A concubine of King David, who took care of the king at the end of his life.
About Abishag
A beautiful young woman from Shunem who was sent to care for King David during his last days (1 Kings 1:1–4). After David’s death, Adonijah asked his half-brother, King Solomon, to marry Abishag. At that time, to take the concubine of a deceased king was to claim you were the next king (a concubine is a woman who lived with a man and had a relationship like a wife but without the full rights of marriage). Adonijah's request made Solomon angry and he ordered Adonijah to be killed (1 Kings 2:13–25).
Key References
Then they searched throughout Israel for a beautiful girl, and they found Abishag the Shunammite and brought her to the king.
So Bathsheba went to see the king in his bedroom. Since the king was very old, Abishag the Shunammite was serving him.
Adonijah replied, “Please speak to King Solomon, since he will not turn you down. Let him give me Abishag the Shunammite as my wife.”
All Scripture References (5)
1 Kings (5)
Then they searched throughout Israel for a beautiful girl, and they found Abishag the Shunammite and brought her to the king.
So Bathsheba went to see the king in his bedroom. Since the king was very old, Abishag the Shunammite was serving him.
Adonijah replied, “Please speak to King Solomon, since he will not turn you down. Let him give me Abishag the Shunammite as my wife.”
So Bathsheba said, “Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to your brother Adonijah as his wife.”
King Solomon answered his mother, “Why do you request Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Since he is my older brother, you might as well request the kingdom for him and for Abiathar the priest and for Joab son of Zeruiah!”