“And Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel, which provided victuals for the king and his household: each man his month in a year made provision.”
King James Version (KJV)
4:5 Officers - Over those twelve Officers, named ver.#7|, &c.who were all to give up their accompts to him. Nathan - The prophet, whohad been so highly instrumental in Solomon's establishment in thethrone. Principal officer - Possibly, president of the king's council.Friend - His confident, with whom he used to communicate his most secretcounsels.
4:6 Abiathar was - Steward of the king's household. Tribute - Thepersonal tribute, or the levy of men, as appears by comparing this withchap.#5:13|,14, it being very fit that there should be some one personto whom the chief conduct of that great business was committed.
4:8 The son, &c. - This and others of them are denominated from theirfathers, because they were known and famous in their generation.