David in His Old Age

Now King David was old and advanced in years. And although they covered him with clothes, he could not get warm. Therefore his servants said to him, “Let a young woman be sought for my lord the king, and let her wait on the king and be in his service. Let her lie in your arms,[a] that my lord the king may be warm.” So they sought for a beautiful young woman throughout all the territory of Israel, and found Abishag the (A)Shunammite, and brought her to the king. The young woman was very beautiful, and she was of service to the king and attended to him, but the king knew her not.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 1:2 Or in your bosom

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