1 Kings 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:_ Over the officers, х_ HANITSAABIYM_ (H5324)] - the prefects; i:e., the provincial governors enumerated in 1 Kings 4:17. AND ZABUD ... WAS PRINCIPAL OFFICER, AND THE KING'S FRIEND - perhaps president of the privy council, and Solomon's confidential friend or favourite (cf. 2 Samuel 15:37). This high functionary had probably been reared along with Solomon. That he should heap those honours on the sons of Nathan was most natural, considering the close intimacy of their father with the late king, and the deep obligations under which Solomon personally lay to the prophet....

1-19 In the choice of the great officers of Solomon's court, no doubt, his wisdom appeared. Several are the same that were in his father's time. A plan was settled by which no part of the country was exhausted to supply his court, though each sent its portion....

Verse 1 Kings 4:5. _AZARIAH _- WAS _OVER THE OFFICERS_] He had the _superintendence_ of the twelve officers mentioned below; see 1 Kings 4:7. _ZABUD _- WAS _PRINCIPAL OFFICER_] Perhaps what we call _premier_, or _prime minister_. _THE KING'S FRIEND_] His chief _favourite _- his _confidant_....

THE SON OF NATHAN - It is uncertain whether the Nathan of this verse is the prophet or the son of David 2 Samuel 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 1 Kings 4:8, as appears from the identity of the term here used with the title by which they are designated in 1 Kings 4:7. Principal officer -...

EXPOSITION SOLOMON'S STATE AND COURT OFFICIALS.—The account of Solomon's marriage and entry upon his religious and judicious functions is appropriately followed by a description of his court, of the great functionaries of the realm, of his royal state and magnificence, and, lastly, of his varied and unprecedented wisdom. It must not be supposed, however, from the occurrence of the lists in this particular place, that they necessarily represent the appointments of the early part of Solomon's reign. The mention of two of the married daughters of the king (1 Kings 4:11, 1 Kings 4:15) has been generally thought to prove that the record belongs to a much later period, and it certainly affords a powerful presumption

AND AZARIAH THE SON OF NATHAN [WAS] OVER THE OFFICERS,.... The twelve officers who provided food for Solomon's household after mentioned: AND ZABUD THE SON OF NATHAN; another of the sons of Nathan the prophet: for he being a principal instrument of settling Solomon on the throne, had interest enough to promote his sons to the chief places of honour and trust: and this here [WAS] PRINCIPAL OFFICER, [AND] THE KING'S FRIEND; a chief minister about him, very intimate with him, that kept him company, privately conversed with him, was in his secrets, and admitted to great privacy and nearness to him....

3. SOLOMON'S PRINCES AND OFFICERS THE PROSPEROUS KINGDOM AND THE KING'S GREAT WISDOM CHAPTER 4 _ 1. The Princes (1 Kings 4:1)_ 2. The Officers (1 Kings 4:7) 3. The prosperous kingdom (1 Kings 4:20) 4. Solomon's great wisdom (1 Kings 4:29) “So King Solomon was king over all Israel.” A list of the princes and the twelve officers is given first. Their names fit in perfectly with the character of the kingdom, foreshadowing the coming and better kingdom of our Lord. We give the names of the princes with their meaning. Azariah, “Jehovah is help”; Elihoreph, “my God is reward”; Ahiah, “Brother of Jeho

1 KINGS 3:1 TO 1 KINGS 4:34. EARLY DAYS, REIGN, AND WISDOM OF SOLOMON. The sources of this section are various, and the arrangement of the narrative in the LXX should be noticed. There are (_a_) a statistical account of Solomon s reign, referred to, apparently in 1 Kings 11:41, as the book of the acts of Solomon; (_b_) a number of narratives about this reign; (_c_) several Deuteronomic additions_ e.g._ 1 Kings 3:6; 1 Kings 3:14, etc.: and (_d_) some very late passages, possibly originally explanatory notes. The history of Solomon's reign

NATHAN. Probably David's son. Compare Luke 3:31. PRINCIPLE OFFICER. priest. See Hebrew (2 Samuel 8:18). the king's friend, as Hushai had been David's (2 Samuel 15:37)....

_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 1 Kings 4:7; it is again used in 1 Kings 5:16 for the persons at the head of the preparation for the temple-building, and in 1 Kings 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 1 Kings 4:2. _the king's friend_ This means a chief and intimate counsellor. It is applied to Hushai ...