1 Kings 1:8 - Exposition

But Zadok the priest [ 2 Samuel 8:17 . It is generally said to be difficult to explain "how Zadok and Abiathar came both to be "priests at this time." Rawlinson, who adds that "the best explanation is that Abiathar was the real high priest," officiating in Zion, while Zadok acted as chief priest at the tabernacle at Gibeon. (Bähr, by a strange oversight, assigns to Zadok the care of the ark on Mount Zion, whereas 1 Chronicles 16:39 , distinctly connects his ministry with the tabernacle of witness at Gibeon.) But the precedence (see on 2 Samuel 8:7 ) generally assigned to Zadok is hardly consistent with the idea that Abiathar was "the real high priest." The fact is that a duality of high priests, associated, apparently, on pretty equal terms, was not unknown in Jewish history. The cases of Eleazer and Ithamar, Hophni and Phinehas, Annas and Caiaphas, will occur to all. 2 Kings 25:18 , speaks of "the chief priest" and "the second priest;" 2 Chronicles 31:10 , of the "chief priest of the house of Zadok." And a dual priesthood would be the more necessary in David's days, because of the two sanctuaries, Zion and Gibeon. We find, however, from 1 Chronicles 15:11 , that Zadok was already priest at the time of the bringing up of the ark. And the true explanation, no doubt, is that Zadok had succeeded some member of his family, in all probability Jehoiada, called in 1 Chronicles 12:27 , "the leader of Aaron" (Hebrews), who had certainly been high priest in the time of Saul ( 1 Chronicles 27:5 ), and who would hardly be degraded when, with 3700 followers, he joined David at Hebron. On his decease, or cession of orifice, Zadok, who had joined at the same time with a large contingent,was associated with Abiathar in the priest's office. This dual arrangement, consequently, was the result of David's having taken over a high priest from Saul, together with the kingdom, when he had Abiathar as priest already,] and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, [ i.e; Jehoiada the high priest ( 1 Chronicles 27:5 ). Benaiah was consequently a Levite, and of the family of Aaron; set, however, by David, because of his prowess ( 2 Samuel 23:20 , 2 Samuel 23:21 ; 1 Chronicles 11:22 ) over the bodyguard ( 2 Samuel 8:18 ; 1 Chronicles 18:17 ). Probably he was a near relative of Zadok.], and Nathan the prophet [a Jewish tradition makes Nathan the eighth son of Jesse. He comes before us 2 Samuel 7:2 , 2 Samuel 7:3 , 2 Samuel 7:17 ; 2 Samuel 12:1-12 , 2 Samuel 12:25 ] and Shimei [by Ewald identified with Shammah ( 1 Samuel 16:9 ), or Shimeah, David's brother ( 2 Samuel 13:3 ; 2 Samuel 21:21 ). Others suppose him to be the Shimei of 1 Kings 4:18 . But see note on 1 Kings 2:8 . Josephus calls Shimei (not Rei, as Bähr states) ὁ δαυίδου φίλος ], and Rei [this name occurs here only. Ewald would identify him with Raddai ( 1 Chronicles 2:14 ), another brother of David, but on very slender grounds], and the mighty men [or heroes. Gesen. "chiefs." Not the 600 men who formed David's band in his wanderings ( 1 Samuel 25:13 ; 1 Samuel 27:2 ) (Rawlinson), but the 30 (or 37) to whom this name of Gibborim is expressly given, 2 Samuel 23:8 ; 1 Chronicles 11:15 , 1 Chronicles 11:25 ; 1 Chronicles 29:24 . Comp. 2 Kings 10:25 , Hebrews] which belonged to David [same expression as in 2 Samuel 23:8 ] were not with Adonijah.