRV
Translation
King James Version
And Azariah the son of Nathan was over the officers: and Zabud the son of Nathan was principal officer, and the king's friend:
Complete Jewish Bible
'Azaryah the son of Natan, chief administrator; Zavud the son of Natan, the king's trusted counselor;
Berean Standard Bible
Azariah son of Nathan was in charge of the governors; Zabud son of Nathan was a priest and adviser to the king;
American Standard Version
and Azariah the son of Nathan was over the officers; and Zabud the son of Nathan was chief minister, and the king’s friend;
World English Bible Messianic
and Azariah the son of Nathan was over the officers; and Zabud the son of Nathan was chief minister, the king’s friend;
Geneva Bible (1599)
And Azariah the sonne of Nathan was ouer the officers, and Zabud the sonne of Nathan Priest was the Kings friend,
Young's Literal Translation
and Azariah son of Nathan is over the officers; and Zabud son of Nathan is minister, friend of the king;
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In the KJVVerse 8,850 of 31,102
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Commentary on 1 Kings 4 verses 1–19
1 ¶ So king Solomon was king over all Israel.
2 And these were the princes which he had; Azariah the son of Zadok the priest,
3 Elihoreph and Ahiah, the sons of Shisha, scribes; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud, the recorder.
4 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the host: and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests:
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:
6 And Ahishar was over the household: and Adoniram the son of Abda was over the tribute.
7 And Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel, which provided victuals for the king and his household: each man his month in a year made provision.
8 And these are their names: The son of Hur, in mount Ephraim:
9 The son of Dekar, in Makaz, and in Shaalbim, and Bethshemesh, and Elonbethhanan:
10 The son of Hesed, in Aruboth; to him pertained Sochoh, and all the land of Hepher:
11 The son of Abinadab, in all the region of Dor; which had Taphath the daughter of Solomon to wife:
12 Baana the son of Ahilud; to him pertained Taanach and Megiddo, and all Bethshean, which is by Zartanah beneath Jezreel, from Bethshean to Abelmeholah, even unto the place that is beyond Jokneam:
13 The son of Geber, in Ramothgilead; to him pertained the towns of Jair the son of Manasseh, which are in Gilead; to him also pertained the region of Argob, which is in Bashan, threescore great cities with walls and brasen bars:
14 Ahinadab the son of Iddo had Mahanaim:
15 Ahimaaz was in Naphtali; he also took Basmath the daughter of Solomon to wife:
16 Baanah the son of Hushai was in Asher and in Aloth:
17 Jehoshaphat the son of Paruah, in Issachar:
18 Shimei the son of Elah, in Benjamin:
19 Geber the son of Uri was in the country of Gilead, in the country of Sihon king of the Amorites, and of Og king of Bashan; and he was the only officer which was in the land.
Here we have,
I. Solomon upon his throne (Kg1 4:1): So king Solomon was king, that is, he was confirmed and established king over all Israel, and not, as his successors, only over two tribes. He was a king, that is, he did the work and duty of a king, with the wisdom God had given him. Those preserve the name and honour of their place that mind the business of it and make conscience of it.
II. The great officers of his court, in the choice of whom, no doubt, his wisdom much appeared. It is observable, 1. That several of them are the same that were in his father's time. Zadok and Abiathar were then priests (Sa2 20:25), so they were now; only then Abiathar had the precedency, now Zadok. Jehoshaphat was then recorder, or keeper of the great seal, so he was now. Benaiah, in his father's time, was a principal man in military affairs, and so he was now. Shisha was his father's scribe, and his sons were his, Kg1 4:3. Solomon, though a wise man, would not affect to be wiser than his father in this matter. When sons come to inherit their father's wealth, honour, and power, it is a piece of respect to their memory, caeteris paribus - where it can properly be done, to employ those whom they employed, and trust those whom they trusted. Many pride themselves in being the reverse of their good parents. 2. The rest were priests' sons. His prime-minister of state was Azariah the son of Zadok the priest. Two others of the first rank were the sons of Nathan the prophet, Kg1 4:5. In preferring them he testified the grateful respect he had for their good father, whom he loved in the name of a prophet.
III. The purveyors for his household, whose business it was to send in provisions from several parts of the country, for the king's tables and cellars (Kg1 4:7) and for his stables (Kg1 4:27, Kg1 4:28), that thus, 1. His house might always be well furnished at the best hand. Let great men learn hence good house-keeping, to be generous in spending according to their ability, but prudent in providing. It is the character of the virtuous woman that she bringeth her food from afar (Pro 31:14), not far-fetched and dear-bought, but the contrary, every thing bought where it is cheapest. 2. That thus he himself, and those who immediately attended him, might be eased of a great deal of care, and the more closely apply themselves to the business of the state, not troubled about much serving, provision for that being got ready to their hand. 3. That thus all the parts of the kingdom might be equally benefited by the taking off of the commodities that were the productions of their country and the circulating of the coin. Industry would hereby be encouraged, and consequently wealth increased, even in those tribes that lay most remote from the court. The providence of God extends itself to all places of his dominions (Psa 103:22); so should the prudence and care of princes. 4. The dividing of this trust into so many hands was prudent, that no man might be continually burdened with the care of it nor grow exorbitantly rich with the profit of it, but that Solomon might have those, in every district, who, having a dependence upon the court, would be serviceable to him and his interest as there was occasion. These commissioners of the victualling-office, not for the army or navy (Solomon was engaged in no war), but for the household, are here named, several of them only by their surnames, as great men commonly call their servants: Ben-hur, Ben-dekar, etc., though several of them have also their proper names prefixed. Two of them married Solomon's daughters, Ben-Abinadab (Kg1 4:11) and Ahimaaz (Kg1 4:15), and no disparagement to them to marry men of business. Better match with the officers of their father's court that were Israelites than with the sons of princes that were strangers to the covenant of promise. The son of Geber was in Ramoth-Gilead (Kg1 4:19), and Geber himself was in the country of Sihon and Og, which included that and Mahanaim, Kg1 4:14. He is therefore said to be the only officer in that land, because the other two, mentioned Kg1 4:13, Kg1 4:14, depended on him, and were subordinate to him.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 1–19. Public domain.
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Ephrem the SyrianAD 373
ON THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS 4:1
The officials elected by Solomon designate the order of the chosen ones whom Christ affirmed in his grace and appointed as rulers of his people. Indeed, twelve prefects were selected to administer the incomes of this king and his house, because just as many apostles had to be distributed over the entire world and had to be appointed as treasures of the divine mysteries, so that they might nourish with living and immortal food the Israel of God and might administer the incomes of the house of the peaceful king. Therefore, also the limits of each prefecture were clearly denoted, because, in a similar way, each apostle received a certain province: Simon preached in Rome, John in Ephesus, Matthew in Palestine and Thomas in the region of India.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
1 Kings 4:5 introduces two pivotal figures in King Solomon's burgeoning administration, Azariah and Zabud, both identified as sons of Nathan. This verse provides a glimpse into the sophisticated organizational structure of Solomon's kingdom, highlighting his comprehensive approach to governance. Azariah is positioned "over the officers," indicating a supervisory role over regional administrators, while Zabud holds the unique and highly influential title of "principal officer" and "the king's friend," signifying a chief confidant and trusted advisor. This administrative detail underscores the period of unprecedented peace, prosperity, and order that characterized Solomon's reign, a testament to his divinely granted wisdom and the stability of his kingdom.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The verse employs Repetition by explicitly stating "the son of Nathan" for both Azariah and Zabud. This serves to emphasize their familial connection, likely to Nathan the prophet, a figure of great integrity and counsel during David's reign. This repetition subtly highlights a continuity of trusted advice and loyalty from David's court into Solomon's, suggesting a lineage of wisdom and faithfulness. The administrative structure itself, with its specified roles, functions as Symbolism of Solomon's divinely granted wisdom and the resulting order and stability of his kingdom. The very existence of such a detailed and effective bureaucracy symbolizes the peak of Israelite national strength and organization under Solomon's rule, contrasting sharply with the more fragmented and less centralized leadership seen in earlier periods of Israel's history.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
1 Kings 4:5 offers profound insights into the theological principles of wise governance and the importance of integrity in leadership. Solomon's meticulous organization of his kingdom, including the appointment of trusted officials like Azariah and Zabud, reflects a divine pattern for effective stewardship and the flourishing of a society. God's blessing on Solomon was not merely in personal wisdom but also in the ability to establish a stable and prosperous nation, which required diligent administration and the delegation of authority to capable and loyal individuals. This verse underscores that good governance, characterized by order, trust, and accountability, is a vital component of a blessed and thriving community, whether a nation, a church, or a family unit, demonstrating how divine wisdom translates into practical, effective leadership.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The brief mention of Azariah and Zabud, sons of Nathan, serving in key administrative roles under Solomon, offers a powerful lesson in the necessity of wise delegation and the cultivation of trusted relationships in leadership. Solomon, despite his unparalleled wisdom, understood that effective governance required a robust team of capable and loyal individuals. This principle applies universally: no leader, no matter how gifted, can achieve lasting success without surrounding themselves with competent and trustworthy advisors. It challenges us to consider our own leadership contexts—whether in our families, workplaces, communities, or churches—and to identify those whom we can empower and trust, fostering an environment of integrity, accountability, and shared vision. The flourishing of any endeavor is often directly proportional to the wisdom with which authority is delegated and the loyalty of those entrusted with responsibility, all serving to bring about order and productivity for the common good.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Who was Nathan, the father of Azariah and Zabud?
Answer: While the text does not explicitly state it, it is highly probable that "Nathan" refers to Nathan the prophet, a prominent and trusted advisor to King David (see 2 Samuel 7 and 1 Kings 1). If so, this would mean that Solomon continued to draw upon the wisdom and loyalty of families who had faithfully served his father, indicating a continuity of trusted spiritual and administrative lineage within the royal court. This connection would lend significant weight and spiritual authority to the positions held by Azariah and Zabud in Solomon's administration.
What was the significance of "the king's friend" as a title?
Answer: "The king's friend" (Hebrew: re'eh hammelek) was a formal and highly prestigious title in ancient Near Eastern monarchies, not merely a descriptor of personal affection. It designated a high-ranking official who had direct and privileged access to the monarch, serving as a chief advisor, confidant, and often having significant influence in state policy and decision-making. This position required absolute loyalty, discretion, and wisdom, as the individual would be privy to the king's most sensitive thoughts and plans. Other examples include Hushai the Archite, who was called David's friend, and Zabud's role highlights his unparalleled proximity and trust with King Solomon.
Why is "kohen" (priest) used for "principal officer" for Zabud?
Answer: The Hebrew word kôhên typically translates to "priest." Its application to Zabud as "principal officer" in this context is unique and has been a subject of scholarly discussion. It does not necessarily mean Zabud performed priestly duties in the temple. Instead, it likely signifies a very high-ranking official, possibly a chief minister or a leading advisor, perhaps due to a priestly background or lineage that gave him a unique status, or it could reflect a broader ancient Near Eastern usage where figures with religious authority also held significant administrative roles. Some translations render it as "chief minister" or "chief official" to convey this elevated secular administrative function, emphasizing his preeminence in Solomon's court and his comprehensive authority.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The wise and orderly administration of King Solomon, as exemplified by the roles of Azariah and Zabud, foreshadows the perfect and ultimate governance of God's kingdom under Jesus Christ. Solomon, though divinely gifted with wisdom, was a fallible human king whose kingdom eventually divided and fell. Yet, his reign, marked by peace and meticulous organization, provides a glimpse into the ideal. Jesus, the true Son of David, is the ultimate King of kings, whose reign is eternal and perfectly administered (Revelation 19:16). Unlike Solomon, who relied on human "friends" and officials, Christ Himself is the Wisdom of God personified. He does not merely delegate but perfectly governs all things, upholding the universe by the word of His power (Hebrews 1:3). Furthermore, while Zabud was "the king's friend," Jesus calls His disciples, and indeed all believers, His "friends," not merely servants, revealing an intimacy and shared purpose far exceeding any earthly royal court (John 15:15). The order and peace of Solomon's kingdom, though temporary, point to the perfect order and everlasting peace found only in the kingdom of God, established and perfectly administered by Christ, the Prince of Peace.