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 15:35,36; 19:11) The duties of the office were divided, Zadok ministered before the tabernacle at Gibeon, (1 Chronicles 16:39) Abiathar had the care of the ark at Jerusalem.
According to the genealogy of the high priests in (1 Chronicles 6:12) there was a second Zadok, son of a second Ahitub son of Amariah, about the time of King Ahaziah. It is probable that no such person as this second Zadok ever existed, but that the insertion of the two names is a copyist’s error. Father of Jerushah, the wife of King Uzziah and mother of King Jotham. (2 Kings 15:33; 2 Chronicles 27:1) Son of Baana, and 5.
Son of Immer, persons who repaired a portion of the wall in Nehemiah’s time. (Nehemiah 3:4,29) In (1 Chronicles 9:11) and Nehe 11:11 Mention is made, in a genealogy, of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub; but it can hardly be doubtful that Meraioth is inserted by the error of a copyist, and that Zadok the son of Ahitub is meant.
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…
Fausset's Bible Dictionary on Zadok
1. 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…
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