1 Kings 2:17
New International Version
So he continued, “Please ask King Solomon—he will not refuse you—to give me Abishag the Shunammite as my wife.”

New Living Translation
He replied, “Speak to King Solomon on my behalf, for I know he will do anything you request. Ask him to let me marry Abishag, the girl from Shunem.”

English Standard Version
And he said, “Please ask King Solomon—he will not refuse you—to give me Abishag the Shunammite as my wife.”

Berean Standard Bible
Adonijah replied, “Please speak to King Solomon, since he will not turn you down. Let him give me Abishag the Shunammite as my wife.”

King James Bible
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 King James Version
Then he said, “Please speak to King Solomon, for he will not refuse you, that he may give me Abishag the Shunammite as wife.”

New American Standard Bible
Then he said, “Please speak to Solomon the king—for he will not refuse you—that he may give me Abishag the Shunammite as a wife.”

NASB 1995
Then he said, “Please speak to Solomon the king, for he will not refuse you, that he may give me Abishag the Shunammite as a wife.”

NASB 1977
Then he said, “Please speak to Solomon the king, for he will not refuse you, that he may give me Abishag the Shunammite as a wife.”

Legacy Standard Bible
Then he said, “Please speak to Solomon the king, for he will not turn you away, that he may give me Abishag the Shunammite as a wife.”

Amplified Bible
He said, “Please speak to King Solomon, for he will not refuse you; ask that he may give me Abishag the Shunammite as a wife.”

Christian Standard Bible
He replied, “Please speak to King Solomon since he won’t turn you down. Let him give me Abishag the Shunammite as a wife.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
He replied, “Please speak to King Solomon since he won’t turn you down. Let him give me Abishag the Shunammite as a wife."”

American Standard Version
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.

Contemporary English Version
"Please ask Solomon to let me marry Abishag. He won't say no to you."

English Revised Version
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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
He said, "Please ask King Solomon to give me Abishag from Shunem as my wife. He will not refuse you."

Good News Translation
He answered, "Please ask King Solomon--I know he won't refuse you--to let me have Abishag, the young woman from Shunem, as my wife."

International Standard Version
Then he asked her, "Please talk to King Solomon for me, since he won't refuse you. Ask him to give me Abishag the Shunammite as a wife."

Majority Standard Bible
Adonijah replied, “Please speak to King Solomon, since he will not turn you down. Let him give me Abishag the Shunammite as my wife.”

NET Bible
He said, "Please ask King Solomon if he would give me Abishag the Shunammite as a wife, for he won't refuse you."

New Heart English Bible
He said, "Please speak to Solomon the king (for he will not tell you 'no'), that he give me Abishag the Shunammite as wife."

Webster's Bible Translation
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 Shunamite for a wife.

World English Bible
He said, “Please speak to Solomon the king (for he will not tell you ‘no’), that he give me Abishag the Shunammite as wife.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And he says, “Please speak to Solomon the king, for he does not turn back your face, and he gives Abishag the Shunammite to me for a wife.”

Young's Literal Translation
And he saith, 'Speak, I pray thee, to Solomon the king, for he doth not turn back thy face, and he doth give to me Abishag the Shunammite for a wife.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And he will say, Speak now to Solomon the king, for he will not turn away thy face, and he will give to me Abishag the Shunamite for wife.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he said: I pray thee speak to king Solomon (for he cannot deny thee any thing) to give me Abisag the Sunamitess to wife.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And he said: “I beg that you may speak to king Solomon, for he is not able to refuse anything to you, so that he may give Abishag the Shunammite to me as wife.”

New American Bible
He said, “Please ask King Solomon, who will not refuse you, to give me Abishag the Shunamite to be my wife.”

New Revised Standard Version
He said, “Please ask King Solomon—he will not refuse you—to give me Abishag the Shunammite as my wife.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And he said to her, Speak to King Solomon (for he will not refuse you) that he give me Abishag the Shilommite to wife.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
He said to her: “Speak to King Solomon, for he will not turn away your presence, and he will give to me Abishag the Shilumite as a wife.”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
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.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And he said to her, Speak, I pray thee, to king Solomon, for he will not turn away his face from thee, and let him give me Abisag the Somanite for a wife.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Execution of Adonijah
16So now I have just one request of you; do not deny me.” “State your request,” she told him. 17Adonijah replied, “Please speak to King Solomon, since he will not turn you down. Let him give me Abishag the Shunammite as my wife.” 18“Very well,” Bathsheba replied. “I will speak to the king for you.”…

Cross References
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 1:11-14
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 1:50-53
But Adonijah, in fear of Solomon, got up and went to take hold of the horns of the altar. / It was reported to Solomon: “Behold, Adonijah fears King Solomon, and he has taken hold of the horns of the altar, saying, ‘Let King Solomon first swear to me not to put his servant to the sword.’” / And Solomon replied, “If he is a man of character, not a single hair of his will fall to the ground. But if evil is found in him, he will die.” ...

2 Samuel 3:27-30
When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab pulled him aside into the gateway, as if to speak to him privately, and there Joab stabbed him in the stomach. So Abner died on account of the blood of Joab’s brother Asahel. / Afterward, David heard about this and said, “I and my kingdom are forever guiltless before the LORD concerning the blood of Abner son of Ner. / May it whirl over the head of Joab and over the entire house of his father, and may the house of Joab never be without one having a discharge or skin disease, or one who leans on a staff or falls by the sword or lacks food.” ...

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.

2 Samuel 16:21-23
Ahithophel replied, “Sleep with your father’s concubines, whom he has left to take care of the palace. When all Israel hears that you have become a stench to your father, then the hands of all who are with you will be strengthened.” / So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and he slept with his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel. / Now in those days the advice of Ahithophel was like the consultation of the word of God. Such was the regard that both David and Absalom had for Ahithophel’s advice.

2 Samuel 20:9-10
“Are you well, my brother?” Joab asked Amasa. And with his right hand Joab grabbed Amasa by the beard to kiss him. / Amasa was not on guard against the dagger in Joab’s hand, and Joab stabbed him in the stomach and spilled out his intestines on the ground. And Joab did not need to strike him again, for Amasa was dead. Then Joab and his brother Abishai pursued Sheba son of Bichri.

1 Kings 11:14-22
Then the LORD raised up against Solomon an adversary, Hadad the Edomite, from the royal line of Edom. / Earlier, when David was in Edom, Joab the commander of the army had gone to bury the dead and had struck down every male in Edom. / Joab and all Israel had stayed there six months, until he had killed every male in Edom. ...

1 Kings 11:26-40
Now Jeroboam son of Nebat was an Ephraimite from Zeredah whose mother was a widow named Zeruah. Jeroboam was a servant of Solomon, but he rebelled against the king, / and this is the account of his rebellion against the king. Solomon had built the supporting terraces and repaired the gap in the wall of the city of his father David. / Now Jeroboam was a mighty man of valor. So when Solomon noticed that the young man was industrious, he put him in charge of the whole labor force of the house of Joseph. ...

Matthew 1:6-7
and Jesse the father of David the king. Next: David was the father of Solomon by Uriah’s wife, / Solomon the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asa.

Matthew 14:3-11
Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, / because John had been telling him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” / Although Herod wanted to kill John, he was afraid of the people, because they regarded John as a prophet. ...

Mark 6:17-28
For Herod himself had ordered that John be arrested and bound and imprisoned, on account of his brother Philip’s wife Herodias, whom Herod had married. / For John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife!” / So Herodias held a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she had been unable, ...

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!”

Luke 3:31
the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David,


Treasury of Scripture

And he said, Speak, I pray you, to Solomon the king, (for he will not say you no,) that he give me Abishag the Shunammite to wife.

Abishag

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…

2 Samuel 3:7
And Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and Ishbosheth said to Abner, Wherefore hast thou gone in unto my father's concubine?

2 Samuel 12:8
And 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 unto thee such and such things.

Jump to Previous
Abishag Ab'ishag Continued Face Please Refuse Request Shunamite Shunammite Shu'nammite Solomon Speak Turn Wife
Jump to Next
Abishag Ab'ishag Continued Face Please Refuse Request Shunamite Shunammite Shu'nammite Solomon Speak Turn Wife
1 Kings 2
1. David, having given a charge to Solomon
3. of Reverence
5. of Joab
7. of Barzillai
8. of Shimei
10. Solomon succeeds
12. Adonijah, moving Bathsheba to ask unto Solomon for Abishag,
13. is put to death
26. Abiathar, having his life given him, is deprived of the priesthood
28. Joab fleeing to the horns of the altar, is there slain
35. Benaiah is put in Joab's room, and Zadfok in Abiathar's
36. Shimei, confined to Jerusalem, by occasion of going to Gath, is put to death.














Please speak
The request begins with a polite and respectful appeal, indicating a recognition of the authority and influence of the person being addressed. In the Hebrew context, the word used here conveys a sense of entreaty and humility. This reflects the cultural norms of the time, where approaching a king or someone of high status required a deferential attitude.

to King Solomon
Solomon, the son of David, is now the reigning king of Israel. His kingship is significant as it marks the beginning of a new era of peace and prosperity for Israel. Solomon is known for his wisdom, a gift from God, which sets the stage for his reign. The mention of Solomon here underscores the importance of his role and the respect he commands.

since he will not refuse you
This phrase suggests a confidence in the influence of the person being asked to intercede. It implies a close relationship or a special favor that the speaker believes will ensure a positive response. Historically, this reflects the dynamics of court politics and personal relationships within the royal family.

Let him give me
The request is direct and specific, indicating a desire for a particular outcome. In the context of ancient Israel, marriage arrangements often involved negotiations and agreements, especially within royal circles. The phrasing here suggests a formal petition, aligning with the customs of the time.

Abishag the Shunammite
Abishag was a young woman from Shunem who served King David in his old age. Her mention here is significant because she was closely associated with the former king. In the historical and cultural context, marrying a king's concubine or attendant could be seen as a claim to the throne, which adds a layer of political intrigue to the request.

as my wife
The desire to marry Abishag is not merely personal but carries potential political implications. In the ancient Near Eastern context, marriage alliances were often used to solidify claims to power or to forge strategic alliances. This request, therefore, is not just about personal desire but also about positioning within the royal hierarchy.

Verse 17. - And he said, Speak, I pray thee, unto Solomon the ring; for he will not say thee nay, [will not repulse thee. Same words as ver. 16. There is a spice of flattery in these words. He now exaggerates her influence with the king] that he may give me Abishag the Shunammite to wife. [We are hardly justified in concluding, as some commentators have done, that love had nothing to do with this request. It is not improbable, on the contrary, that a passion for the beautiful Shunamnite, perhaps the fairest woman of her time, may have first given a powerful impulse to Adonijah's ambition (see on 1 Kings 1:5). At the same time, he must have had ulterior motives (see on ver. 22).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
[Adonijah] replied,
וַיֹּ֗אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“Please
נָא֙ (nā)
Interjection
Strong's 4994: I pray', 'now', 'then'

speak
אִמְרִי־ (’im·rî-)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - feminine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to King
הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

Solomon,
לִשְׁלֹמֹ֣ה (liš·lō·mōh)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 8010: Solomon -- David's son and successor to his throne

since
כִּ֥י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

he will not
לֹֽא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

turn you down.
יָשִׁ֖יב (yā·šîḇ)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again

Let him give
וְיִתֶּן־ (wə·yit·ten-)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

me
לִ֛י (lî)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's Hebrew

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

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

as my wife.”
לְאִשָּֽׁה׃ (lə·’iš·šāh)
Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 802: Woman, wife, female


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OT History: 1 Kings 2:17 He said Please speak to Solomon (1Ki iKi i Ki 1 Kg 1kg)
1 Kings 2:16
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