And Bathsheba went in unto the king into the chamber: and the king was very old; and Abishag the Shunammite ministered unto the king.

1 KINGS 1:15KJV
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1 Kings 1:15 (KJV)

What does 1 Kings 1:15 mean?

1 Kings 1:15 describes Bathsheba entering King David’s private room to speak with him at a critical moment. David’s great age and Abishag’s presence show the setting in which Bathsheba approaches him: the king is being cared for, yet people still come to him with urgent matters.

After Nathan advises her in the preceding verses, Bathsheba goes directly to David. The verse is part of the narrator’s account; no one speaks in it. Bathsheba’s words begin later, after she bows before the king.

The Hebrew behind 1 Kings 1:15

  • “chamber” — חֶדֶר (ḥeder): This word means an inner room or private chamber. It places the meeting within David’s personal quarters rather than in a public gathering.
  • “ministered” — שָׁרַת (sharat): This word can mean to serve or attend someone. Here it describes Abishag’s care for the king; earlier in the chapter, she is appointed to look after him and keep him warm.

Why 1 Kings 1:15 matters

  • Bathsheba’s visit is connected to the question of who will become king after David. Nathan has urged her to tell David that Adonijah has claimed the kingship, while David had promised the throne to Solomon.
  • Abishag is already attending David when Bathsheba enters. Her presence links this private meeting to the earlier description of David’s weakness and the care arranged for him.

Where else these words appear

“Abishag” Hebrew H49 · used in 5 verses

  • 1 Kings 1:3 So they sought for a fair damsel throughout all the coasts of Israel, and found Abishag a Shunammite, and brought her to the king.
  • 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.
  • 1 Kings 2:21 And she said, Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah thy brother to wife.

“Shunammite” Hebrew H7767 · used in 8 verses

  • 1 Kings 1:3 So they sought for a fair damsel throughout all the coasts of Israel, and found Abishag a Shunammite, and brought her to the king.
  • 1 Kings 2:21 And she said, Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah thy brother to wife.
  • 2 Kings 4:12 And he said to Gehazi his servant, Call this Shunammite. And when he had called her, she stood before him.

“Bathsheba” Hebrew H1339 · used in 11 verses

  • 2 Samuel 11:3 And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?
  • 1 Kings 1:16 And Bathsheba bowed, and did obeisance unto the king. And the king said, What wouldest thou?
  • 1 Kings 2:13 And Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon. And she said, Comest thou peaceably? And he said, Peaceably.

“old” Hebrew H2204 · used in 26 verses

  • Genesis 18:12 Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?
  • Joshua 23:2 And Joshua called for all Israel, and for their elders, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers, and said unto them, I am old and stricken in age:
  • 2 Samuel 19:32 Now Barzillai was a very aged man, even fourscore years old: and he had provided the king of sustenance while he lay at Mahanaim; for he was a very great man.