Abishag

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David and Abishag by Pedro Américo, 1879
Abisag, Bathsheba, Solomon, and Nathan tend to the aging David, c. 1435

In the

servant to King David in his old age.[1] Among Abishag's duties was to lie next to David and pass along her body heat and vigor because "they put covers on him, but he could not get warm".[2] 1 Kings 1:4 notes that David did not engage in sexual intercourse with her.[3] When brought to David, she was a na'arah, which indicates youth or virginity but not necessarily both.[4][5][6]

After David's death,

marry Abishag. Solomon suspected in this request an aspiration to the throne, since Abishag was considered David's concubine,[7][8] and so ordered Adonijah's assassination (1 Kings 2:17–25). In the earlier story of Absalom's rebellion, it is noted that having sexual relations with the former king's concubine is a way of proclaiming oneself to be the new king. Adonijah may have asked to marry her at the suggestion of his mother.[3]

Some scholars point to the possibility that Abishag is the female protagonist in the Song of Songs.[9]

Later Jewish midrashic and Christian traditions paid little attention to Abishag's role.[10] Abishag's experiences have provided inspiration for contemporary writers including Rainer Maria Rilke, Itzik Manger, Louise Gluck and Shirley Kaufman.[10] The story is referred to allegorically at the end of the first part of the final volume (The Cross or in the original Norwegian, Korset) of Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset. Abishag's name, although not her story, is invoked to begin Robert Frost's poem "Provide, Provide."[11]

See also

References

  1. . Retrieved 2018-11-17.
  2. ^ Whedon, Daniel (1909). "Whedon's Commentary on the Bible". StudyLight.org. Retrieved July 12, 2019.
  3. ^ a b "Abishag of Shunem (fl. 1000 bce)". Women in World History: A Biographical Encyclopedia. Gale Research Inc. Archived from the original on 13 March 2016. Retrieved 6 January 2013.(subscription required)
  4. ^ Lacocque, André (2015). "Jesus the Central Jew: His Times and His People". Retrieved July 12, 2019. unable to conceive although married because she is not yet pubescent
  5. ^ Benson, Joseph (1857). "Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments 1 Kings 1". StudyLight.org. Retrieved July 12, 2019. Whose natural heat is fresh and wholesome, and not impaired with bearing or breeding children
  6. ^ Gill, John (1748–63). "John Gill's Commentary on Ruth 4:12". Retrieved June 2, 2020. she was a young woman, though a widow: the Jews say she was forty years of age, as observed in (Ruth 3:10) and the elders wish and pray he might have a numerous family of the children the Lord would give him by her; and this might be the rather expected of her, as being a young woman, yet only as the gift of God, as children are, (Psalms 127:3).
  7. ^ Fleming, Donald C. (2005). "Bridgeway Bible Commentary". Retrieved July 12, 2019. Since a new king inherited the former king's concubines, Solomon considered that Adonijah's request to marry Abishag was an attempt to claim David's throne
  8. ^ Clark, Adam (1832). "Adam Clark Commentaries". Retrieved July 12, 2019. He cheerfully gives up all right to the kingdom, and only desires to have this young woman, who, though she had been his father's wife or concubine, was still in a state of virginity.
  9. ^ Christopher W. Mitchell, The Song of Songs (Saint Louis: Concordia, 2003), 130–132.
  10. ^
    S2CID 165198923
    .
  11. . Retrieved 24 January 2021.

External links