David 이 늙었을 때에 취한 후궁이다.
David 은
Bathsheba 이후 더이상 새로운 후궁을 들여 자녀를 낳지 않았는데, 이 아비삭도 관계를 갖기보다 늙은 자신을 돌보는 역할로 들인 것으로 보인다.
So they sought for a beautiful young lady throughout all the borders of Israel , and found Abishag the Shunammite, and brought her to the king.
Bathsheba went in to the king in his room. The king was very old; and Abishag the Shunammite was serving the king.
그러나
David 이 죽은 뒤
Solomon 과 함께 후계자를 경쟁했던
아도니야 가 이 아비삭을 아내로 요구했다.
이것은 단지 아비삭을 여성으로 좋아했다기 보다, 아버지의 왕권을 자신에게로 돌리려고 하는 반역의 마음이었고,
아도니야는 이 일을 계기로 죽임을 당하게 된다.
17 He said, “Please speak to Solomon the king (for he will not tell you ‘no’), that he give me Abishag the Shunammite as wife.”
18 Bathsheba said, “All right. I will speak for you to the king.”
19 Bathsheba therefore went to king Solomon , to speak to him for Adonijah. The king rose up to meet her, and bowed himself to her, and sat down on his throne, and caused a throne to be set for the king’s mother; and she sat on his right hand.
20 Then she said, “I ask one small petition of you; don’t deny me.” The king said to her, “Ask on, my mother; for I will not deny you.”
21 She said, “Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah your brother as wife.”
22 King Solomon answered his mother, “Why do you ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Ask for him the kingdom also; for he is my elder brother; even for him, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah .”