1 Kings 1:2
ESV
Therefore his servants said to him, "Let a young woman be sought for my lord the king, and let her wait on the king and be in his service. Let her lie in your arms, that my lord the king may be warm."
NIV
So his attendants said to him, "Let us look for a young virgin to serve the king and take care of him. She can lie beside him so that our lord the king may keep warm."
NASB
So his servants said to him, 'Have them search for a young virgin for my lord the king, and have her attend the king and become his nurse; and have her lie on your chest, so that my lord the king may keep warm.'
CSB
So his servants said to him: "Let us search for a young virgin for my lord the king. She is to attend the king and be his caregiver. She is to lie by your side so that my lord the king will get warm."
NLT
So his advisers told him, 'Let us find a young virgin to wait on you and look after you, my lord. She will lie in your arms and keep you warm.'
KJV
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.
NKJV
Therefore his servants said to him, “Let a young woman, a virgin, be sought for our lord the king, and let her stand before the king, and let her care for him; and let her lie in your bosom, that our lord the king may be warm.”
What does 1 Kings 1:2 mean?
David spent his early years sleeping in the hills with the sheep. In King Saul's service, he became famous as a great warrior and military commander. After fleeing Saul, he slept in caves when not running for his life. The mileage has taken a toll; at or near the age of seventy, his frail body can't even stay warm.Despite his several wives and concubines (1 Chronicles 3:1–9), David's servants follow tradition and find him another virgin to see to his needs and keep him warm. Technically, Abishag is a concubine: a wife whose sons will not inherit. Unlike normal concubines, however, she will not have sex with him (1 Kings 1:3–4). It's unclear if that's because she has a special role or because David has become impotent. The expression "get warm" can refer to having an erection. While this is possible, it seems unlikely since the servants first try to fix the problem by covering David with blankets.
The search for a beautiful woman for the king resembles the story of Esther. King Ahasuerus wanted a replacement for Queen Vashti, whom he had dismissed. His servants brought all the beautiful young virgins they could find to join his harem. Of all of them, he chose Esther as his new queen (Esther 1—2).
As David's concubine, she is a chess piece. Anyone who would take her as his wife would do so as a sign of dominance over David and his line. When Adonijah tries, Solomon executes him (1 Kings 2:13–25). There's nothing to indicate Solomon will take her as his concubine, but he will have that right.
