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1 Kings 4 · a question people ask

Wasn't Abiathar sent away? Why is he listed as a priest?

In the text

In chapter 2, "Solomon thrust Abiathar out from being priest to the LORD" (2:27), and "the king put Zadok the priest in the place of Abiathar" (2:35). Yet Solomon's list of princes says, "Zadok and Abiathar were priests" (4:4). The chapter doesn't explain it, and these notes don't guess. Both verses stand as written. David's second list had the same two names: "Zadok and Abiathar were priests" (2 Samuel 20:25). Solomon's list also names "Azariah the son of Zadok, the priest" (4:2).

The verses

“So Solomon thrust Abiathar out from being priest to the LORD, that he might fulfill the LORD’s word which he spoke concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh.”
1 Kings 2:27 · World English Bible
“The king put Benaiah the son of Jehoiada in his place over the army; and the king put Zadok the priest in the place of Abiathar.”
1 Kings 2:35 · World English Bible
“These were the princes whom he had: Azariah the son of Zadok, the priest;”
1 Kings 4:2 · World English Bible
“Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the army; Zadok and Abiathar were priests;”
1 Kings 4:4 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of 1 Kings 4

1 Kings 4: Like the sand by the sea

The sand of the LORD's promise to Abraham (Genesis 22:17) is in this chapter twice, as a picture: for the people (4:20), and for the king's "breadth of mind like the sand that is on the seashore" (4:29), in the promise's own Hebrew words. And Jesus said, "even Solomon in all his glory was not dressed like one of these" (Matthew 6:29).

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions