ABISAG (Hebrew “father of error” [?]). — A girl from Shūnem (today Sōlem), a locality on the southern slopes of the Little Hermon. Of rare beauty, she was chosen by the courtiers (by the physicians, Josephus specifies, Ant. Iud. VII, 14, 3) to give warmth to the body of the aged king. David, who received her care until his death, nevertheless left her virginity intact (1 Kings 1:1–4). At the death of the pious king, Abisag, the last adornment of his harem, passed into the possession of Solomon, to whom Adonijah (q.v.), the elder brother and imprudent rival, twice requested her in marriage. Solomon saw in the request a political maneuver—the possession, even partial, of the royal harem attested a claim to the throne (cf. 2 Sam. 3:7 ff.; 16:22)—and had Adonijah put to death (1 Kings 2:13–25).
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