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2 Samuel 8 · a question people ask

What does "David's sons were chief ministers" mean?

In the text

The WEB reads, "David’s sons were chief ministers" (8:18). The Hebrew word it gives as "chief ministers" is kohanim, the plural of kohen, the word for priest (tap priests in 8:17): the verse before uses the same word for Zadok and Ahimelech, "were priests" (8:17). The WEB gives the same word as "chief minister" twice more: "Ira the Jairite was chief minister to David" (20:26), and in Solomon's list, "Zabud the son of Nathan was chief minister, the king’s friend" (1 Kings 4:5). Chronicles, in its list, reads, "the sons of David were chief officials serving the king" (1 Chronicles 18:17), with different Hebrew words. The Bible doesn't say what David's sons did in this office, and this answer doesn't guess.

The verses

“Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were priests, Seraiah was scribe, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David’s sons were chief ministers.”
2 Samuel 8:17-18 · World English Bible
“and Ira the Jairite was chief minister to David.”
2 Samuel 20:26 · World English Bible
“Azariah the son of Nathan was over the officers; Zabud the son of Nathan was chief minister, the king’s friend;”
1 Kings 4:5 · World English Bible
“and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and the sons of David were chief officials serving the king.”
1 Chronicles 18:17 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of 2 Samuel 8

2 Samuel 8: Wherever he went

The LORD told David, "I have been with you wherever you went" and "I will make you a great name" (7:9). This chapter uses the same Hebrew words: "The LORD gave victory to David wherever he went" (8:6, 8:14), and "David earned a reputation" (8:13) is, in Hebrew, David made a name.

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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