2 Samuel 8 17

2 Samuel 8:17 kjv

And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests; and Seraiah was the scribe;

2 Samuel 8:17 nkjv

Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were the priests; Seraiah was the scribe;

2 Samuel 8:17 niv

Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelek son of Abiathar were priests; Seraiah was secretary;

2 Samuel 8:17 esv

and Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were priests, and Seraiah was secretary,

2 Samuel 8:17 nlt

Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were the priests. Seraiah was the court secretary.

2 Samuel 8 verses

2 Samuel 8 17 Meaning

2 Samuel 8:17 records the appointment of two prominent figures to key administrative and spiritual roles in King David's emerging kingdom. It states that Zadok, a descendant of Eleazar, and Ahimelech, noted in a potentially confusing lineage connection to Abiathar, held the vital office of priests. Simultaneously, Seraiah was appointed as the royal scribe. This verse illustrates David's establishment of a structured and organized government, integrating both sacred and secular offices to serve his people and God's kingdom.

2 Samuel 8 17 Context

2 Samuel chapter 8 provides a summary of King David's military victories and the establishment of his dominion over surrounding nations. Following these extensive conquests, the chapter shifts its focus to the consolidation of David's kingdom internally, emphasizing his just rule (verse 15) and the appointment of key officials. Verse 17, therefore, falls within the context of David structuring his administration after successfully securing peace and expanding his territory. This internal organization demonstrates the practical implementation of David's role as a righteous king, setting up necessary institutions to govern the land and attend to both spiritual and civil matters for the people of Israel.

2 Samuel 8 17 Word analysis

• Zadok (צָד֣וֹק, Tsadoq): Meaning "righteous" or "just." Zadok was a key priestly figure in David's reign, descending from Aaron through Eleazar (Ezra 7:1-5), distinct from Abiathar who descended from Eli (through Ithamar). Zadok's line would eventually replace the lineage of Eli entirely as the chief priestly line (1 Kgs 2:35), enduring until the time of the Second Temple. His name reflects the character of his ministry within a kingdom seeking righteousness.
• Ahitub (אֲחִיט֗וּב, Achitub): Meaning "my brother is good." Ahitub appears in various priestly genealogies. Zadok's lineage is through Zadok son of Ahitub, while Abiathar's lineage also involves an Ahitub (grandfather of Abiathar, father of Ahimelech of Nob). This common name can be a point of genealogical clarification for scribes.
• Ahimelech (אֲחִימֶ֛לֶךְ, Achimelekh): Meaning "my brother is king." In 2 Sam 8:17, the phrase "Ahimelech the son of Abiathar" presents a textual difficulty because 1 Sam 22:20 clearly states that Abiathar was the son of Ahimelech (of Nob). Scholars widely agree this is a probable scribal inversion, and the verse likely originally intended to list "Abiathar the son of Ahimelech" alongside Zadok, representing the two high priestly lines serving David at this time. Alternatively, it could refer to a less prominent Ahimelech.
• Abiathar (אֶבְיָתָ֥ר, Evyatar): Meaning "father of abundance." Abiathar was the sole survivor of the priestly family of Nob massacred by Saul, and he served David loyally throughout his early reign and into his kingship. He carried the ephod (garment containing the Urim and Thummim for divine consultation) for David. He later sided with Adonijah against Solomon and was subsequently banished from the priesthood (1 Kgs 2:26-27).
• were priests (כֹּהֲנִ֖ים, kohanim): This term refers to those designated for sacred service, primarily associated with the Tabernacle/Ark and performing rituals, sacrifices, and instructing the people in God's law. The use of the plural implies a shared authority, representing a dual priesthood system that existed under David, where both the Zadokite and Ithamarite (Eli-Abiathar) lines held prominence, reflecting different spiritual traditions or roles within David's court before one line became dominant.
• Seraiah (שְׂרָיָ֖ה, Serayah): Meaning "Yahweh is a prince" or "Yahweh persists." He is listed as a significant official in David's court, a royal scribe. He is likely the same person as Sheva (2 Sam 20:25) or Shisha (1 Kgs 4:3, for Solomon's administration), possibly variations of the name or office name.
• the scribe (סֹפֵ֑ר, sofer): In ancient Near Eastern monarchies, the royal scribe was a high-ranking official, far more than a mere record-keeper. The scribe was typically the king's confidential secretary, responsible for drafting royal correspondence, edicts, historical annals, census records, and possibly advising on administrative policy. This position indicated a structured and sophisticated bureaucracy within David's kingdom.

• "Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were priests": This phrase highlights the existence of a dual priesthood during David's reign. This arrangement was likely intended to unify the priestly service, bringing together both the lineage of Eleazar (Zadok) and the line of Ithamar/Eli (represented by Abiathar, even with the textual difficulty) who had traditionally served. It represents the comprehensive nature of David's administrative structure, valuing both spiritual counsel and institutional continuity.
• "and Seraiah was the scribe": This part emphasizes the secular, yet essential, administrative functions of the kingdom. The presence of a dedicated scribe underscores the importance of record-keeping, governance, and royal decrees, signifying the formalized nature of David's reign. Together, these appointments reflect the organized infrastructure David put in place to govern his expanded kingdom justly and righteously.

2 Samuel 8 17 Bonus section

The mention of "Ahimelech the son of Abiathar" in 2 Samuel 8:17, while other passages (like 1 Samuel 22:20) clearly state Abiathar was the son of Ahimelech (of Nob), is one of the more noted textual cruxes in the Old Testament. Many scholars and textual critics believe this phrase likely resulted from a scribal error, where the names "Abiathar" and "Ahimelech" were inverted during copying (metathesis or dittography). It is far more consistent with the biblical narrative to read "Abiathar the son of Ahimelech" in this verse, listing the two dominant high priests of David's time: Zadok (from Eleazar's line) and Abiathar (from Eli's line via Ahimelech). The Masoretic Text preserves this challenging reading, prompting commentators to propose various solutions, including the possibility of another Ahimelech or that the phrasing emphasizes the ongoing priestly authority passed through Abiathar. However, the prevailing view holds that the most straightforward resolution lies in a transcriptional error, maintaining the overall biblical depiction of the dual priestly authority during David's united kingdom.

2 Samuel 8 17 Commentary

2 Samuel 8:17 offers a concise glimpse into the early administrative structure of David's kingdom after his military triumphs. It details two foundational pillars: the priesthood, represented by Zadok and Abiathar (or Abiathar through his lineage, despite the textual issue of Ahimelech being "son of" him), and the royal secretariat, led by Seraiah. The dual priesthood symbolizes David's comprehensive approach to spiritual and national life, bringing together two significant priestly lines that had roots in different aspects of Israel's past. This demonstrated a desire for religious unity under the newly centralized monarchy. The appointment of a royal scribe reveals the sophistication of David's government. This individual was crucial for documenting events, administering the law, communicating royal decrees, and ensuring the bureaucratic stability necessary for governing a unified kingdom. This verse, therefore, portrays a picture of ordered governance and foundational leadership under a king dedicated to establishing justice and righteousness throughout his reign, preparing the way for the organized administration that would characterize his unified kingdom.