1 Chronicles 18:16 kjv
And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Abimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests; and Shavsha was scribe;
1 Chronicles 18:16 nkjv
Zadok the son of Ahitub and Abimelech the son of Abiathar were the priests; Shavsha was the scribe;
1 Chronicles 18:16 niv
Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelek son of Abiathar were priests; Shavsha was secretary;
1 Chronicles 18:16 esv
and Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were priests; and Shavsha was secretary;
1 Chronicles 18:16 nlt
Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were the priests. Seraiah was the court secretary.
1 Chronicles 18 16 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Chron 18:17 | Ahithophel was the king's counselor; and Hushai the Archite was the king's friend; | Details more of David's administrative staff. |
| 2 Sam 8:17 | and Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were priests; and Seraiah was scribe; | Parallel account of David's officials, naming similar roles. |
| 2 Sam 15:24 | And behold, Zadok also came, and all the Levites with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God... | Zadok and Levites with Ark during Absalom's revolt, showing priestly roles. |
| 2 Sam 15:29 | So Zadok and Abiathar carried the ark of God back to Jerusalem; and they stayed there. | Zadok and Abiathar working together during Absalom's rebellion, showcasing the dual priesthood. |
| 1 Ki 1:7-8 | And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, and they helped Adonijah. But Zadok the priest...was not with Adonijah. | Highlights the split loyalties between Zadok and Abiathar (Abiathar's family) later in David's reign. |
| 1 Ki 2:26-27 | To Abiathar the priest the king said, "Go to Anathoth...for you have borne the ark of the Lord GOD before my father David..." So Solomon drove Abiathar from being priest to the LORD, to fulfill the word of the LORD, which he had spoken concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh. | Abiathar's removal by Solomon, making Zadok the sole high priest. |
| 1 Ki 2:35 | The king put Benaiah the son of Jehoiada over the army in his place; and Zadok the priest the king put in the place of Abiathar. | Solomon confirming Zadok as sole priest and Benaiah as commander, reinforcing David's choices. |
| 1 Chron 6:8-15 | (Various verses) | Traces the priestly lineage of Zadok back to Eleazar and Aaron. |
| 1 Sam 22:20 | But one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped... | Provides background to Abiathar's escape and service to David, illustrating the line of priests from Nob. |
| 1 Chron 27:32 | Jonathan, David's uncle, was a counselor, a man of understanding and a scribe; and Jehiel the son of Hachmoni was with the king's sons. | Further lists counselors in David's administration, illustrating the range of officials. |
| Num 27:21 | He shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire for him by the judgment of the Urim before the LORD. | Illustrates the role of the priest in seeking divine counsel for leadership. |
| Ex 18:21 | Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. | Moses establishing an administrative structure, echoing the need for organized governance. |
| Deut 17:15 | ...you shall surely set a king over you whom the LORD your God chooses... | Divinely appointed leadership requires structure and proper function. |
| Prov 11:14 | Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety. | Emphasizes the importance of good counsel and proper officials for a stable kingdom. |
| Neh 8:4 | So Ezra the scribe stood on a platform of wood... | Illustrates the continued importance of the "scribe" as a key religious and administrative figure post-exile. |
| Ezra 7:6 | This Ezra came up from Babylon; and he was a skilled scribe in the Law of Moses... | Highlights the revered role of a "scribe" in matters of divine law. |
| 2 Sam 8:18 | and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David’s sons were chief ministers. | Parallel verse mentioning Benaiah and the elite guards, confirming his crucial role. |
| 2 Sam 20:23 | And Joab was over all the army of Israel; Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; | Reiterates Benaiah's command over the special guard. |
| 1 Chron 27:5-6 | The third captain of the army for the third month was Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada the priest... This was the Benaiah who was mighty among the thirty, and over the thirty; and Ammizabad his son was in charge of his division. | Provides more detail on Benaiah's military leadership, acknowledging his significant stature. |
| Ps 75:6-7 | For exaltation comes neither from the east nor from the west nor from the south. But God is the Judge: He puts down one and exalts another. | God's sovereign hand in establishing and removing leaders and structures. |
| Rom 13:1-7 | Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God... | Highlights that all governmental authority, including its appointed officials, is divinely instituted. |
1 Chronicles 18 verses
1 Chronicles 18 16 Meaning
This verse lists key officials appointed by King David in his kingdom's administration, following his significant military victories and consolidation of power. It specifies the two principal priests, Zadok and Ahimelech (of the line of Abiathar), the royal scribe, Shavsha, and the commander of his personal guard, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, who was in charge of the Cherethites and Pelethites. This highlights the structured and comprehensive nature of David's rule, ensuring order, religious guidance, and military loyalty.
1 Chronicles 18 16 Context
Chapter 18 of 1 Chronicles details David's expansive military victories against various surrounding nations, including the Philistines, Moabites, Aram (Syrians of Zobah and Damascus), Edomites, and Ammonites. These conquests significantly consolidated his power, established his empire, and brought immense spoils. Following these triumphs, David establishes a well-ordered administration, distributing the wealth, dedicating some to the future temple, and appointing key officials to manage the kingdom. Verse 16 specifically names the primary figures in his newly structured court: the religious leaders, the royal administrator, and the commander of his personal security force. This immediately follows the account of David dedicating the acquired spoils to the Lord for the sanctuary, showing David's reverence for God in his leadership.
1 Chronicles 18 16 Word analysis
- And Zadok (וְצָד֥וֹק - ve-Tsadoq): Zadok, meaning "righteous," was a high priest from the line of Eleazar, Aaron's son (1 Chron 6:1-8). He represents the established, orthodox priestly lineage. His prominence grew under David and solidified under Solomon, when he became the sole high priest. His presence indicates divine blessing and legitimate religious authority within David's rule.
- the son of Ahitub (בֶּן־אֲחִיט֖וּב - ben-Achituv): Ahitub was Zadok's father. This patronymic identifies Zadok's specific lineage within the priestly house of Eleazar, reinforcing his authentic credentials.
- and Ahimelech (וַאֲחִימֶ֣לֶךְ - va'Achimelech): This Ahimelech is named here as a high priest alongside Zadok. He is associated with the lineage of Abiathar. The most prominent Ahimelech (father of Abiathar) was killed by Saul (1 Sam 22), making Abiathar his son the survivor. Here, it says "Ahimelech the son of Abiathar." This likely refers to a descendant or another individual of the priestly line of Ithamar (through Abiathar), serving a co-priesthood alongside Zadok.
- the son of Abiathar (בֶּן־אֶבְיָתָ֑ר - ben-Evathar): Abiathar was a son of Ahimelech (of Nob) and a loyal priest to David during his wilderness wanderings and early reign. The statement "Ahimelech the son of Abiathar" rather than "Abiathar the son of Ahimelech" (which is more common elsewhere for Abiathar's lineage from Ahimelech of Nob) suggests a complex family tree where "Ahimelech" might be a later descendant named after his distinguished ancestor or represents the line itself. It denotes the parallel but distinct priestly authority derived from Abiathar's house.
- were the priests (הַכֹּהֲנִ֑ים - ha-kohanim): The plural form "priests" signifies the dual high priestly roles held by Zadok and Ahimelech/Abiathar. This co-priesthood was unique to David's reign, blending different priestly lines and providing broader representation, though later Solomon would consolidate it under Zadok alone. It implies the importance of dual religious counsel for the king.
- and Shavsha (וְשַׁוְשָׁ֖א - ve-Shavsha): Shavsha (also named Seraiah, Sheva, Shisha in other biblical texts like 2 Sam 8:17, 2 Sam 20:25, 1 Ki 4:3) held the crucial administrative position of royal scribe.
- was scribe (סֹפֵ֑ר - sofer): The scribe was a high-ranking official responsible for managing the king's records, correspondence, diplomatic communications, and sometimes functioning as a secretary of state. This role indicates a sophisticated level of governance and literacy within David's court.
- and Benaiah (וּבְנָיָ֙הוּ֙ - u-Venayahu): Benaiah was a prominent and loyal military commander, known for his personal prowess (1 Chron 11:22-25). He remained fiercely loyal to David, and later to Solomon, who appointed him commander of the entire army.
- the son of Jehoiada (בֶּן־יְהוֹיָדָ֔ע - ben-Yehoyada): This identifies Benaiah's lineage, linking him to a respectable family background, perhaps also of a priestly or Levitical line in some accounts.
- was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites (עַל־הַכְּרֵתִ֥י וְהַפְּלֵתִֽי - al-ha-Kereti ve-ha-Peleti): This elite, foreign mercenary force served as David's loyal personal bodyguard and executioners. Their non-Israelite origin ensured their loyalty solely to the king, making them effective in maintaining order and enforcing royal decrees, independent of tribal politics. Their leadership under Benaiah indicates the king's supreme authority.
1 Chronicles 18 16 Bonus section
The Chronicler's primary purpose is often seen as presenting the Davidic kingdom and its institutions (especially the temple and priesthood) as a model for post-exilic Judah. This detailed list of David's key officials, particularly the priestly roles, underscores the importance of proper administration and religiously appointed figures in maintaining a kingdom under God. It suggests that order and wise appointments were integral to David's success and serve as an example for future generations seeking to rebuild and establish a righteous community. The emphasis on the priesthood is characteristic of the Chronicler, reflecting the belief that the proper functioning of the worship system was paramount for national well-being.
1 Chronicles 18 16 Commentary
This verse, though concise, paints a vital picture of King David's organized and divinely sanctioned administration. After consolidating his earthly kingdom through military success, David, in his wisdom, ensures the spiritual, administrative, and security foundations are firmly in place. The naming of two high priests, Zadok and Ahimelech, highlights a unique dual priestly leadership during David's reign, merging lineages from both Eleazar and Ithamar (through Abiathar). This provided comprehensive religious counsel and legitimacy. The "scribe," Shavsha, emphasizes the importance of governance through records, communication, and bureaucracy—a mark of a developed state. Lastly, the command of the Cherethites and Pelethites by Benaiah demonstrates David's strategic foresight in establishing a fiercely loyal, professional security force that operated outside tribal affiliations. This verse encapsulates David's prudence in establishing a structured kingdom that acknowledged both divine guidance and practical necessities for stable rule.