And she said, Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah thy brother to wife.

1 KINGS 2:21KJV
Know the Bible

1 Kings 2:21 (KJV)

What does 1 Kings 2:21 mean?

1 Kings 2:21 records Bathsheba asking King Solomon to allow Abishag the Shunammite to become the wife of Adonijah, Solomon’s brother. Bathsheba is making this request on behalf of Adonijah, who had asked her to speak to Solomon for him.

Bathsheba is speaking directly to her son, King Solomon, in the royal court. The situation follows Adonijah’s earlier attempt to claim the throne, and now he is seeking to marry Abishag, a young woman who had cared for King David. In the culture of the time, marrying a former king’s companion could be seen as a claim to the throne, so this request carried political weight.

The Hebrew behind 1 Kings 2:21

  • שׁוּנַמִּית (Shunammite, shunammith): This word identifies Abishag as being from Shunem, a specific town, which highlights her outsider status and distinguishes her from the royal family.
  • נָתַן (nathan, "given"): This word means "to give" or "to grant." The request is not just about marriage but about granting permission or bestowing a person, which in this context implies authority and royal approval.
  • אֲבִישַׁג (Abishag, avishag): Naming Abishag specifically ties the request to her unique role as David’s attendant, not just any woman, which is important for understanding the political implications.

Why 1 Kings 2:21 matters

  • The verse clarifies that Bathsheba is not acting on her own but is relaying Adonijah’s request, which helps explain her role and intentions in the story.
  • Understanding the cultural and political significance of marrying Abishag helps explain why Solomon reacts so strongly to this request in the following verses.
  • The verse sets up a turning point in the narrative, showing the ongoing tension and power struggles in David’s family after his death.

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 1:15 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 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.

“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 2:17 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.
  • 2 Kings 4:12 And he said to Gehazi his servant, Call this Shunammite. And when he had called her, she stood before him.

“Adonijah” Hebrew H138 · used in 26 verses

  • 2 Samuel 3:4 And the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;
  • 1 Kings 1:24 And Nathan said, My lord, O king, hast thou said, Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne?
  • 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.