Abishag was a young woman who is mentioned in the Bible in 1 Kings chapters 1-2. She was brought into King David’s household in his old age to care for him. Here is an overview of what the Bible says about Abishag:
Abishag Was Brought to Care for King David in His Old Age
When King David was old and advanced in years, his servants advised him to let them find a young virgin to attend to him and care for him. 1 Kings 1:1-4 says “Now King David was old and advanced in years. And although they covered him with clothes, he could not get warm. Therefore his servants said to him, “Let a young woman be sought for my lord the king, and let her wait on the king and be in his service. Let her lie in your arms, that my lord the king may be warm.” So they sought for a beautiful young woman throughout all the territory of Israel, and found Abishag the Shunammite, and brought her to the king. The young woman was very beautiful, and she was of service to the king and attended to him, but the king knew her not.” (ESV)
So Abishag was chosen because of her beauty to care for King David and keep him warm in his old age. The passage specifies that David did not have sexual relations with Abishag, even though she was lying in his arms to keep him warm.
Abishag Remained in David’s Household After His Death
After David’s death, when his son Adonijah tried to claim the throne, Bathsheba went to David’s successor King Solomon and reminded him that Adonijah had not only exalted himself as king but had also requested David’s concubine Abishag as his wife (1 Kings 2:13-22). This was seen as confirmation of Adonijah’s attempted coup. Even though David did not actually have relations with Abishag, taking her as a concubine would be seen as claiming royal rights. So Abishag remained part of David’s household after his death.
Abishag Was Used by Adonijah to Try to Gain Power
As mentioned above, one of David’s sons Adonijah tried to claim David’s throne before Solomon was established as king. As part of this attempted coup, Adonijah requested of Bathsheba that she ask Solomon to give him David’s concubine Abishag as his wife. This was a bold power move, since taking the king’s concubines was seen as staking a claim to the throne. So Adonijah tried to use Abishag as a pawn in his bid for power (1 Kings 2:13-25). However, this plan backfired, as Solomon saw through it and had Adonijah executed for his implied treason.
Abishag Was a Young Shunammite Woman
The only background given about Abishag was that she was a Shunammite woman. Shunem was a town in the land of Issachar near Mount Gilboa. So Abishag was from the northern tribes of Israel, not too far from the capital in Jerusalem where David’s palace was. She was chosen for her beauty to care for King David in his old age (1 Kings 1:3).
Key Facts About Abishag
- She was a young, beautiful virgin from Shunem chosen to care for King David.
- She attended to David and kept him warm, but did not have relations with him.
- She remained in David’s household after his death.
- Adonijah requested her as a concubine to try to stake a claim to David’s throne.
- Her role caused conflict that led to Adonijah’s execution by Solomon.
Lessons From Abishag’s Story
Though she is only mentioned briefly, Abishag’s story provides some valuable lessons:
- David showed restraint and integrity by not taking advantage of Abishag sexually even though she was close to him.
- Abishag served humbly in a lowly role attending to David in his weakness.
- The scheming around Abishag shows the corruption and ambition of Adonijah and reminds us to avoid such worldly politics.
- Abishag was nearly victimized by being manipulated as political capital. We should protect and value women, not use or abuse them.
- Even seemingly small events like Abishag’s role played into God’s plan to establish Solomon’s kingdom.
Though she only briefly appears, Abishag gives us a window into palace life in David’s last days and demonstrates virtues like service, restraint, and protection of the vulnerable. Her story reminds us that every person, no matter how seemingly insignificant, has a part in God’s sovereign plan.
Other Old Testament Women Who Cared for Kings
There are a few other women mentioned in the Old Testament who had a similar role in caring for royal or noble men. Here are two brief examples for comparison with Abishag:
Bathsheba Cared for David in His Old Age
Later in David’s life, his wife Bathsheba is depicted as caring for him in his old age, in addition to Abishag. For example, in 1 Kings 1:15-21 Bathsheba works with Nathan the prophet to ensure that Solomon, not Adonijah, would succeed David as king. So Bathsheba continued to look after David’s well-being and legacy in his later years.
Ruth Served and Aided Boaz
In the book of Ruth, Ruth humbly serves and cares for her kinsman-redeemer Boaz, laying at his feet when he is sleeping just as Abishag did for David. Ruth’s virtuous character and care for Boaz also led to her marriage to him and her becoming an ancestor of King David.
Questions About Abishag
Here are some common questions people have about Abishag in the Bible:
How old was Abishag?
Abishag’s exact age is not given, but she is described as a “young woman” (1 Kings 1:3) which indicates she was likely a teenager or in her early 20s when she cared for David.
Was Abishag David’s wife?
No, the Bible indicates David did not actually marry or have marital relations with Abishag, even though she was in his household and caring for him intimately. She served him but was not considered one of his wives.
Was Abishag raped?
The Bible gives no indication that Abishag was raped or had sexual relations against her will with King David or anyone else. As a servant in David’s household, caring for him was likely her assigned duty.
What happened to Abishag after David died?
We are not told what became of Abishag after David’s death. As concubines were normally provided for by the next king, it is possible Solomon allowed her to peacefully retire from royal service after David died to prevent any further intrigues.
Was Abishag an innocent victim?
Most Bible scholars view Abishag sympathetically as an innocent victim of the plotting around who would succeed David as king. She was used by Adonijah as a pawn in his attempted coup, through no ambition of her own. So she serves as a tragic case of a vulnerable woman being manipulated by men seeking power.
Abishag in Biblical Scholarship
Most biblical scholarship sees Abishag as simply a servant caring for an elderly King David. However, some see potential deeper symbolism in her presence. Here are two views:
Symbolic of David’s Declining Vitality
Some scholars see Abishag’s role in keeping David warm but not being intimate with him as a symbol of his declining vigor and vitality in his old age.
Foreshadowing the Succession Dispute
Other scholars think Abishag’s presence foreshadows the later dispute between Adonijah and Solomon over David’s throne. So her role introduces political intrigue and drama right from the outset.
Overall, Abishag’s literary purpose seems to simply be introducing the succession conflict and David’s weakened state in his old age. Most scholars do not see any deeper symbolic purpose.
Abishag and Feminist Interpretation
Feminist interpreters of the Bible often focus on Abishag’s vulnerable position as a young woman serving men’s political ambitions. Points made include:
- She had little choice or agency as a servant girl summoned to the palace.
- Her selection for beauty objectified her as a woman.
- Powerful men like David and Adonijah sought to possess her for their own ends.
- Her well-being seemed insignificant compared to the royal power struggle.
So feminist critics emphasize Abishag’s tragic plight in being marginalized and objectified as female in a patriarchal society. This view sees her as having little power or significance, only valued by men for her beauty, availability, and utility.
Significance of Abishag’s Name
The name Abishag means “my father is a wanderer” or “father of error.” Some Bible scholars speculate about the significance of this name:
- Could represent David’s decline, wandering from God’s ideals in his old age.
- Might symbolize Abishag’s lowly, wandering status as an orphaned servant.
- Could hint that David’s kingship is giving way to error and conflict.
However, others caution against reading too much into her name, since its meaning seems to refer to her own status rather than offering any symbolic insight. So the significance of her name is debated.
Themes and Lessons From Abishag’s Story
Though brief, Abishag’s story sheds light on some important biblical themes:
Vulnerability of Youth and Women
Abishag’s status as a young orphaned woman made her vulnerable to being exploited by powerful men like David and Adonijah.
Aging and Decline of Leaders
David’s elderly weakness even with Abishag’s care highlights how even the greatest leaders age and decline.
Palace Intrigue and Succession Disputes
The palace infighting over David’s successor that Abishag got caught up in shows the corrupt side of political power struggles.
Honoring vs. Exploiting Women
David honored Abishag by not exploiting her sexually, whereas Adonijah sought to exploit her for his political advantage.
Serving Leaders Humbly
Abishag’s care for David models humble service of leaders, even in menial tasks.
Lessons from Abishag’s life include caring for the vulnerable, the perils of political power conflicts, and the need to protect and honor women, rather than objectifying or exploiting them.
Abishag’s Enduring Legacy
For a figure who only briefly appears in the biblical narrative, Abishag has left an enduring legacy. Later works of literature, art, and film have been inspired by her story. Here are a few examples:
- Abishag, a poem by Robert Graves which speculates on her feelings for David.
- Paintings depicting Abishag warming David, like John Collier’s “David and Abishag.”
- References to Abishag in literature, like in Robert Louis Stevenson’s Kidnapped.
- Ballets and musicals like Lila Lucek’s “Abishag”
- Appearances in movies like The Bible Collection’s 1997 “David.”
These artistic interpretations show Abishag’s continuing resonance as an emotionally compelling biblical figure. Though mentioned only briefly in Scripture, she has inspired many creative re-imaginings through the centuries.
Conclusion
In summary, Abishag was a young Shunammite woman brought into King David’s household in his old age to care for him, although they did not have an intimate relationship. After David’s death, his son Adonijah requested Abishag as a concubine in order to stake a political claim, but this backfired. Though her role was small, Abishag sheds light on court politics, the vulnerability of women, and David’s declining health in his final days. Her brief presence in Scripture left an enduring legacy in literature and art as a woman unfairly caught up in machinations beyond her control.