1 Kings 2:17

And he said, Speak, I pray thee, unto Solomon the king, (for he will not say thee nay,) that he give me Abishag the Shunammite to wife.

And he said {H559}, Speak {H559}, I pray thee, unto Solomon {H8010} the king {H4428},(for he will not say {H7725} thee {H6440} nay {H7725},) that he give {H5414} me Abishag {H49} the Shunammite {H7767} to wife {H802}.

He said, "Please speak to Shlomo the king - for he won't say 'No' to you - and ask him to give me Avishag the Shunamit as my wife."

Adonijah replied, โ€œPlease speak to King Solomon, since he will not turn you down. Let him give me Abishag the Shunammite as my wife.โ€

And he said, Speak, I pray thee, unto Solomon the king (for he will not say thee nay), that he give me Abishag the Shunammite to wife.

Commentary

In 1 Kings 2:17, we find Adonijah, one of King David's sons, making a pivotal request to Bathsheba, King Solomon's mother. He asks her to intercede on his behalf with Solomon, believing she has influence over the new king, to grant him Abishag the Shunammite as his wife. This seemingly simple request carries profound political implications within the ancient Israelite monarchy.

Context

This verse is set shortly after the death of King David and the tumultuous transition of power to his chosen successor, Solomon. Adonijah had previously attempted to seize the throne for himself while David was still alive, gathering support and even holding a coronation feast. However, David, through the intervention of Bathsheba and Nathan the prophet, ensured Solomon was anointed king (1 Kings 1:28-40). Adonijah was initially spared by Solomon on the condition of good behavior (1 Kings 1:52). Abishag herself was a young woman who had attended King David in his old age, serving as his nurse and companion, though the text states David did not have intimate relations with her.

Key Themes

  • Continued Ambition and Threat to the Throne: Adonijah's request, though presented as personal, was deeply political. In the ancient Near East, marrying a former king's concubine or attendant was often seen as a way to lay claim to the deceased king's authority or to legitimize a claim to the throne. By seeking Abishag, who had been an intimate part of David's household, Adonijah was subtly (or overtly, depending on interpretation) reasserting a claim to royal power and challenging Solomon's new reign.
  • The Power of Royal Women: Adonijah's choice to approach Bathsheba highlights her perceived influence over Solomon, her son. He states, "for he will not say thee nay," indicating his belief that Solomon would not refuse his mother. This underscores the significant role royal mothers could play in court politics and succession.
  • Solomon's Discerning Wisdom: This request serves as an early test of Solomon's wisdom and resolve as king. As we see in subsequent verses, Solomon immediately recognized this as a continued bid for the throne, not a mere romantic plea, and acted decisively.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew phrase "ืชึผึฐื ึธื”ึพืœึผึดื™ ืึถืชึพืึฒื‘ึดื™ืฉืึทื’ ื”ึทืฉืึผึปื ึทืžึผึดื™ืช ืœึฐืึดืฉืึผึธื”" (tenah-li et-Avishag ha-Shunammit l'ishshah) literally means "give me Abishag the Shunammite to wife." There's no complex linguistic nuance in the words themselves, but the cultural context of marrying a deceased king's companion is crucial. Such an act was universally understood as an assertion of royal prerogative and a potential claim to the vacant throne, even if the individual making the request was not the direct heir.

Practical Application

This passage reminds us that appearances can be deceiving. What seems like a simple, harmless request can, in reality, be a calculated move with ulterior motives. It highlights the importance of discernment, especially for those in leadership, to look beyond the surface of a situation and understand the underlying intentions. Solomon's swift and firm response demonstrates the necessity of decisive action when faced with threats to established order or authority, whether in a kingdom or in our personal lives, to maintain peace and stability.

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 1 Kings 1:2

    Wherefore his servants said unto him, Let there be sought for my lord the king a young virgin: and let her stand before the king, and let her cherish him, and let her lie in thy bosom, that my lord the king may get heat.

  • 1 Kings 1:4

    And the damsel [was] very fair, and cherished the king, and ministered to him: but the king knew her not.

  • 2 Samuel 3:7

    ยถ And Saul had a concubine, whose name [was] Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and [Ishbosheth] said to Abner, Wherefore hast thou gone in unto my father's concubine?

  • 2 Samuel 12:8

    And I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if [that had been] too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things.
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