1 Kings 4:5 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

Over the officers, or overseers, or surveyors, to wit, over those twelve officers named 1 Kings 4:7, &c., where this Hebrew word is used, who were all subject, and to give up their accounts to him; though the word signifies any governors or commanders of the higher sort, as 1 Kings 5:16 2 Chronicles 8:10. Son of Nathan, the prophet, who had been so highly instrumental in Solomon's establishment in the throne. Principal officer; possibly president of the king's council. The Hebrew word is cohen, which, 1 Kings 4:2, is rendered priest; whence some read this place thus: Zabud the son of Nathan the priest, or the minister, (as the word properly signifies, and that title well enough agrees to a prophet; or the prince, for the prophet Nathan was a man considerable both for his quality, and for his honour and esteem with the king,) was the king's friend. The king's friend; either his special favourite, both for his father's sake and for his own, having, it seems, been brought up with him; or his confidant, with whom he used to communicate his most secret counsels.