(1) A son of Nathan (the prophet, probably) said in Kings to be chief minister to Solomon and also the king's friend (1 Kings 4:5; 1 Chronicles 2:36). The American Revised Version margin has "priest" for "chief minister." Benzinger (Kurz. Hand-Commentary, 18) holds that "this expression is a marginal gloss here," while Kittel (Handkomm., 31) holds it to be genuine, though it is wanting in the Septuagint. Some suggest cokhen (see SHEBNA ) for kohen. The expression "king's friend" (compare 2 Samuel 15:37; 16:16) is, says Kittel, an old Canaanite title, found also in the Tell el-Amarna Letters.

(2) See ZACCUR , (4); PRIESTS AND LEVITES .

David Francis Roberts

From the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Edited by James Orr, published in 1939 by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

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