Zadok the priest stood together with Benaiah and Nathan the prophet in firm opposition to Adonijah's effort to seize the throne in place of Solomon. This shared stand formed part of Benaiah's demonstration of loyalty both to David and to God's choice of successor, after which Benaiah received promotion to commander-in-chief of the army. The account presents Zadok's action as one element within the larger pattern of resolute allegiance that advanced God's purpose despite shifting circumstances and competing claims.

Zadok the priest appears in the account of Solomon's anointing, where King David summons him together with Nathan the prophet and Benaiah son of Jehoiada. David instructs them to place Solomon on the royal mule and lead him down to the Gihon Spring so that Zadok and Nathan may anoint him king over Israel, after which the people are to acclaim him with the sound of the horn. The text presents this event as occurring at the Gihon Spring on the eastern slope of the City of David, a site directly tied to the river Gihon that once flowed from Eden. By selecting this location for the anointing, David affirms the divine connection between the spring and God's dwelling place, a connection later echoed when Hezekiah redirected the same waters through a tunnel to the Pool of Siloam. The episode therefore illustrates how Zadok's priestly act at Gihon publicly confirmed both the chosen king and the enduring sanctity of the ground that had once formed part of the garden of God.

God blessed Zadok the priest with an everlasting priesthood extending through all eternity, ensuring that Zadok and his family would occupy that office without interruption. This appointment illustrates God's sovereign management of rulerships, for He alone determines their extent and duration. No power can prevent Him from fulfilling such declarations, just as He maintains David's dynasty under cover despite appearances to the contrary. The example reinforces that God governs both heavenly and earthly realms according to His pleasure, setting up and preserving chosen lines of service while removing others at will. This absolute control requires believers to trust that His decisions, even when surprising or difficult, advance His purpose without fail.