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

15And he said, Thou knowest that the kingdom was mine, and that all Israel set their faces on me, that I should reign: but the kingdom is turned about, and hath become my brother’s: for it was his from the LORD. 16And now I ask one petition of thee, deny me not. And she said to him, Say on. And he said, Speak, I pray thee, to Solomon the king, (for he will not say to thee no,) that he give me Abishag the Shunammite for a wife. 18And Bathsheba said, Well; I will speak for thee to the king. 19Bathsheba therefore went to king Solomon, to speak to him for Adonijah. And the king rose up to meet her, and bowed himself to her, and sat down on his throne, and caused a seat to be set for the king’s mother; and she sat on his right hand.

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

• saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Solomonשְׁלֹמֹהshelômôh · SolomonH8010
• kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
• sayשׁוּבshûb · to return: returnH7725
• theeפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
• giveנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
• Abishagאֲבִישַׁג'ăbîyshag · AbishagH49
• Shunammiteשׁוּנַמִּיתshûnammîyth · ShunammiteH7767
• wifeאִשָּׁה'ishshâh nâshîym · woman: wifeH802

Cross-references for 1 Kings 2:17

• 1 Kings 1:2Therefore his servants said to him, Let there be sought for my lord the king a young virgin: and let her stand before the king, and let her cherish him, and let her lie in thy bosom, that my lord the king may get warm.
• 2 Samuel 3:7And Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and Ishbosheth said to Abner, Why hast thou gone in to my father’s concubine?
• 2 Samuel 12:8And I gave thee thy master’s house, and thy master’s wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given to thee such and such things.

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