SADOC (Hebr. Ṣādhōq “just”). — High priest who David (v.), ca. 1000 B.C. He descended from Aaron through the line of Eleazar, to whom the high priesthood rightfully belonged (Num. 20:28). But
by the time of S., for several generations already and for reasons unknown, the high priesthood had been in the Aaronide line of Ithamar, ACHIACHAR (v.). Now, while Abiathar had followed David ever since Saul’s persecution (I Sam. 22:20–23), S. and his attendants served Gabaon (v.), where the tabernacle and the altar of holocausts constructed by Moses were kept (cf. I Par. 16:39 ff.; II Par. 1:3, 5, 13).
Both priestly families were present when David successfully made his second attempt to bring the Ark into the capital (I Par. 15:11 ff.). Abiathar then remained in Jerusalem and S. returned to Gabaon (ibid. 16:39 ff.), but once again both were with David at the critical moment of Absalom’s revolt. David did not wish them to follow him into exile, however; he left them in Jerusalem to guard the Ark, so that they might keep him informed of events (II Sam. 15:24–29; 17:15 ff.). After Absalom’s death, they worked to have the people call David back (ibid. 19:11–15).
The strange situation of two simultaneous high priests was resolved upon Solomon’s accession. Abiathar was deposed because he had taken Adonia’s side (v.), and S. remained alone in the high priesthood (I Reg. 1:5–8; 2:26 f.), which his descendants retained until the New Testament. This had been foretold to Eli by a “man of God” (I Sam. 2:30–36).
The followers of the “New Covenant” of Damascus (2nd century B.C.), to whom some of the documents discovered (1947) in the Judean desert probably belong, claimed to be connected with this S. through an arbitrarily interpreted passage of Ezekiel (44:15).