1 kings 1:15 - Bathsheba went in to the king in his room. The king was very old; and Abishag the Shunammite was serving the king.
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "1 kings 1:15" mean?
This verse is part of the lead-up to the power struggle that occurs at the end of King David's reign. Let's break down what it means:
"Bathsheba went in to the king in his room." Bathsheba, the mother of Solomon and a woman with significant influence over King David, enters David's chambers. This is a deliberate and planned visit, suggesting she has a specific purpose.
"The king was very old." This highlights David's frail condition. He's no longer the vigorous warrior king of his youth. His age and infirmity make him vulnerable and open the door for others to maneuver for power.
"and Abishag the Shunammite was serving the king." This is a crucial detail. Abishag was a young and beautiful woman brought to David to provide him with physical comfort, as described earlier in 1 Kings 1:4: "The young woman was very beautiful. And she was attending to the king and ministering to him, but the king did not know her intimately."
Her role was specifically to provide warmth and care, not sexual intimacy. The verse makes it clear that David did not have relations with her.
Her presence is significant because:
It emphasizes David's physical decline and need for assistance.
Later in 1 Kings 2, Adonijah's request to marry Abishag will be interpreted as a claim to the throne, because in that society, taking possession of the king's concubine was tantamount to claiming the kingship.
In essence, this verse sets the stage for the conflict to come by emphasizing David's weakness and the presence of influential figures around him. Bathsheba is about to advocate for her son Solomon to succeed David, while others are vying for the throne as well. Abishag's presence is a reminder of David's vulnerability and the importance of the succession issue.
1 kings 1:15 - Bathsheba went in to the king in his room. The king was very old; and Abishag the Shunammite was serving the king.
What does "1 kings 1:15" mean?
This verse is part of the lead-up to the power struggle that occurs at the end of King David's reign. Let's break down what it means:
"Bathsheba went in to the king in his room." Bathsheba, the mother of Solomon and a woman with significant influence over King David, enters David's chambers. This is a deliberate and planned visit, suggesting she has a specific purpose.
"The king was very old." This highlights David's frail condition. He's no longer the vigorous warrior king of his youth. His age and infirmity make him vulnerable and open the door for others to maneuver for power.
"and Abishag the Shunammite was serving the king." This is a crucial detail. Abishag was a young and beautiful woman brought to David to provide him with physical comfort, as described earlier in 1 Kings 1:4: "The young woman was very beautiful. And she was attending to the king and ministering to him, but the king did not know her intimately."
Her role was specifically to provide warmth and care, not sexual intimacy. The verse makes it clear that David did not have relations with her.
Her presence is significant because:
It emphasizes David's physical decline and need for assistance.
Later in 1 Kings 2, Adonijah's request to marry Abishag will be interpreted as a claim to the throne, because in that society, taking possession of the king's concubine was tantamount to claiming the kingship.
In essence, this verse sets the stage for the conflict to come by emphasizing David's weakness and the presence of influential figures around him. Bathsheba is about to advocate for her son Solomon to succeed David, while others are vying for the throne as well. Abishag's presence is a reminder of David's vulnerability and the importance of the succession issue.