Charles Ellicott Commentary 1 Kings 4:5

"and Azariah the son of Nathan was over the officers; and Zabud the son of Nathan was chief minister, [and] the king`s friend;" — 1 Kings 4:5 (ASV)

Son of Nathan. —Probably Nathan, son of David, and own brother of Solomon (1 Chronicles 3:5), is here intended; for the title Cohen, here given to Zabud, is expressly ascribed in 2 Samuel 8:18 to the “sons of David;” and Nathan the prophet always has his title, “the prophet,” appended to his name wherever first mentioned in this book. (See 1 Kings 1:8; 1 Kings 1:10; 1 Kings 1:22; 1 Kings 1:32, and others.)

Azariah is the “chief of the officers”—that is, chief over the twelve officers mentioned below (1 Kings 4:7–19)—living, however, at Court.

Zabud, besides the title of Cohen, has that of “the king’s friend,” previously given to Hushai (2 Samuel 15:37; 2 Samuel 16:16), and apparently indicating special intimacy and wisdom as a “privy counsellor.”