David in Old Age

Now King David was old, [a]advanced in age; and they covered him with garments, but he could not keep warm. So his servants said to him, “Have them search for a young virgin for my lord the king, and have her [b]attend the king and become his nurse; and have her lie on your chest, so that my lord the king may keep warm.” So they searched for a beautiful girl throughout the territory of Israel, and found Abishag the (A)Shunammite, and brought her to the king. The girl was very beautiful; and she became the king’s nurse and served him, but the king did not [c]become intimate with her.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 1:1 Lit coming into days
  2. 1 Kings 1:2 Lit stand before
  3. 1 Kings 1:4 Lit know her

Adonijah’s Attempted Coup

When David had grown very old, they covered him with blankets, but he could not keep warm, so his servants suggested to him, “Let’s look for a young virgin woman to take care of you, your majesty. She will be of use to you if you have her lie down near you[a] so that your majesty may keep warm.” So they conducted a search throughout the territory of Israel for a beautiful young woman, and Abishag the Shunammite was located and brought to the king. The young woman was absolutely beautiful. She served the king and was very useful to him. The king was not sexually involved with her.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 1:2 Lit. lie in your lap