Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Kings 1:2
Wherefore his servants said unto 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 heat.
2. his servants ] The word, though primarily applied to those who were occupied in servile work, had come by this time to be used regularly of those who were about a royal person, and in such a position as to venture on giving him counsel. Josephus ( Ant. vii. 15.3) says they were the king’s physicians. (Cf. Gen 1:2.)
Let there be sought ] Literally ‘Let them seek.’ This kind of variation is frequent in the A.V. for the sake of the English; as also the personal form of a sentence, put where the Hebrew verb is impersonal. Thus the last clause in 1Ki 1:1 is literally ‘and it grew not warm to him.’ As such literal renderings are very often noticed on the margin, no special mention will hereafter be made of them.
a young virgin ] This device, whereby it was thought to communicate vital heat from a young frame to an old one, was adopted by the advice of physicians long after David’s time. See Bacon, Hist. Vit et Mortis, Medicamina ad longvitatem 1Ki 9:25.
and let her stand before the king ] This phrase is used of those who serve or minister to another. Thus Deu 1:38, Joshua the minister of Moses is said to ‘stand before him.’ It seems clear from the language of Solomon (1Ki 2:22) that Abishag was to be counted as one of the wives of David. Polygamy was not at this time confined to kings like David and Solomon, but was practised by other Israelites, as is shewn by the history of Elkanah (1Sa 1:2).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Since the Jewish law allowed polygamy, Davids conduct in following – what has been said to have been – physicians advice, was blameless.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 2. Let there be sought – a young virgin] This was the best remedy which in his state could be prescribed. His nearly exhausted frame would infallibly absorb from her young and healthy body an additional portion of animal heat, and consequently trim and revive the flame of animal life. This is properly, as I have elsewhere expressed it, Friar Bacon’s secret for the cure of old age.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
His servants; his physicians.
A young virgin; whose natural heat is fresh and wholesome, and not impaired with bearing or breeding of children. The same counsel doth Galen give for the cure of some cold and dry distempers.
Let her stand before the king, i.e. minister unto him, or wait upon him, (as this phrase is oft used,) in his sickness, as occasion requires. Let her lie in thy bosom, as his wife or concubine; for that she was so may appear by divers arguments. First, Otherwise this had been a wicked counsel and course; which therefore neither his servants durst have prescribed, nor would David have used, especially being now in a dying condition. And seeing this was easily prevented by his taking her for his concubine, which then was esteemed allowable, it is absurd to think that he would not choose the safer way. Secondly, That passage, 1Ki 1:4,
but the king knew her not, implies that the king might have had carnal knowledge of her without sin or scandal. Thirdly, it appears from this phrase of
lying in his bosom, which is every where in Scripture mentioned as the privilege of a wife and concubine, as Gen 16:5; Deu 13:6; 2Sa 12:8; Mic 7:5. Fourthly, This made Adonijahs crime, in desiring her to wife, so heinous in Solomons account, because he wisely saw, that by marrying the kings wife he designed to revive his pretence to the kingdom, at least in case of Solomons death; which pretence had been ridiculous, if she had been only the kings handmaid.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Wherefore his servants said unto him,…. His physicians; so Joseph’s physicians are called his servants, Ge 50:2;
let there be sought for my lord the king a young virgin; not only a young woman, but a virgin, that has more natural heat than women that have bore children have, which is abated thereby:
and let her stand before the king: minister to him, serve him with whatsoever he should want to eat or drink; and so by being in his presence, and taking things at her hand, she might be the more ingratiated into his affections:
and let her cherish him; as the husband the wife, so she her husband, as doubtless David was; and that by giving him cordials to cheer his spirits, and everything that was convenient for him, and particularly by lying with him. Kimchi interprets the word of her being profitable to him, in which sense the word is used, Job 22:2; that is, by warming him; Ben Gersom understands it of her being made mistress of his treasures, according to the sense of the word in Isa 22:15; that she might have the command of his purse, and provide anything proper for him, without being taken notice of or obstructed; but the Targum is better,
“and let her be near him,”
lie close unto him, and even in his bosom, as in the next clause:
and let her lie in his bosom; which shows that it was proposed that he should marry her, at least that she should become his concubine wife, since this phrase is descriptive of a wife, Mic 7:5; nor can it be thought his physicians would advise, or he agree to have a young woman admitted to his bed, without marriage; and if this had not been the case, it would not have answered the design of Adonijah in requesting her in marriage after his father’s death, which was to make way to ascend the throne when opportunity should offer; nor would his request have been so much resented by Solomon as it was, 1Ki 2:17;
that my lord the king may get heat: and somewhat similar to this, Galen, that great physician, prescribed in like cases d.
d Vid. Poli Synopsin in loc.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
2. His servants Josephus calls them his physicians.
Let her cherish him Literally, let her be to him a female nurse. It was one part of her service to attend to his private wants, to perform the various little items of nursing expected of a familiar attendant. All this is comprehended in the word , a female attendant. Another part of her service was to lie in the king’s bosom, that is, sleep with him, and thus communicate to him animal heat and vigour. This method of recruiting the wasted vigour of age is natural and well known; but while it benefits the old, it must needs take away from the strength of the young. The too common practice of young persons sleeping with aged aunts, uncles, or grandparents is the ruin of many a naturally vigorous and healthy constitution.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
(2) Wherefore his servants said unto 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 heat. (3) So they sought for a fair damsel throughout all the coasts of Israel, and found Abishag a Shunammite, and brought her to the king. (4) And the damsel was very fair, and cherished the king, and ministered to him: but the king knew her not.
While the pious Reader feels suitable indignation at the corrupt counsel of the servants of David, let him bless God that he is living under a more gracious dispensation. Though from what is said in the last of those verses, we have authority to conclude that nothing criminal passed between them, yet David had smarted so exceedingly in the former periods of his life, for the indulgence of his lustful passions, one could have wished that he had spurned such advisers from his presence. Reader! see what a degraded state man is reduced to from the fall. Wherein, on this pursuit of carnal desires, doth he differ from the brute that perisheth. Psa 49:20 . Who can read the account of the prostitution of this young woman, and call to mind how very often similar events have taken place in all ages, in gratifying the detestable lust of the great, at the expense of the innocence of the poor, but must feel indignant at it. Oh! precious Jesus, how sweet is it in the recollection of the horrid pollutions of our nature, to behold thee who art holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners and made higher than the heavens. Heb 7:26 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
1Ki 1:2 Wherefore his servants said unto 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 heat.
Ver. 2. Wherefore his servants said unto him, ] i.e., His physicians, his Y .
And let her lie in thy bosom.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
servants: i.e. his advisers, probably medical.
virgin = damsel. Hebrew. bethulah.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Let there be sought: Heb. Let them seek
a young virgin: Heb. a damsel, a virgin. stand. Deu 10:8, 1Sa 16:21, 1Sa 16:22, 2Ch 29:11
cherish him: Heb. be a cherisher unto him
lie: Gen 16:5, Deu 13:6, 2Sa 12:3, Mic 7:5
get heat: Ecc 4:11
Reciprocal: 1Ki 1:15 – very old 1Ki 2:17 – Abishag 2Ki 15:38 – Jotham Est 2:2 – Let there be
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1Ki 1:2. Wherefore his servants His physicians; said, Let there be sought for the king a young virgin Whose natural heat is fresh and wholesome, and not impaired with bearing or breeding children. The same counsel is given by Galen for the cure of some cold and dry distempers. Let her stand before the king That is, minister unto him, or wait upon him in his sickness, as occasion requires. And let her lie in his bosom As his wife; for that she was so, may appear by divers arguments. 1st, Otherwise this had been a wicked course; which, therefore, neither his servants would have dared to prescribe, nor would David have used, especially being now in a dying condition. 2d, It appears from this phrase of lying in his bosom, which is everywhere in Scripture mentioned as the privilege of a wife. 3d, This made Adonijahs crime, in desiring her to wife, so heinous in Solomons account, because he saw, that by marrying the kings wife, he designed to revive his pretence to the kingdom.