1 Kings 1:3

3 So they searched the country of Israel for the most ravishing girl they could find; they found Abishag the Shunammite and brought her to the king.

1 Kings 1:3 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 1:3

So they sought for a fair damsel throughout all the coasts of
Israel
Not only a damsel, but a beautiful one, that she might be the more acceptable to the king; who otherwise, if deformed and ugly, would not have endured her in his sight, or received at her hands, and much less suffered her to lie in his bosom:

and found Abishag a Shunammite;
a native of the city Shunem, a city in the tribe of Issachar, ( Joshua 19:18 ) ;

and brought her to the king;
for his approbation of her, and to make her his concubine wife, as he did.

1 Kings 1:3 In-Context

1 King David grew old. The years had caught up with him. Even though they piled blankets on him, he couldn't keep warm.
2 So his servants said to him, "We're going to get a young virgin for our master the king to be at his side and look after him; she'll get in bed with you and arouse our master the king."
3 So they searched the country of Israel for the most ravishing girl they could find; they found Abishag the Shunammite and brought her to the king.
4 The girl was stunningly beautiful; she stayed at his side and looked after the king, but the king did not have sex with her.
5 At this time Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith, puffed himself up saying, "I'm the next king!" He made quite a splash, with chariots and riders and fifty men to run ahead of him.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.