1 Kings 4:4 kjv
And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the host: and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests:
1 Kings 4:4 nkjv
Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, over the army; Zadok and Abiathar, the priests;
1 Kings 4:4 niv
Benaiah son of Jehoiada?commander in chief; Zadok and Abiathar?priests;
1 Kings 4:4 esv
Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was in command of the army; Zadok and Abiathar were priests;
1 Kings 4:4 nlt
Benaiah son of Jehoiada was commander of the army.
Zadok and Abiathar were priests.
1 Kings 4 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Sam 2:30 | "Therefore the LORD, the God of Israel, declares: 'I promised that your house and the house of your father..." | Prophecy against Eli's house. |
| 1 Sam 2:31-32 | "Behold, the days are coming when I will cut off your arm... and all the increase of your house shall die..." | Further detail of the prophecy against Eli. |
| 1 Sam 2:35 | "And I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest, who shall do according to what is in My heart..." | Prophecy of a faithful priest (Zadok's line). |
| 2 Sam 8:17 | "Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were priests..." | Mentions Zadok and Abiathar (Ahimelech is listed instead of Abiathar as Abiathar's father). |
| 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 Abiathar faithful to David. |
| 2 Sam 15:35 | "Are not Zadok and Abiathar the priests with you there?" | David relying on Zadok and Abiathar. |
| 2 Sam 20:25 | "and Sheva was secretary; and Zadok and Abiathar were priests;" | Lists Zadok and Abiathar as priests. |
| 1 Kgs 1:8 | "But Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet, and Shimei, and Rei, and the mighty men who belonged to David, were not with Adonijah." | Zadok and Benaiah loyal to Solomon. |
| 1 Kgs 1:32-40 | "And King David said, 'Call Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada.'" | Zadok and Benaiah play a key role in Solomon's anointing. |
| 1 Kgs 2:26-27 | "And to Abiathar the priest the king said, 'Go to Anathoth... You are to be put to death, but I will not put you to death at this time... So Solomon put Abiathar out from being priest to the LORD, thus fulfilling the word of the LORD..." | Abiathar's dismissal, fulfilling 1 Sam 2 prophecy. |
| 1 Kgs 2:35 | "And 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." | Benaiah replaces Joab; Zadok replaces Abiathar. |
| 1 Kgs 11:36 | "And to his son I will give one tribe, that David my servant may always have a lamp before Me in Jerusalem..." | Refers to Solomon's lineage continuing. |
| 1 Chr 6:8b-15 | "And Ahimaaz was the father of Azariah, Azariah of Johanan... And Jehozadak went into exile when the LORD carried Judah and Jerusalem away by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar." | Traces Zadok's priestly lineage. |
| 1 Chr 18:17 | "And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites..." | Benaiah's prior military role. |
| Ez 44:15-16 | "But the Levitical priests, the sons of Zadok, who kept the charge of My sanctuary when the people of Israel went astray from Me, shall come near to Me to minister to Me..." | Future importance of Zadokite priesthood. |
| Ps 72:1 | "Of Solomon. Give the king Your justice, O God, and Your righteousness to the royal son!" | Solomon's reign established by God. |
| Isa 11:2-4 | "And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding..." | Messianic wisdom that echoes Solomon's. |
| Zech 6:12-13 | "Behold, the man whose name is the Branch: for he shall grow up out of his place... and he shall build the temple of the LORD... and he shall be a priest on his throne..." | Foreshadows Christ as both king and priest. |
| Heb 5:6 | "As He says also in another place, 'You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.'" | Christ as eternal priest, beyond hereditary lines. |
| Heb 7:12-14 | "For when there is a change in the priesthood, there must of necessity be a change in the law as well." | Change of priesthood to Christ, fulfilling patterns. |
1 Kings 4 verses
1 Kings 4 4 Meaning
1 Kings 4:4 describes key appointments in King Solomon's administrative structure, highlighting his secure control over both military and religious affairs. It notes that Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, commanded the army, and Zadok and Abiathar served as priests, indicating the prominent positions in his kingdom. This verse functions as part of a detailed list enumerating Solomon's principal officials, signifying the stability and order established during his reign.
1 Kings 4 4 Context
1 Kings 4:4 is part of a detailed organizational chart provided in 1 Kings 4:1-19, which lists the administrative structure of Solomon's kingdom. This section immediately follows the consolidation of Solomon's power (1 Kings 2-3), where he purged elements of opposition (Adonijah, Joab, Shimei) and sought wisdom from God. The list of officials demonstrates Solomon's effective reign, his extensive wealth, and the peace and stability that characterized his rule. The mention of Benaiah over the army and the priests Zadok and Abiathar underscores his firm control over both the military and religious spheres, establishing loyal leadership in key strategic positions. This period marked the apex of Israelite monarchy under a unified kingdom.
1 Kings 4 4 Word analysis
- and Benaiah: (Hebrew: וּבְנָיָהוּ, u'venayahu). Benaiah was a skilled warrior and highly loyal individual from Judah. Under David, he was chief of the Cherethites and Pelethites, the royal bodyguard (2 Sam 8:18; 2 Sam 20:23). He actively supported Solomon during Adonijah's attempted usurpation (1 Kgs 1:8, 10, 26). He was the instrument of Solomon's purges, executing Adonijah, Joab, and Shimei (1 Kgs 2:25, 34, 46).
- the son of Jehoiada: (Hebrew: בֶן־יְהוֹיָדָע, ven Yehoyada). Identifies Benaiah through his father, linking him to a distinguished priestly family, although Benaiah served in a military capacity. Jehoiada was chief priest for a time (1 Chr 27:34).
- was over: (Hebrew: עַל, ʿal - "over, upon"). Indicates direct authority and supervision.
- the army: (Hebrew: הַצָּבָא, ha-tzava). Refers to the entire Israelite military force. Benaiah's appointment here as overall commander signified a complete shift in military leadership, replacing the potentially disloyal Joab (1 Kgs 2:35). This established Solomon's absolute authority over the national armed forces, critical for maintaining order and defense.
- and Zadok: (Hebrew: וְצָדֹוק, v'tzadok). A descendant of Eleazar, Aaron's elder son (1 Chr 6:4–8). He remained loyal to David during Absalom's rebellion (2 Sam 15:24–29) and was crucial in anointing Solomon as king (1 Kgs 1:32-45). His priestly line would later become dominant and fulfill the prophecy concerning Eli's house (1 Sam 2:35).
- and Abiathar: (Hebrew: וְאֶבְיָתָר, v'evyatar). A descendant of Eli through Ithamar, Aaron's younger son (1 Sam 22:20). He served David faithfully, fleeing with the ephod after Saul's massacre of the priests (1 Sam 22:20-23) and holding a prominent priestly role during David's reign alongside Zadok (2 Sam 8:17). However, he sided with Adonijah during the succession dispute (1 Kgs 1:7).
- were priests: (Hebrew: כֹּהֲנִים, kohanim - plural of kohen, "priest"). This indicates a dual high priesthood, a characteristic of David's reign. However, it is crucial to note the context from 1 Kings 2:26-27, where Solomon removed Abiathar from his active priestly duties, sending him into exile in Anathoth, thus fulfilling the prophecy against the house of Eli (1 Sam 2:31-35). While 1 Kings 4:4 lists both, this likely reflects Abiathar's continued presence in a formal or recognized capacity for a brief transition period, or is a summary list of the key historical roles as Solomon took power, recognizing the prior dual leadership. By 1 Kings 2:35, Zadok was already appointed in place of Abiathar. Therefore, this listing signifies the passing era of the dual priesthood and the imminent sole prominence of Zadok's line.
1 Kings 4 4 Bonus section
- The administrative structure described in 1 Kings 4:1-19 reflects a well-organized kingdom, which was essential for managing Solomon's ambitious building projects, maintaining trade relations, and overseeing the vast resources of his expanded territory.
- The transition from a dual priesthood (Zadok and Abiathar) to the sole Zadokite priesthood has profound implications for subsequent Israelite religious history, solidifying a particular priestly lineage in Jerusalem and setting a precedent for priestly authority, which is later reflected in prophetic texts like Ezekiel (e.g., Ez 44:15-16).
- Solomon's actions in appointing Benaiah and consolidating the priesthood demonstrate not only political astuteness but also his execution of God's justice upon those who opposed His chosen king, ensuring a secure and stable environment for the Lord's chosen leader and, eventually, the building of the Temple.
1 Kings 4 4 Commentary
1 Kings 4:4 provides a succinct but powerful insight into the early, stable phase of Solomon's reign. The naming of Benaiah as commander of the army signals Solomon's successful consolidation of military power, replacing potentially divisive figures like Joab with a loyal and effective officer. This move secured the throne against future internal threats. The mention of "Zadok and Abiathar were priests" underscores the religious foundation of Solomon's kingdom. While Abiathar is listed, this verse serves as a historical snapshot, acknowledging the pre-existing dual priesthood that had served King David. The narrative's prior details in 1 Kings 2 reveal that Abiathar was soon to be, or had just been, effectively removed from active duties due to his allegiance with Adonijah. This meant the prophecy against Eli's house (Abiathar's lineage) was fulfilled, and Zadok's line (from Eleazar) became the sole dominant high priestly family. Thus, 1 Kings 4:4, while presenting an ordered list, subtly highlights the secure transition of both military and religious authority under Solomon, laying the groundwork for a period of unparalleled peace and prosperity in Israel.