Diverse Auteurs, NetBible, [2007], 2 Sam 8:18c That David's sons could have been priests,
in light of the fact that they were not of the priestly lineage, is
strange. One must assume either (1) that the word "priest" (כֹּהֵן, kohen)
during this period of time could be used in a broader sense of "chief
ruler" (KJV); "chief minister" (ASV, NASB), or "royal adviser" (NIV),
perhaps based on the parallel passage in 1 Chr 18:17 which has "the
king's leading officials", or (2) that in David's day members of the
king's family could function as a special category of "priests" (cf.
NLT "priestly leaders"). The latter option seems to be the more
straightforward way of understanding the word in 2 Sam 8:18.
Vertaling Bijbel, Kanttekeningen SV, [], Er was ook Benaja, zoon van Jojada, met de [37]Krethi en de Plethi; maar Davids zonen waren [38]prinsen. 37. Over welke Benaja overste was. Zie hfdst.20 vs.23; 1 Kron.18:17. Van Krethi en Plethi, zie 1 Kon.1:38. 38. Of, hoofdofficieren. Van het Hebreeuwse woord [dat anders gemeenlijk priesters betekent], zie Gen.41:45. Hier kan het geen priesters betekenen, omdat Davids zonen uit den stam van Juda waren, niet uit den stam van Levi. Dit woord wordt 1 Kron.18:17 aldus verklaard: Davids zonen waren de eersten aan de hand des konings, of den koning ter hand, gelijk men zegt.