Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests;
Zadok and Ahimelech served as priests during King David's reign, a period marked by the consolidation of Israel's tribes and the establishment of Jerusalem as the political and spiritual center. Zadok, from the line of Eleazar, was a descendant of Aaron, which legitimized his priestly role. His presence signifies continuity in the priesthood, as he later becomes a key figure in Solomon's reign, supporting the transition of power (1 Kings 1:39). Ahimelech, son of Abiathar, represents the line of Ithamar, another of Aaron's sons. Abiathar, Ahimelech's father, had been a loyal supporter of David during his flight from Saul (1 Samuel 22:20-23). The dual priesthood reflects the political and religious complexities of the time, as both lines of Aaron were represented, ensuring broader acceptance among the tribes. This arrangement also prefigures the dual roles of Christ as both priest and king, uniting different aspects of leadership and service.

Seraiah was the scribe;
Seraiah's role as a scribe indicates the importance of record-keeping and administration in David's kingdom. Scribes were essential for maintaining legal documents, royal decrees, and historical records, which were crucial for governance and the preservation of Israel's history. The position of scribe was one of significant influence, as it involved close interaction with the king and his court. This role underscores the value placed on literacy and education in ancient Israel, reflecting a society that valued the written word, which is foundational for the transmission of Scripture. The mention of Seraiah highlights the organized structure of David's administration, which laid the groundwork for the future prosperity of Israel under Solomon. This administrative order can be seen as a type of the order and peace that Christ brings to His kingdom, where He is both the Word and the ultimate authority.

1. Zadok son of Ahitub
Zadok was a prominent priest during the reign of King David. He is known for his loyalty to David and later played a significant role in the anointing of Solomon as king.

2. Ahimelech son of Abiathar
Ahimelech is mentioned here as a priest. It is important to note that there is some textual complexity regarding the names Ahimelech and Abiathar, as they are sometimes interchanged in the biblical account.

3. Seraiah the Scribe
Seraiah served as a scribe, a role that involved recording and maintaining important documents and communications for the king. This position was crucial for the administration of the kingdom.

4. Priests
The priests in ancient Israel were responsible for performing sacrifices, maintaining the temple, and serving as intermediaries between God and the people.

5. Scribe
The scribe was an essential part of the royal court, responsible for writing and preserving official records, decrees, and other important documents.The Importance of Faithful Service
Zadok and Ahimelech exemplify faithful service to God and the king. Their roles remind us of the importance of loyalty and dedication in our own service to God and others.

The Role of Leadership in God's Plan
The priests and scribes played crucial roles in maintaining the spiritual and administrative order of the kingdom. This highlights the importance of leadership and organization in fulfilling God's purposes.

The Significance of Record-Keeping
Seraiah's role as a scribe underscores the value of preserving history and God's dealings with His people. It encourages us to be diligent in remembering and recording God's faithfulness in our lives.

Interconnectedness of God's People
The mention of these individuals shows the interconnectedness of God's people in fulfilling His plans. It reminds us that each person has a unique role to play in the body of Christ.(17) Ahimelech, the son of Abiathar.--So Ahimelech is also described in 1Chronicles 18:16; 1Chronicles 24:6; on the other hand, Abiathar is expressly said to be the son of Ahimelech in the narrative in 1Samuel 22:20-23. This difficulty is increased by the further notices of the men bearing these names. Ahimelech was certainly the high priest who gave the shew-bread to David, and was slain in consequence by Saul (1 Samuel 21, 22), and Abiathar, who fled to David, and afterwards became high priest, and was finally put out of the high-priesthood by Solomon (1 Kings 1, 2) was certainly his son; but, on the other hand, in 1Chronicles 24:3; 1Chronicles 24:6; 1Chronicles 24:31 Ahimelech. is said to have been the co-priest with Zadok during the reign of David, and our Lord says that David ate the shew-bread "in the days of Abiathar, the high priest" (Mark 2:26). These apparently conflicting facts have occasioned unnecessary perplexity. The simple solution of the difficulty seems to be that both names were borne alike by father and by son, so that both of them are spoken of sometimes under one name, sometimes under the other. . . . Verse 17. - Zadok... and Ahimelech... were the priests. We have already seen that this was contrary to the letter of the Mosaic Law, and yet that there was no schism, and that by patience matters came back to the right groove. Zadok, of the elder line of Eleazar (1 Chronicles 6:4-8, 50-53), was high priest at Gibeon, and Ahimelech, of the junior line of Ithamar, was the high priest at Jerusalem. Instead of Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, the Syriac transposes the names, and reads, "Abiathar the son of Ahimelech" This agrees with the list in 2 Samuel 20:25, and it is certain that Abiathar outlived David (1 Kings 2:26), and that he was David's high priest throughout his reign, though Zadok is not only constantly associated with him, but is placed first, as the man of higher rank (2 Samuel 15:24-35; 2 Samuel 17:15; 2 Samuel 19:11; 2 Samuel 20:25). It is also remarkable that our Lord makes Abiathar the person who gave David the shewbread (Mark 2:26), whereas in 1 Samuel 21. he is repeatedly called Ahimelech. As both the LXX. and the Vulgate support the Hebrew against the Syriac, and as the reading "Ahimelech" is confirmed by 1 Chronicles 18:16 and 1 Chron 24:3, 6, 31, we must reject the emendation of the Syriac, and conclude that there was a double tradition respecting these names, some manuscripts making Abiathar the father, and others giving the seniority to Ahimelech. Our Lord made Abiathar the father, but the scribes, in their editing of the Hebrew text, gave that place to Ahimelech, yet did not carry out their restoration so thoroughly as not to leave proof that the names probably ought to be reversed. Seraiah was scribe. His office was similar to that of a secretary of state with us. For Seraiah we have Shavsha in 1 Chronicles 18:16, Shisha in 1 Kings 4:3, and Sheva in 2 Samuel 20:25. This illustrates what has just been said as to the uncertainty about proper names. They are always most difficult to read, as the sense gives no aid, and these various forms of a name that does not occur elsewhere really bear witness to the high antiquity of the manuscripts uses by the scribes in settling the text of the Old Testament; and also to their self-restraint in not making them all forcibly agree.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Zadok
וְצָד֧וֹק (wə·ṣā·ḏō·wq)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 6659: Zadok -- the name of several Israelites

son
בֶּן־ (ben-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1121: A son

of Ahitub
אֲחִיט֛וּב (’ă·ḥî·ṭūḇ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 285: Ahitub -- 'my brother is goodness', two Israelites

and Ahimelech
וַאֲחִימֶ֥לֶךְ (wa·’ă·ḥî·me·leḵ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 288: Ahimelech -- 'brother of a king', an Israelite name, also a Hittite name

son
בֶּן־ (ben-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1121: A son

of Abiathar
אֶבְיָתָ֖ר (’eḇ·yā·ṯār)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 54: Abiathar -- 'the great one is father', an Israelite priest

were priests;
כֹּהֲנִ֑ים (kō·hă·nîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3548: Priest

Seraiah
וּשְׂרָיָ֖ה (ū·śə·rā·yāh)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 8304: Seraiah -- 'Yah persists', the name of a number of Israelites

was the scribe;
סוֹפֵֽר׃ (sō·w·p̄êr)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5608: To count, recount, relate


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OT History: 2 Samuel 8:17 And Zadok the son of Ahitub (2Sa iiSam 2 Sam ii sam)