1 Kings 2:21 Made Simple

KJV ORIGINAL

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

Close to the original. Clear modern English.

✦ MADE SIMPLE

And she said, 'Let Adonijah your brother marry Abishag the Shunammite.'

⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE

Bathsheba is asking King Solomon to allow his half-brother Adonijah to marry Abishag, who had been King David's caretaker.

📚 Historical Context

In the biblical narrative, King David is nearing the end of his life, and a power struggle ensues among his sons for the throne of Israel. Adonijah, one of David's sons, had previously attempted to claim the kingship but was thwarted when Solomon was anointed as the rightful heir by David. Bathsheba, Solomon's mother, is asked by Adonijah to request that Abishag, a young woman who had attended to the aging David, be given to him as a wife, which was perceived as a subtle challenge to Solomon's authority.

Explore Similar Verses

2 Samuel 3:4

The fourth son was Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith; and the fifth son was Shephatiah, whose mother was Abital.

1 Kings 2:22

King Solomon answered his mother, 'Why are you asking for Abishag the Shunammite to be given to Adonijah? You might as well ask for the kingdom to be given to him too, since he's my older brother! And while you're at it, ask for Abiathar the priest and Joab son of Zeruiah to be given power as well.'

1 Chronicles 3:2

The third son was Absalom, whose mother was Maachah (she was the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur). The fourth son was Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith.

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