Melachim Alef 1:1

1 Now HaMelech Dovid was zaken and stricken in yamim; and they covered him with begadim, but he could get no warmth.

Melachim Alef 1:1 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 1:1

Now King David was old, [and] stricken in years
Was seventy years of age; for he was thirty years of age when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years, ( 2 Samuel 5:4 ) ; this was just the age of man, ( Psalms 90:10 ) ;

and they covered him with clothes;
not wearing apparel, but bed clothes; he seems to have been bedridden and paralytic:

but he got no heat;
by them; having no natural heat in him, clothes could not communicate any to him, only keep the cold from him, see ( Haggai 1:6 ) ; there are many persons at the age he was, that are lively, healthful, and robust, comparatively speaking at least; but David's strength was impaired, and his natural force abated by his many wars, fatigues by night and day in campaigns, and the many sorrows and afflictions he met with from his family and his friends, as well as enemies; which exhausted his natural moisture, weakened his nerves, and drank up his spirits, and brought upon him the infirmities of a decrepit old age very soon.

Melachim Alef 1:1 In-Context

1 Now HaMelech Dovid was zaken and stricken in yamim; and they covered him with begadim, but he could get no warmth.

2 Wherefore his avadim said unto him, Let there be sought for adoni HaMelech a na’arah betulah; and let her stand before HaMelech, and let her care for him, and let her lie at thy kheyk (bosom), that adoni HaMelech may be warm.

3 So they sought for a na’arah yafeh throughout all the territory of Yisroel, and found Avishag HaShunammit, and brought her to HaMelech.

4 And the na’arah was yafeh ad me’od, and cared for HaMelech, and waited on him; but HaMelech knew her not.

5 Then Adoniyah Ben Chaggit put himself forward, saying, I will be Melech; and he prepared him merkavot and parashim, and chamishim ish to run before him.