Zadok
- Son of Ahitub, of the house of Eleazar, son of Aaron (1Ch 24:3). Joined David at Hebron after Saul's death, with 22 captains of his father's house. At Absalom's revolt Zadok and the Levites bearing the ark accompanied David in leaving Jerusalem, but at his request returned with the ark and along with Hushai and Abiathar became David's medium of knowing events passing in the city, through Jonathan and Ahimaaz. At Absasalom's death David desired Zadok and Abiathar to persuade the elders of Judah to invite him to return (2 Samuel 15; 2 Samuel 17; 2 Samuel 19). Zadok remained faithful in Adonijah's rebellion when Abiathar joined it. Zadok, with Nathan the prophet, anointed Solomon at Gihon by David's command (a second anointing took place subsequently: 1Ch 29:22). So Solomon put Zadok instead of Abiathar, fulfilling the curse on Eli (1 Samuel 2; 3; 1Ki 2:27; 1Ki 2:35; 1Ki 4:4; 1Ch 29:22). (See ABIATHAR) David made him ruler over the Aaronites (1Ch 27:17); their number in 1Ch 12:27-28, is said to be 3,700 under Jehoiada. Zadok did not survive to the dedication of Solomon's temple, but Azariah his son or grandson (1Ch 6:8-9) was then high priest (1Ch 6:10; 1Ki 4:2). His descendants continued in the high priesthood (compare 2Ch 31:10, "Azariah of the house of Zadok chief priest") until the time of Antiochus Eupator. The double high priesthood of Zadok and Abiathar answers to that of the chief priest and second priest (2Ki 25:18; Luk 3:2 "Annas and Caiaphas being high priest);" compare 2Ch 31:10, "Azariah the chief priest of the house of Zadok." Zadok ministered mainly before the tabernacle at Gibeon (1Ch 16:39). Abiathar bad charge of the ark in Jerusalem; so formerly Eleazar and Ithamar, Hophni and Phinehas, were joint chief priests. Even while the line of Ithamar in the person of Eli was foremost, Eleazar's house held its ground on a kind of parity, Ahitub, Zadok's father, being called "ruler of the house of God" (1Ch 9:11; Neh 11:11).
- A second Zadok, son of a second Ahitub, son of Amariah; in king Amaziah's time. ((See HIGH PRIEST.) Many links are omitted in these lists (1Ch 6:12; 1Ch 9:11; Ezr 7:1-5); the repetition of the same names in a family is natural.
- Father of Jerushah, king Uzziah's wife (2Ki 15:33; 2Ch 27:1).
- Son of Baana, repaired the wall (Neh 3:4), signed the covenant (Neh 10:21); a chief of the people, of the tribe of Judah (for Baana was a Netophathite of Judah, 2Sa 23:29). Intermarriages of Judah with the tribe of Levi were frequent, Whence Zadok appears in Judah (Mat 1:14).
- Son of Immer, a priest; repaired over against his own house (Neh 3:29); of the 16th course (1Ch 24:14).
- Neh 11:11; 1Ch 9:11. Son of Meraioth, son of Ahitub; some omission or error of copyists is suspected from comparing the list, Ezr 7:1-5; 1Ch 6:3-14, where a Meraioth is grandfather or great grandfather of Zadok. The name is equivalent to the "Justus" of Act 1:28; Act 18:7; Col 4:11.
- Set over the treasuries by Nehemiah (Neh 13:13) to distribute to brethren; "the scribe."
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia on Zadok
Zadok za'-dok (tsadowq, once tsadhoq (1Ki 1:26), similar to tsaddiq, and tsadduq, post-Biblical, meaning justus, "righteous"; Septuagint Sadok): Cheyne in Encyclopedia Biblica suggests that Zadok was a modification of a Gentilic name, that of the Zidkites the Negeb, who probably derived their appellation from the root ts-d-q, a secondary title of the god they worshipped. At the same time Cheyne admits that cultivated Israelites may have interpreted Zadok as meaning "just," "righteous"--a much more credible supposition. (1) Zadok the son of Ahitub (2Sa 8:17)--not of Ahitub the ancestor of Ahimelech (1Sa 14:3) and of Abiathar, his son (1Sa 22:20). (2) Zadok father of Jerusha, mother of Jotham, and wife of Uzziah king of Judah (2Ki 15:33; 2Ch 27:1). (3) Zadok the son of Ahitub and father of Shallum (1Ch 6:12) or Meshullam (Ne 11:11), and the ancestor of Ezra (Ne 7:1-2). (4) Zadok the son of Baana, a wall-builder in the time of Nehemiah (Ne 3:4), and probably one of the signatories to the covenant made by the princes, priests and Levites of Israel (Ne 10:21)--in both places his name occu…
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible on Zadok
1. The most important of the many persons who bore this name was the founder of the leading branch of the priesthood in Jerusalem. We have no reliable information concerning his origin or his early history. He comes liefore us first in a list of David's ollicers, where we are told that ' Ziidok the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, were priests ' (2 S 8"). The text of this veree is obviousl}' corrupt. Ahimelech wafl murdered at Nob, and his son Abiutiiar wiui David's attendant and pripst to the end of his reign. If Ahitiili, in our pasMa^je, is the priest mentioned in 1 S 143 he can hardly have lii-en Z.vlr)lc's father, for we are certainty meant to understand tliat Zadolt (lid not tielong to the descendants of Eli (1 S 2^, I K 2"^). Comparing 1 S 2220 it would eecra that 2 H 8*' should run : * Al>i.ithar the son of Ahimelech, the son of Ahitub, and Zatlok, were pricsta.' Zndok and Abiathar appear again when David fled from Jerusalem before Absalom. They iiur- pos(-(i accompanying him and taking with tliem the ark, but the king bade them return with it to the city, wa…
Smith's Bible Dictionary on Zadok
(just). Son of Ahitub and one of the two chief priests in the time of David, Abiathar being the other. Zadok was of the house of Eleazar the son of Aaron, (1 Chronicles 24:3) and eleventh in descent from Aaron. (1 Chronicles 12:28) He joined David at Hebron after Saul’s death, (1 Chronicles 12:28) and thenceforth his fidelity to David was inviolable. When Absalom revolted and David fled from Jerusalem, Zadok and all the Levites bearing the ark accompanied him. When Absalom was dead, Zadok and Abiathar were the persons who persuaded the elders of Judah to invite David to return. (2 Samuel 19:11) When Adonijah, in David’s old age, set up for king, and had persuaded Joab, and Abiathar the priest, to join his party, Zadok was unmoved, and was employed by David to anoint Solomon to be king in his room. (1 Kings 1:34) For this fidelity he was rewarded by Solomon who “thrust out Abiathar from being priest unto the Lord,” and “put in Zadok the priest” in his room. (1 Kings 2:27,35) From this time, however, we hear little of him. Zadok and Abiathar were of nearly equal dignity. (2 Samuel 15:3…
References
- Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
- Easton, M.G. (1893) Easton's Bible Dictionary. 3rd edn. Thomas Nelson. [Public Domain]
- Nave, O.J. (1897) Nave's Topical Bible. Topical Bible Publishing Co.. [Public Domain]
- Hastings, J. (ed.) (1909) A Dictionary of the Bible. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Smith, W. (ed.) (1884) Smith's Bible Dictionary. London: John Murray. [Public Domain]
- Fausset, A.R. (1878) Fausset's Bible Dictionary. [Public Domain]A Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopaedia