This verse from 1 Kings 1:4 describes the role of Abishag the Shunammite in King David's old age. Let's break down each part:
"The young lady was very beautiful;" This establishes Abishag as physically attractive. This is significant because the primary reason she's brought to David is for his comfort and warmth.
"and she cherished the king, and served him;" This indicates that Abishag provided care and devotion to David. She attended to his needs, likely providing comfort, warmth, and other personal services. The Hebrew word translated as "cherished" has the idea of nurturing, caring for, and attending to needs.
"but the king didn’t know her intimately." This is the key phrase. In biblical language, "to know" can have a sexual connotation. In this context, it means David did not have sexual relations with her. This is emphasized because the purpose of her being there might be misinterpreted. The verse clarifies that while she was there to care for him and provide comfort, it was not a sexual relationship.
In summary:
The verse states that Abishag was brought to King David in his old age to care for him and keep him warm. She served him dutifully and with affection. However, their relationship was purely platonic, and there was no sexual intimacy between them. This point is important for later events in the narrative, specifically concerning Adonijah's request to marry her after David's death and the implications it has for the throne.
This verse from 1 Kings 1:4 describes the role of Abishag the Shunammite in King David's old age. Let's break down each part:
"The young lady was very beautiful;" This establishes Abishag as physically attractive. This is significant because the primary reason she's brought to David is for his comfort and warmth.
"and she cherished the king, and served him;" This indicates that Abishag provided care and devotion to David. She attended to his needs, likely providing comfort, warmth, and other personal services. The Hebrew word translated as "cherished" has the idea of nurturing, caring for, and attending to needs.
"but the king didn’t know her intimately." This is the key phrase. In biblical language, "to know" can have a sexual connotation. In this context, it means David did not have sexual relations with her. This is emphasized because the purpose of her being there might be misinterpreted. The verse clarifies that while she was there to care for him and provide comfort, it was not a sexual relationship.
In summary:
The verse states that Abishag was brought to King David in his old age to care for him and keep him warm. She served him dutifully and with affection. However, their relationship was purely platonic, and there was no sexual intimacy between them. This point is important for later events in the narrative, specifically concerning Adonijah's request to marry her after David's death and the implications it has for the throne.