1 Kings 1:15
New International Version
So Bathsheba went to see the aged king in his room, where Abishag the Shunammite was attending him.

New Living Translation
So Bathsheba went into the king’s bedroom. (He was very old now, and Abishag was taking care of him.)

English Standard Version
So Bathsheba went to the king in his chamber (now the king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite was attending to the king).

Berean Standard Bible
So Bathsheba went to see the king in his bedroom. Since the king was very old, Abishag the Shunammite was serving him.

King James Bible
And Bathsheba went in unto the king into the chamber: and the king was very old; and Abishag the Shunammite ministered unto the king.

New King James Version
So Bathsheba went into the chamber to the king. (Now the king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite was serving the king.)

New American Standard Bible
So Bathsheba entered to the king in the bedroom. Now the king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite was serving the king.

NASB 1995
So Bathsheba went in to the king in the bedroom. Now the king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite was ministering to the king.

NASB 1977
So Bathsheba went in to the king in the bedroom. Now the king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite was ministering to the king.

Legacy Standard Bible
So Bathsheba went in to the king in the bedroom. Now the king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite was ministering to the king.

Amplified Bible
So Bathsheba went to the king in his bedroom. Now the king was very old and weak, and Abishag the Shunammite was attending the king.

Christian Standard Bible
So Bathsheba went to the king in his bedroom. Since the king was very old, Abishag the Shunammite was attending to him.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
So Bathsheba went to the king in his bedroom. Since the king was very old, Abishag the Shunammite was serving him.

American Standard Version
And Bath-sheba went in unto the king into the chamber: and the king was very old; and Abishag the Shunammite was ministering unto the king.

Contemporary English Version
Meanwhile, David was in his bedroom where Abishag was taking care of him because he was so old. Bathsheba went in

English Revised Version
And Bath-sheba went in unto the king into the chamber: and the king was very old; and Abishag the Shunammite ministered unto the king.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Bathsheba went to the king in his private room. The king was very old, and Abishag from Shunem was taking care of him.

Good News Translation
So Bathsheba went to see the king in his bedroom. He was very old, and Abishag, the young woman from Shunem, was taking care of him.

International Standard Version
So Bathsheba went to the king in his private room. Now the king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite was attending to him.

Majority Standard Bible
So Bathsheba went to see the king in his bedroom. Since the king was very old, Abishag the Shunammite was serving him.

NET Bible
So Bathsheba visited the king in his private quarters. (The king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite was serving the king.)

New Heart English Bible
Bathsheba went in to the king into the room. The king was very old; and Abishag the Shunammite was attending to the king.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Bath-sheba went to the king into the chamber: and the king was very old; and Abishag the Shunamite ministered to the king.

World English Bible
Bathsheba went in to the king in his room. The king was very old; and Abishag the Shunammite was serving the king.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Bathsheba comes in to the king, [into] the inner chamber, and the king [is] very aged, and Abishag the Shunammite is serving the king;

Young's Literal Translation
And Bath-Sheba cometh in unto the king, to the inner chamber, and the king is very aged, and Abishag the Shunammite is serving the king:

Smith's Literal Translation
And Bath-sheba will go in to the king to the chamber: and the king was very old; and Abishag the Shunamite serving the king.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
So Bethsabee went in to the king into the chamber: now the king was very old, and Abisag the Sunamitess ministered to him.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And so Bathsheba entered to the king in the bedroom. Now the king was very old, and Abishag, the Shunammite, was ministering to him.

New American Bible
So Bathsheba visited the king in his room. The king was very old, and Abishag the Shunamite was caring for the king.

New Revised Standard Version
So Bathsheba went to the king in his room. The king was very old; Abishag the Shunammite was attending the king.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
So Bath-sheba went in to King David into the chamber; and the king was very old; and Abishag the Shilommite ministered to the king.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Bathsheba entered to King David to the bedroom, and the King was very old, and Abishag the Shilumite was serving the King.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Bath-sheba went in unto the king into the chamber.--Now the king was very old; and Abishag the Shunammite ministered unto the king.--

Brenton Septuagint Translation
So Bersabee went in to the king into the chamber: and the king was very old, and Abisag the Somanite was ministering to the king.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Nathan and Bathsheba Before David
14Then, while you are still there speaking with the king, I will come in after you and confirm your words.” 15So Bathsheba went to see the king in his bedroom. Since the king was very old, Abishag the Shunammite was serving him. 16And Bathsheba bowed down in homage to the king, who asked, “What is your desire?”…

Cross References
1 Kings 2:13-25
Now Adonijah son of Haggith went to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, and she asked, “Do you come in peace?” “Yes, in peace,” he replied. / Then he said, “I have something to tell you.” “Say it,” she answered. / “You know that the kingship was mine,” he said. “All Israel expected that I should reign, but the kingship has turned to my brother, for it has come to him from the LORD. ...

1 Kings 1:11-14
Then Nathan said to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, “Have you not heard that Adonijah son of Haggith has become king, and our lord David does not know it? / Now please, come and let me advise you. Save your own life and the life of your son Solomon. / Go at once to King David and say, ‘My lord the king, did you not swear to your maidservant, “Surely your son Solomon will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne”? Why then has Adonijah become king?’ ...

1 Kings 1:28-31
Then King David said, “Call in Bathsheba for me.” So she came into the king’s presence and stood before him. / And the king swore an oath, saying, “As surely as the LORD lives, who has redeemed my life from all distress, / I will carry out this very day exactly what I swore to you by the LORD, the God of Israel: Surely your son Solomon will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne in my place.” ...

1 Kings 1:5-10
At that time Adonijah, David’s son by Haggith, began to exalt himself, saying, “I will be king!” And he acquired chariots and horsemen and fifty men to run ahead of him. / (His father had never once reprimanded him by saying, “Why do you act this way?” Adonijah was also very handsome, born next after Absalom.) / So Adonijah conferred with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, who supported him. ...

1 Kings 1:32-40
Then King David said, “Call in for me Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada.” So they came before the king. / “Take my servants with you,” said the king. “Set my son Solomon on my own mule and take him down to Gihon. / There Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet are to anoint him king over Israel. You are to blow the ram’s horn and declare, ‘Long live King Solomon!’ ...

2 Samuel 7:12-16
And when your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. / He will build a house for My Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. / I will be his Father, and he will be My son. When he does wrong, I will discipline him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men. ...

1 Chronicles 22:9-10
But a son will be born to you who will be a man of rest. I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side; for his name will be Solomon, and I will grant to Israel peace and quiet during his reign. / He is the one who will build a house for My Name. He will be My son, and I will be his Father. And I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.’

1 Chronicles 29:22-25
That day they ate and drank with great joy in the presence of the LORD. Then, for a second time, they designated David’s son Solomon as king, anointing him before the LORD as ruler, and Zadok as the priest. / So Solomon sat on the throne of the LORD as king in place of his father David. He prospered, and all Israel obeyed him. / All the officials and mighty men, as well as all of King David’s sons, pledged their allegiance to King Solomon. ...

2 Samuel 15:1-6
Some time later, Absalom provided for himself a chariot with horses and fifty men to run ahead of him. / He would get up early and stand beside the road leading to the city gate. Whenever anyone had a grievance to bring before the king for a decision, Absalom would call out and ask, “What city are you from?” And if he replied, “Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel,” / Absalom would say, “Look, your claims are good and right, but the king has no deputy to hear you.” ...

2 Samuel 12:24-25
Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba, and he went to her and lay with her. So she gave birth to a son, and they named him Solomon. Now the LORD loved the child / and sent word through Nathan the prophet to name him Jedidiah because the LORD loved him.

Matthew 1:6
and Jesse the father of David the king. Next: David was the father of Solomon by Uriah’s wife,

Luke 1:32-33
He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, / and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never end!”

Matthew 21:9
The crowds that went ahead of Him and those that followed were shouting: “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest!”

Mark 11:9-10
The ones who went ahead and those who followed were shouting: “Hosanna!” “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” / “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!” “Hosanna in the highest!”

Luke 19:38
“Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”


Treasury of Scripture

And Bathsheba went in to the king into the chamber: and the king was very old; and Abishag the Shunammite ministered to the king.

very old

1 Kings 1:2-4
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…

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Abishag Ab'ishag Aged Attending Bathsheba Bath-Sheba Bathshe'ba Bedroom Chamber Inner King's Ministered Ministering Room Serving Shunamite Shunammite Shu'nammite Waiting
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Abishag Ab'ishag Aged Attending Bathsheba Bath-Sheba Bathshe'ba Bedroom Chamber Inner King's Ministered Ministering Room Serving Shunamite Shunammite Shu'nammite Waiting
1 Kings 1
1. Abishag cherishes David in his extreme age
5. Adonijah, David's darling, usurps the kingdom
11. By the council of Nathan
15. Bathsheba moves the king
22. And Nathan seconds her
28. David renews his oath to Bathsheba
32. Solomon, by David's appointment,
38. being anointed king by Zadok and Nathan, the people triumph
41. Jonathan bringing the news, Adonijah's guests fly
50. Adonijah, flying to the horns of the altar, is dismissed by Solomon














So Bathsheba went
Bathsheba, a significant figure in the Davidic narrative, is the mother of Solomon and the wife of King David. Her approach to the king signifies a moment of courage and assertiveness. The Hebrew root for "went" (בּוֹא, bo) implies entering or coming into a presence, suggesting Bathsheba's purposeful action in approaching the king. This moment is pivotal, as it sets the stage for Solomon's eventual ascension to the throne, fulfilling God's promise to David.

to see the king
The phrase indicates a formal audience with King David, who, despite his frailty, remains the central authority in Israel. The Hebrew word for "king" (מֶלֶךְ, melek) underscores David's enduring role as the anointed leader. Bathsheba's visit is not merely personal but carries significant political implications, as she seeks to secure her son's future as king.

in his bedroom
The setting of the bedroom is intimate and private, highlighting the vulnerability of King David in his old age. This private chamber, a place of rest and retreat, becomes the backdrop for crucial political maneuvering. The Hebrew term for "bedroom" (חֶדֶר, cheder) can also mean an inner room, emphasizing the personal nature of this encounter.

Since the king was very old
David's advanced age is a critical factor in the narrative. The Hebrew word for "old" (זָקֵן, zaqen) conveys not only physical frailty but also the wisdom and experience accumulated over a lifetime. David's age necessitates the transition of power, and Bathsheba's actions are driven by the urgency of this moment.

Abishag the Shunammite
Abishag's presence is significant; she is introduced earlier as a young woman brought to care for the aging king. The term "Shunammite" identifies her origin from Shunem, a town in the territory of Issachar. Her role is both practical and symbolic, representing the king's need for warmth and care in his declining years. Abishag's presence also foreshadows future tensions in the royal court, as her relationship with David becomes a point of contention.

was attending to him
The phrase indicates Abishag's role as a caregiver, attending to the king's needs. The Hebrew root for "attending" (שָׁרַת, sharath) implies service and ministering, reflecting her duty to provide comfort and support. This service underscores the king's dependence on others in his old age, highlighting the transition of power and the need for new leadership.

Verse 15. - And Bathsheba went In unto the king into the chamber [lit. inner chamber, θάλαμος, cubiculum penetrale, Buxtorf. Same word 2 Samuel 4:7; 2 Samuel 13:10] and the king was very old [the repetition (see ver. 1) is not idle or unmeaning. Here the word refers to feebleness rather than age. It is mentioned to explain David's confinement to his chamber] and Abishag the Shunammite ministered unto the king. [This is introduced to show the king's helplessness. It does not prove that "there was a disinterested witness present" (Rawlinson), for she may have withdrawn, as Bathsheba did presently (ver. 23), and Nathan (ver. 32). It is a graphic touch, painted probably from the life, and by the hand of Nathan, from whom this narrative is derived.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
So Bathsheba
שֶׁ֤בֶע (še·ḇe‘)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 1339: Bathsheba -- perhaps 'daughter of oath', the mother of Solomon

went
וַתָּבֹ֨א (wat·tā·ḇō)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

to see
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the king
הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ (ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

in his bedroom.
הַחַ֔דְרָה (ha·ḥaḏ·rāh)
Article | Noun - masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 2315: A chamber, room

Since the king
וְהַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (wə·ham·me·leḵ)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

was very
מְאֹ֑ד (mə·’ōḏ)
Adverb
Strong's 3966: Vehemence, vehemently, wholly, speedily

old,
זָקֵ֣ן (zā·qên)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2204: To be or become old

Abishag
וַֽאֲבִישַׁג֙ (wa·’ă·ḇî·šaḡ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 49: Abishag -- 'my father is a wanderer', an Israelite woman

the Shunammite
הַשּׁ֣וּנַמִּ֔ית (haš·šū·nam·mîṯ)
Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 7767: Shunammite -- a Shunammitess

was serving
מְשָׁרַ֖ת (mə·šā·raṯ)
Verb - Piel - Participle - feminine singular
Strong's 8334: To attend as a, menial, worshipper, to contribute to

him.
הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ (ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king


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OT History: 1 Kings 1:15 Bathsheba went in to the king into (1Ki iKi i Ki 1 Kg 1kg)
1 Kings 1:14
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