Matthew Poole and continuators on 1 Kings 4:5

5 And Azariah the son of Nathan was over the officers : and Zabud the son of Nathan was principal officer , and the kings friend .

Or, Overseers, or Surveyors, to wit, over those twelve Officers named ver. 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 King. 5. 16. 2 Chron. 8. 10.

The Prophet, who had been so highly instrumental in Solomon's Establishment in the Throne.

Possibly, President of the Kings Council. The Hebrew word is Cohen, which ver. 2. is rendred 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 kings friend.

Either his special favourite, both for his Fathers sake and for his own, having, it seems, been brought up with him: or, his confident, with whom he used to communicate his most secret counsels