1 Kings 2:17

1 Kings 2:17 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And he said, Speak, I pray thee, unto Solomon the king, (for he will not say thee nay,) that he give me Abishag the Shunammite to wife.
• New International Version (NIV)So he continued, “Please ask King Solomon—he will not refuse you—to give me Abishag the Shunammite as my wife.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)And he said, "Please ask King Solomon—he will not refuse you—to give me Abishag the Shunammite as my wife."
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then he said, “Please speak to King Solomon, for he will not refuse you, that he may give me Abishag the Shunammite as wife.”

Context of 1 Kings 2:17

15So he said, “You know that the kingdom belonged to me [as the eldest living son] and all Israel looked to me and expected me to be king. However, the kingdom has passed [from me] and became my brother’s, for it was his from the Lord. 16So now I am making one request of you; do not refuse me.” And she said to him, “Speak.” He said, “Please speak to King Solomon, for he will not refuse you; ask that he may give me Abishag the Shunammite as a wife.” 18Bathsheba replied, “Very well; I will speak to the king for you.” 19So Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him for Adonijah. And the king rose to meet her, bowed before her, and sat down on his throne; then he had a throne set for her, the king’s mother, and she sat on his right.

1 Kings 2:17 word by word

וַיֹּ֗אמֶר אִמְרִי־נָא֙ לִשְׁלֹמֹ֣ה הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ כִּ֥י לֹֽא־יָשִׁ֖יב אֶת־פָּנָ֑יִךְ וְיִתֶּן־לִ֛י אֶת־אֲבִישַׁ֥ג הַשּׁוּנַמִּ֖ית לְאִשָּֽׁה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And he saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• I pray thee, unto Solomonשְׁלֹמֹהshelômôh · SolomonH8010
• the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
• for he will not sayשׁוּבshûb · to return: returnH7725
• theeפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
• that he giveנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
• me Abishagאֲבִישַׁג'ăbîyshag · AbishagH49
• the Shunammiteשׁוּנַמִּיתshûnammîyth · ShunammiteH7767
• to wifeאִשָּׁה'ishshâh nâshîym · woman: wifeH802

Cross-references for 1 Kings 2:17

• 1 Kings 1:2So his servants said to him, “Let a young virgin be found for my lord the king and let her attend him and become his nurse; let her lie against your chest, so that my lord the king may feel warm.”
• 2 Samuel 3:7Now Saul had a concubine whose name was Rizpah the daughter of Aiah; and Ish-bosheth said to Abner, “Why have you gone in to my father’s concubine?”
• 2 Samuel 12:8I also gave you your master’s house, and put your master’s wives into your care and under your protection, and I gave you the house (royal dynasty) of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would have given you much more!

Commentaries on 1 Kings 2:17

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17That he give me Abishag - to wife - 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. Some think that Joab and Abiathar had advised Adonijah to make this application, not doubting, if he got Abishag, that the popular tide would again turn in his favor, and that Solomon, whom they did not like, might soon be deposed; and…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-25Verses 12-25 Solomon received Bathsheba with all the respect that was owing to a mother; but let none be asked for that which they ought not to grant. It ill becomes a good man to prefer a bad request, or to appear in a bad cause. According to eastern customs it was plain that Adonijah sought to be king, by his asking for Abishag as his wife, and Solomon could not be safe while he lived. Ambitious, turbulent spirits commonly prepare death for themselves…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16-18Let him give me Abishag the Shunammite as my wife: Having the king’s concubine showed royal authority. When David became king, he received Saul’s wives (2 Samuel 12:7–8). The rebellious Absalom took David’s concubines (2 Samuel 16:20–22).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 13-1813-18. Adonijah ... came to Bath-sheba--Her question to him betrays an apprehension which his recent conduct might well warrant; but his pious acknowledgment of the divine will seemed apparently to indicate so entire an acquiescence in the settlement of the succession [1Ki 2:15], that, in her womanly simplicity, she perceived not the deep cunning and evil design that was concealed under his request and readily undertook to promote his wishes.Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Kings 2:17

• Abishag
• Adonijah
• Bath-Sheba (Bathsheba)
• Influence
• Intercession
• Shunammite

In the dictionaries

• Solomon
• Abishag
• Adonijah
• Curse
• Fail
• Gone
• Return
• Heir
• Israel, History of
• Kings, Books of

Commentaries on 1 Kings 2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings