Zabud

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Za'bud. (Given). Son of Nathan,  1 Kings 4:5, is described as a priest, (Authorized Version, "principal officer"), and as holding, at the court of Solomon, the confidential post of "king's friend," which had been occupied by Hushai, the Archite, during the reign of David.  2 Samuel 15:37;  2 Samuel 16:16;  1 Chronicles 27:33. (B.C. 1012).

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

Son of Nathan ( 1 Kings 4:5). Priest ( Kohen , KJV "principal officer") and "king's friend" to Solomon, i.e. privy councillor, i.e. confidential adviser, of the king.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

A son of Nathan the prophet, the confidential friend and adviser of king Solomon, probably having shared with him the instructions of the venerable prophet,  1 Kings 4:5 .

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

Zabud . The son of Nathan (  1 Kings 4:6 ); cf. Zabad , 1 .

Morrish Bible Dictionary

Son of Nathan, and 'principal officer and friend of Solomon.'  1 Kings 4:5 .

Holman Bible Dictionary

 1 Kings 4:5

Easton's Bible Dictionary

 1 Kings 4:5

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(Heb. Zabud', זָבוּד , Given; Sept. Ζαβούθ v.r. Ζαββούθ ), son of Nathan the prophet ( 1 Kings 4:5). B.C. 1012. He is described as a priest (A. V. "principal officer"), and as holding at the court of Solomon the confidential post of "king's friend," which had been occupied by Hushai the Archite during the reign of David ( 2 Samuel 15:37;  2 Samuel 16:16; l Chronicles 27:33). This position, if it were an official one, was evidently distinct from that of counselor, occupied by Ahithophel under David, and had more of the character of private friendship about it, for Absalom conversely calls David the "friend" of Hushai ( 2 Samuel 16:17). Azariah, another son of Nathan, was "over all the" (household) "officers" of king Solomon; and their advancement may doubtless be ascribed not only to the young king's respect for the venerable prophet, who had been his instructor, but to the friendship he had contracted with his sons during the course of education. The office, or rather honor, of "friend of the king" we find in all the despotic governments of the East. It gives high power, without the public responsibility which the holding of a regular office in the State necessarily imposes. It implies the possession of the utmost confidence of, and familiar intercourse with, the monarch, to whose person "the friend" at all times has access, and whose influence is therefore often far greater, even in matters of state, than that of the recognized ministers of government. In the Vat. MS. of the Sept. the word "priest" is omitted, and in the Arabic of the London Polyglot it is referred to Nathan. The Peshito-Syriac and several Hebrew MSS. for "Zabud" read "Zaccur." The same occurs in the case of Zabbud

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

zā´bud ( זבוּד , zābhūdh , "bestowed"):

(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 סכן , ṣōkhēn (see Shebna ) for כּהן , kōhēn . The expression "king's friend" (compare  2 Samuel 15:37;  2 Samuel 16:16 ) is, says Kittel, an old Canaanite title, found also in the Tell el - Amarna Letters .

(2) See Zaccur , (4); Priests And Levites .

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

Zab´ud (bestowed), a son of Nathan the prophet, who held under Solomon the important place of 'king's friend,' or favorite (), which Hushai had held under David (), and which a person named Elkanah held under Ahaz (). Azariah, another son of Nathan, was 'over all the (household) officers' of King Solomon; and their advancement may doubtless be ascribed not only to the young king's respect for the venerable prophet, who had been his instructor, but to the friendship he had contracted with his sons during the course of education. The office, or rather honor, of 'friend of the king,' we find in all the despotic governments of the East. It gives high power, without the public responsibility which the holding of a regular office in the state necessarily imposes. It implies the possession of the utmost confidence of, and familiar intercourse with, the monarch, to whose person 'the friend' at all times has access, and whose influence is therefore often far greater, even in matters of state, than that of the recognized ministers of government.