Abishag

1King David was now very old. His servants piled blankets on him, but he still felt cold.

Now king David was old and stricken in years; and they covered him with clothes, but he gat no heat.

NoteLong ago there were no heaters in houses. Warm blankets and a fire were all people had.

2So his servants said to him, "Let us find a young woman for you, our king. She can wait on you and take care of you. She can lie beside you and keep you warm."

Wherefore his servants said unto him, Let there be sought for my lord the king a young virgin: and let her stand before the king, and let her cherish him, and let her lie in thy bosom, that my lord the king may get heat.

NoteA servant's job was to take care of the king and do what he asked.

3So they looked all through the land of Israel for a beautiful girl. They found Abishag, from the town of Shunem, and brought her to the king.

So they sought for a fair damsel throughout all the coasts of Israel, and found Abishag a Shunammite, and brought her to the king.

NoteShunem was a small town in the north part of Israel.

4The girl was very beautiful. She took care of the king and served him. But the king did not sleep with her.

And the damsel was very fair, and cherished the king, and ministered to him: but the king knew her not.

NoteThis means Abishag did not become the king's wife. She only cared for him.

15So Bathsheba went in to see the king in his bedroom. The king was very old, and Abishag from Shunem was taking care of him.

And Bathsheba went in unto the king into the chamber: and the king was very old; and Abishag the Shunammite ministered unto the king.

16Bathsheba bowed low to show honor to the king. The king asked her, "What do you want?"

And Bathsheba bowed, and did obeisance unto the king. And the king said, What wouldest thou?

NotePeople bowed low in front of a king to show honor. It was a way of saying, "You are the ruler."

17She said, "My lord, you made a promise to me before the LORD your God. You said that my son Solomon would be king after you. You said he would sit on your throne.

And she said unto him, My lord, thou swarest by the LORD thy God unto thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne.

18But now Adonijah is acting as king. And you, my lord the king, do not even know it.

And now, behold, Adonijah reigneth; and now, my lord the king, thou knowest it not:

19He has killed many oxen, fattened calves, and sheep for a feast. He invited all your other sons, and Abiathar the priest, and Joab the leader of the army. But he did not invite your servant Solomon.

And he hath slain oxen and fat cattle and sheep in abundance, and hath called all the sons of the king, and Abiathar the priest, and Joab the captain of the host: but Solomon thy servant hath he not called.

20My lord the king, everyone in Israel is watching you. They are waiting for you to say who will sit on your throne after you.

And thou, my lord, O king, the eyes of all Israel are upon thee, that thou shouldest tell them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him.

21If you do not, something bad will happen. When you die and rest with your ancestors, people will treat my son Solomon and me as criminals."

Otherwise it shall come to pass, when my lord the king shall sleep with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon shall be counted offenders.

NoteTo "rest with your ancestors" is a gentle way of saying to die. Ancestors are family members who lived long before you.

13Adonijah son of Haggith came to Bathsheba, Solomon's mother. She asked, "Do you come in peace?" He said, "Yes, in peace."

And Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon. And she said, Comest thou peaceably? And he said, Peaceably.

NoteAdonijah was Solomon's older brother. He had already tried to make himself king. That is why Bathsheba asks if he comes in peace.

14Then he said, "I have something to tell you." She said, "Go ahead."

He said moreover, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And she said, Say on.

15He said, "You know the kingdom was going to be mine. All Israel expected me to be king. But it went to my brother instead. The LORD gave it to him.

And he said, Thou knowest that the kingdom was mine, and that all Israel set their faces on me, that I should reign: howbeit the kingdom is turned about, and is become my brother’s: for it was his from the LORD.

NoteUsually the oldest son became king when his father died. Adonijah was older than Solomon.

16Now I want to ask you for one thing. Please do not say no." She said, "Ask."

And now I ask one petition of thee, deny me not. And she said unto him, Say on.

17He said, "Please ask King Solomon for me. He will not say no to you. Ask him to give me Abishag from Shunem as my wife."

And he said, Speak, I pray thee, unto Solomon the king, (for he will not say thee nay,) that he give me Abishag the Shunammite to wife.

NoteAbishag was the young woman who cared for David when he was very old. She belonged to the old king's house. Asking to marry her was almost like asking to be king.

18Bathsheba said, "All right. I will speak to the king for you."

And Bathsheba said, Well; I will speak for thee unto the king.

19So Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak for Adonijah. The king stood up and bowed to her. Then he sat on his throne. He had a seat brought in for his mother. She sat down at his right side.

Bathsheba therefore went unto king Solomon, to speak unto him for Adonijah. And the king rose up to meet her, and bowed himself unto her, and sat down on his throne, and caused a seat to be set for the king’s mother; and she sat on his right hand.

NoteBowing was a way of showing honor. The seat at a king's right side was the best seat of all.

20She said, "I have one small thing to ask. Please do not say no." The king said, "Ask, mother. I will not say no to you."

Then she said, I desire one small petition of thee; I pray thee, say me not nay. And the king said unto her, Ask on, my mother: for I will not say thee nay.

21She said, "Let Abishag from Shunem marry your brother Adonijah."

And she said, Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah thy brother to wife.

22King Solomon answered his mother, "Why ask that for Adonijah? He is my older brother. You might as well ask me to give him the kingdom. And give it to Abiathar the priest and Joab son of Zeruiah too!"

And king Solomon answered and said unto his mother, And why dost thou ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? ask for him the kingdom also; for he is mine elder brother; even for him, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah.

NoteA priest was a man who helped people worship God at God's holy tent.

23Then King Solomon made a promise before the LORD. He said, "May God punish me hard if Adonijah does not die for asking this.

Then king Solomon sware by the LORD, saying, God do so to me, and more also, if Adonijah have not spoken this word against his own life.

NoteThis was a very strong promise. It means, if I do not do this, let God punish me.

24The LORD made me king. He put me on my father David's throne. He gave me a family line, just as he promised. As surely as he lives, Adonijah will die today."

Now therefore, as the LORD liveth, which hath established me, and set me on the throne of David my father, and who hath made me an house, as he promised, Adonijah shall be put to death this day.

Note"A family line" means children and grandchildren who would be kings after him.

25So King Solomon sent Benaiah son of Jehoiada. Benaiah struck Adonijah down, and he died.

And king Solomon sent by the hand of Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he fell upon him that he died.

NoteBenaiah was the leader of the king's own soldiers.