1 Kings 2 21

1 Kings 2:21 kjv

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

1 Kings 2:21 nkjv

So she said, "Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah your brother as wife."

1 Kings 2:21 niv

So she said, "Let Abishag the Shunammite be given in marriage to your brother Adonijah."

1 Kings 2:21 esv

She said, "Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah your brother as his wife."

1 Kings 2:21 nlt

"Then let your brother Adonijah marry Abishag, the girl from Shunem," she replied.

1 Kings 2 verses

1 Kings 2 21 Meaning

In 1 Kings 2:21, Bathsheba relays Adonijah's request to King Solomon: that Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah as a wife. This request, while presented by Bathsheba, who likely intended no malice, was a profound political maneuver by Adonijah. In ancient Near Eastern customs, inheriting a deceased king's concubines or acquiring members of his harem symbolized a legitimate claim to his throne and royal authority. Thus, Abishag, though never physically known by David in his final days, was nonetheless a part of his royal household and an implicit symbol of the former king's estate and power. Adonijah's desire for her indicated an ongoing aspiration for the kingship, challenging Solomon's recently established reign.

1 Kings 2 21 Context

1 Kings Chapter 2 chronicles King Solomon's strategic consolidation of his newly inherited throne. David, before his death, instructed Solomon to deal with certain individuals who had opposed his reign or harbored ill intentions. Adonijah, Solomon's elder half-brother, had previously attempted to seize the throne from David's appointed successor (Solomon) in Chapter 1. Although Solomon initially pardoned him, Adonijah's ambition remained. In verse 21, the immediate context is Adonijah's subtle yet potent final move to lay claim to royal status. He approaches Bathsheba, Solomon's influential mother, to intercede on his behalf for Abishag, King David's last concubine/attendant. This seemingly personal request was understood as a direct political challenge in the ancient Near East, symbolizing a claim to David's legacy and royal prerogatives. Solomon's swift and decisive response to this request ultimately secured his reign and established his unchallengeable authority as the God-appointed king.

1 Kings 2 21 Word analysis

• And Bathsheba said (וַתֹּאמֶר בַּת־שֶׁבַע - vatomer Bat-Sheva): "And Bathsheba said." This emphasizes her role as the conveyor of the request. Bathsheba previously played a pivotal role in ensuring Solomon's succession (1 Kgs 1:11-31). Her involvement here highlights her influence with Solomon and perhaps Adonijah's attempt to use that influence, possibly banking on her compassion or naiveté regarding the full political implications.
• "Let Abishag" (תֻּנַת אֲבִישַׁג - tūnat Avishag): "Let be given Abishag." The verb is passive, indicating a request for action by another. Abishag (אֲבִישַׁג - Abishag) was a young, beautiful virgin brought to serve David in his old age (1 Kgs 1:1-4). While she served as his attendant and was part of his royal "harem," she did not have conjugal relations with David. However, her intimate association with the king and status within the royal household made her a symbolic extension of the king's persona and authority.
• "the Shunammite" (הַשֻּׁנַמִּית - ha-Shunammīt): This identifies her origin from Shunem, a town in Issachar. This geographical designation re-emphasizes her specific identity and role from Chapter 1.
• "be given" (תֻּנַת - tūnat): As noted, "let be given" or "she be given." This indicates the nature of the request, an appeal for Solomon to grant this possession.
• "to Adonijah" (לַאֲדֹנִיָּהוּ - la-Adoniyahu): "To Adonijah." Adonijah was David's fourth son (2 Sam 3:4), older than Solomon, who had recently attempted to seize the throne before David's death (1 Kgs 1:5ff). This name signifies "My Lord is Yah," or "Yah is Lord." His request shows continued ambition, subtly disguised.
• "your brother" (אָחִיךָ - akhikha): "Your brother." Bathsheba uses this familial term, possibly appealing to Solomon's sense of kinship or pity. However, given Adonijah's previous rebellion, this familial tie might be viewed more as a lingering threat.
• "as a wife" (לְאִשָּׁה - le'isha): "As a wife," or "for a woman/wife." This term clarifies the proposed legal marital status Adonijah sought, not just a casual relationship. This formalization underscored the seriousness of his claim on Abishag and, by extension, on royal legitimacy.

Words-Group Analysis

• "Bathsheba said, 'Let Abishag the Shunammite be given'": This phrase underscores Bathsheba's mediating role and the object of the request. It highlights how the seemingly innocuous presentation of the petition cloaked a deeper, more treacherous design by Adonijah. The focus on Abishag's identity (the Shunammite) also reminds the listener of her recent close association with David himself, solidifying the symbolism of the request.
• "to Adonijah your brother as a wife": This segment explicitly names the recipient and the desired relationship. The designation "your brother" can be seen as either a softening plea or a defiant assertion of remaining lineage-based claims, contrasting Adonijah's direct threat with a more subtle approach via marriage. This intended marriage would symbolically integrate Adonijah with the former king's estate, thus posing a profound challenge to Solomon's authority and divinely appointed rule.

1 Kings 2 21 Bonus section

• Abishag's Significance Beyond Concubine: While she did not bear David children and was a virgin, her selection to "lie in David's bosom" (1 Kgs 1:2) meant she shared an intimate space with the king, serving as a royal concubine even if not sexually. Her presence and role made her a public symbol of David's kingly person.
• Contrast in Motives: The verse implicitly contrasts Bathsheba's potentially naive and compassionate intention with Adonijah's shrewd, politically motivated scheme. Solomon's immediate recognition of the deeper plot underscores his divinely granted wisdom to discern true intentions.
• Theocratic Principle: This event reinforces the principle that God, not human machination, establishes kings in Israel. Any attempt to usurp the divinely appointed ruler, even through seemingly legitimate means like marriage customs, was a direct affront to God's will and worthy of the severest punishment. Solomon's actions were not merely political expedience but a vigorous defense of his God-given throne.

1 Kings 2 21 Commentary

1 Kings 2:21 acts as the critical turning point in Solomon's consolidation of power, triggering a decisive response. Adonijah, having failed in his initial attempt to seize the throne, resorts to a more subtle, yet equally profound, act of usurpation. By requesting Abishag—David's personal attendant and concubine—Adonijah invoked an ancient custom where possession of the previous king's wives or concubines was tantamount to claiming his throne and legitimacy (as seen with Absalom in 2 Samuel). Even though David had not sexually known Abishag, she was deeply embedded within the royal establishment as David's last companion. Adonijah's demand, conveyed through the unwitting Bathsheba, revealed his undiminished ambition and rejection of God's chosen successor, Solomon. Solomon's immediate and unhesitating judgment (leading to Adonijah's execution) reveals his nascent wisdom and keen political discernment, recognizing the clear and present danger masked as a marital request. This act demonstrated his resolve to eliminate threats to the divinely established Davidic lineage, ensuring the stability and divine appointment of his reign.