1 Kings 1:3
ESV
So they sought for a beautiful young woman throughout all the territory of Israel, and found Abishag the Shunammite, and brought her to the king.
NIV
Then they searched throughout Israel for a beautiful young woman and found Abishag, a Shunammite, and brought her to the king.
NASB
So they searched for a beautiful girl throughout the territory of Israel, and found Abishag the Shunammite, and brought her to the king.
CSB
They searched for a beautiful girl throughout the territory of Israel; they found Abishag the Shunammite and brought her to the king.
NLT
So they searched throughout the land of Israel for a beautiful girl, and they found Abishag from Shunem and brought her to the king.
KJV
So they sought for a fair damsel throughout all the coasts of Israel, and found Abishag a Shunammite, and brought her to the king.
NKJV
So they sought for a lovely young woman throughout all the territory of Israel, and found Abishag the Shunammite, and brought her to the king.
What does 1 Kings 1:3 mean?
In his old age and failing health, David can't get warm despite the many layers and blankets on his bed (1 Kings 1:1). An apparent common practice in that time was to find a nurse and companion. This helper could tend to his health needs and lie with him, using her body heat to keep him warm.David's servants don't suggest recruiting one of David's current wives or concubines to fill this role, perhaps because this woman will be a servant. Instead, they find a beautiful "young woman" or an unbetrothed virgin.
Abishag's beauty is mentioned frequently. The implication may be that she's expected to have sex with David. Or, that his servants want to create the illusion that David's health is vigorous and he's still adding attractive women to his harem. If it becomes common knowledge that the king is unable to get out of bed, David's enemies might be emboldened to attack. The following verse specifically adds that David did not have sex with Abishag (1 Kings 1:4).
Abishag is a Shunammite from modern-day Sulam, about seven miles from Nazareth. Since "Shulammite" is another spelling for Shunammite, some commentators speculate that Abishag would later become the famously beautiful focus of Solomon's affection in Song of Songs (Song 6:13). No direct evidence supports this, however.
