King Solomon’s royal administration required strong leaders to manage both the security forces and the spiritual direction of the kingdom. To secure the nation, Benaiah son of Jehoiada is appointed as the head of the army. Taking command over the king's warriors, he assumes the heavy responsibility that was once carried by Joab son of Zeruiah during the reign of King David [אברבנאל, ביאור שטיינזלץ].
Alongside the military command, Zadok and Abiathar are recognized as the leading priests. However, the inclusion of Abiathar presents a significant puzzle. Earlier events reveal that Solomon banished Abiathar from serving as a priest to God, exiling him to Anathoth as punishment for supporting Adonijah's rebellion. His appearance in this royal roster as an active priest alongside Zadok requires explanation. To resolve this, one perspective suggests that the Abiathar mentioned here is simply a different priest who happened to share the same name, as the original Abiathar could not possibly hold this position after his banishment [רד״ק, חומת אנך].
Conversely, other scholars maintain that this is indeed the famous Abiathar, but his role had fundamentally changed. Within this understanding, some explain that he was not stripped of his priesthood entirely, but only removed from the supreme role of High Priest. In this arrangement, Zadok served as the High Priest while Abiathar acted as his deputy or functioned as a regular priest from his private estate [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ, חומת אנך]. Taking this idea further, another viewpoint argues that because Abiathar had served in the highest priestly office for so many years, the sacredness of that role could never be completely erased. Despite his exile, he retained the essential status of a High Priest. He remained on standby, ready to serve in the Temple as a substitute in the event that Zadok became unfit or impure for the sacred work. Because of this enduring readiness and holy status, both men are rightfully recorded as the king's High Priests [רלב״ג, אברבנאל, מלבי״ם].