1 Kings 1:1

THE BEGINNING OF THE REIGN OF SOLOMON

This chapter gives an intimate glance into the intrigues, hatreds and deceptions which invariably came about from the godless custom of ancient kings and their harems of concubines and wives in constant competition with one another. We have precious little respect for those scholars who pass over the wickedness and lustful licentiousness of such arrangements on the basis of their being, "customary in those times."

THE LAST DAYS OF KING DAVID

"Now king David was old and stricken in years; and they covered him with clothes, but he gat no heat. 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 cherish him; and let her lie in thy bosom, that my lord the king may get heat. So they sought for a fair damsel throughout all the borders of Israel, and they found Abishag the Shunammite, and brought her to the king. And the damsel was very fair; and she cherished the king, and ministered to him; but the king knew her not."

"They covered him with clothes" (1 Kings 1:1). This is a reference not to ordinary garments but to bed-clothes.

"A young virgin ... and let her lie in thy bosom" (1 Kings 1:3). "This procedure was an acceptable medical prescription even down to the Middle Ages."[1] "It was prescribed by a Jewish physician for Frederick Barbarossa; and it is a practice still followed in the East."[2]

"The Shunammite" (1 Kings 1:3). "Abishag was from a place called Shunem (modern Solem) on the western slope of the hill of Moreh, northwest of Jezreel, in the territory of Issachar (Joshua 19:18)."[3]

"The king knew her not" (1 Kings 1:4). This means that there was no sexual contact between David and Abishag.

ADONIJAH'S ATTEMPT TO MAKE HIMSELF KING

This event was important because it resulted in Solomon's elevation to the throne prior to his father's death, indicating that David's state of physical health had led to his nearly complete incompetence with regard to managing the affairs of the kingdom. Adonijah's claim to be David's successor was probably founded upon his being the oldest surviving son of the king, Absalom having been slain by Joab, and Amnon have being murdered by Absalom.