Chief rulers (Cohanim) or High Priests (Cohanim)? (2Sm 8:18b) “and David's sons were chief rulers (2Sm 8:18b).” "and David's sons were chief at the king's hand." (1 Chronicles 18:17) Chief rulers (Cohanim ~ynIïh]Ko). The word is the plural form of cohen (!heKo), which means a Levitical priest (Exo 28:1). The English translation, “chief rulers” was started in LXX (Septuagint, the first Geek version; olarkes, auvla,rchj( chief of the court); Plural, olarkai, auvla,rcai. Why LXX scholars changed the original meaning “priests” into “chief rulers”? There are many probable guesses: (1) In the early days of the monarchy the word כהן kohen probably meant “to serve, to minister, or to manage affairs” (Barnes). (2) The original meaning of cohen was priest (Exo 28:1), but David asked some trustful priests to supervise the government work in the palace, such priests seemed to be called by title of chief rulers (1 Ki 4:5, Natan), whose civil duty was to execute God’s will according to the commands given in the Law by the side of the godly king” (Pulpit; Cambridge). Then how do the ancient Picture letters describe cohen (!heKo)? Caf, C, palm, v. hold on, seize, occupy, rule Caf, C, as the word is repeated, the meaning is intensified. Wav, V, tent peg, big nail, v. to connect firmly, unite, plus, in-dwelling tent Hae, H, theophany, the Spirit of the Lord Nun, N, the shape of tadpole, fast moving thing (fish, or snake) Attempt to interpret them: 1. (Cohen is the one) who holds on tent peg for the Spirit of the Lord and moving very quickly. 2. (Cohen is the one) who holds on the in-dwelling of the Spirit of the Lord firmly and becomes alive. 3. (Cohen or chief ruler is the one) who was anointed and strengthened by the Spirit of the Lord. Ancient picture letters seemed to describe that the anointing of the Spirit was the essential qualification to be priests or chief rulers during the time of King David. As grownup sons of David began to participate such government ministry, they were also called priests (cohanim) in the nuance of honoring their roles like earlier days of governing priests (Ahn). However, scholars who knows the original cultic meaning of cohanim (priests), seemed to decide to translate the term into “chief rulers” so that the civil role of sons of king David must be distinguished from the original cultic role of priests (Ahn). If David was a type of Christ (the anointed one), his sons could be understood as chief rulers (or priests). For Christ's spiritual disciples are children of God as well as the anointed (Acts 11:26; Rome 8:14-16). The Lord wishes to make us anointed kings and priests to our God (Re 1:6; Matthew Henry)
