I Kings 4: How Many Priests Does it Take to Screw in a Lightbulb?

David was king over Judah, then all of Israel, but it never seemed like he had steady control over the many tribes. Shlomo sets up a sophisticated administrative state with prefects sent out to each of the tribes. The first part of the chapter details Shlomo’s top officials- similar to chapter 8 of II Samuel, but something seems off in the list. “These were his officials: Azariah son of Zadok—the priest Elihoreph and Ahijah sons of Shisha—scribes; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud—recorder, Benaiah son of Jehoiada—over the army Zadok and Abiathar—priests…” (verses 2-4). Why are Azariah, Zadok, and Abiathar all listed as priests? Didn’t Shlomo send Abiathar home in chapter 2? Rav David Kimchi believes that this is a different Abiathar. Abarbanel explains that both are listed because Abiathar had been the Kohen Gadol. Shlomo deposed him and made Tzadok the Kohen Gadol, but once someone is considered the Kohen Gadol, they still maintain the honor of the office, even if they are not officially in the position anymore. Ralbag adds that Abiathar would fill in for Tzadok when Tzadok was unavailable to work as the Kohen Gadol. Metzudat David explains that when Shlomo elevated Tzadok to be the Kohen Gadol, Azariah took over as the military priest from Tzadok. This is why he is listed in addition to Tzadok and Aviatar. Metzudsat Tzaion’s opinion would be a little sharper if Azariah was the one listed with Benaiah the new chief of the army instead of with the scribes. Malbim explains that Kohen is not necessarily priest but could also just mean a high ranking official. Based on that listing, it is possible that Azariah was some sort of priest scribe, while Zadok was the Kohen Gadol and Abiatar was demoted to military priest.