And king Solomon answered and said unto his mother, And why dost thou ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? ask for him the kingdom also; for he is mine elder brother; even for him, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah.
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.'
Solomon is sarcastically telling his mother that her request for Adonijah to marry Abishag is actually asking for something that would threaten Solomon's throne.
📚 Historical Context
This conversation happens shortly after Solomon became king, when his mother Bathsheba asked him to let his half-brother Adonijah marry Abishag, who had been King David's caretaker in his final days. In ancient times, marrying a former king's concubine or wife was often seen as a claim to the throne. Solomon recognizes this as a potential political threat.
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