1 Kings 4:4

4 ¹Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was in command of the army; ²Zadok and Abiathar were priests;

1 Kings 4:4 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 4:4

And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada [was] over the host
General of the army in the room of Joab, ( 1 Kings 2:35 ) ;

and Zadok and Abiathar [were] the priests;
so they were when Solomon came to the throne; but Abiathar was deposed by him after some time, though he might retain the name afterwards, and be employed, as Ben Gersom thinks, in case of necessity, in the room of Zadok, or, however, be employed as a common priest at Jerusalem, upon a reconciliation with Solomon; though Kimchi thinks another Abiathar is meant, which is not so likely.

1 Kings 4:4 In-Context

2 and these were his high officials: Azariah the son of Zadok was the priest;

3 Elihoreph and Ahijah the sons of Shisha were secretaries; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder;

4 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was in command of the army; Zadok and Abiathar were priests;

5 Azariah the son of Nathan was over the officers; Zabud the son of Nathan was priest and king’s friend;

6 Ahishar was in charge of the palace; and Adoniram the son of Abda was in charge of the forced labor.

Cross References

• 1. 4:4 ch. 2:35
• 2. 4:4 2 Sam. 20:25; [ch. 2:27, 35]