1 Kings 4:2

The princes. The list is that of the royal cabinet, the high counselors and officers of the state. They were not “princes” in the sense of being members of the royal family, but were officers of the first rank, deriving their station from Solomon, and holding it during his pleasure.

Azariah. It is significant that whereas in the lists of David’s officers, the captain of the host stands first (2 Sam. 8:16-18; 2 Sam. 20:23-26), that officer in Solomon’s list is preceded by those holding the peaceful offices of the priest, scribes, and recorder. The title “priest” seems properly to belong to Azariah, not to Zadok. The term “priest,” Heb. kohen, is sometimes thought to refer to a civil officer. In 2 Sam. 8:18, this title is given to the sons of David (translated “chief rulers”), whereas the parallel passage in 1 Chron. 18:17 has the explanation that these sons were “chief about the king.” In 1 Chron. 6:8-13, three Azariahs are listed in the line of descent: Ahitub, Zadok, Ahimaaz Azariah, Johanan, Azariah, Amariah, Ahitub, Zadok, Shallum, Hilkiah, Azariah. The first Zadok, son of Ahitub, was high priest at the time of David (2 Sam. 8:17). According to Chronicles, Azariah was thus the grandson rather than the son of Zadok. Azariah, listed first among the “princes,” may have been one of the privy counselors of Solomon and later a high priest (see on 1 Chron. 6:8-13).