Abishag Cares for David
David's age shows in his inability to keep warm, so his servants bring Abishag the Shunammite to care for him. She serves the king closely, yet the account makes clear that he has no relations with her.
N1ow King David was old and well along in years, and though they covered him with blankets, he could not keep warm. 2So his servants said to him, “Let us search for a young virgin for our lord the king, to attend to him and care for him and lie by his side to keep him warm.” 3Then they searched throughout Israel for a beautiful girl, and they found Abishag the Shunammite and brought her to the king. 4The girl was unsurpassed in beauty; she cared for the king and served him, but he had no relations with her.
Verse 1David is old, and even covered with blankets he cannot keep warm.
It opens the chapter by showing the king's failing strength.
Verse 2His servants propose finding a young woman to attend him and lie beside him to keep him warm.
It presents the household's response to David's weakness.
Verse 3A search is made through Israel, and Abishag the Shunammite is brought to David.
It introduces the young woman who will attend the king.
Verse 4Abishag cares for and serves David, and the text notes that he has no relations with her.
It defines her place in the scene while removing any ambiguity about it.
A quiet block diagram: each row is one authored paragraph movement, with verse numbers kept visible for scanning and deeper work.
- vv. 1-4
David's age shows in his inability to keep warm, so his servants bring Abishag the Shunammite to care for him. She serves the king closely, yet the account makes clear that he has no relations with her.
This paragraph establishes David's weakness and sets the scene from which the succession struggle emerges.