1 Kings 1:3

3 So they searched for a beautiful girl throughout all the territory of Israel, and found Abishag the ¹Shunammite, 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 Now King David was old, advanced in age; and they covered him with clothes, but he could not keep warm.

2 So his servants said to him, "Let them seek a young virgin for my lord the king, and let her attend the king and become his nurse; and let her lie in your bosom, that my lord the king may keep warm."

3 So they searched for a beautiful girl throughout all the territory of Israel, and found Abishag the Shunammite, and brought her to the king.

4 The girl was very beautiful; and she became the king's nurse and served him, but the king did not cohabit with her.

5 Now Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, "I will be king." So he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen with fifty men to run before him.

Cross References

• 1. Joshua 19:18; 1 Samuel 28:4