I Kings 1:3

Common misinterpretations of 1 Kings 1:3 view it as evidence of David's promiscuity, polygamy, or exploitation of a young woman for sexual purposes, wrongly assuming intimacy occurred despite the explicit clarification that he knew her not; others impose modern sensibilities to label it abusive or pedophilic, overlooking the cultural role of a shunammite nurse for non-sexual physical comfort in an era without modern heating, thus distorting the passage's focus on the king's vulnerability amid political intrigue.

1 Kings 1:3 depicts the declining health of elderly King David, who could not stay warm despite coverings, prompting his servants to seek a beautiful young virgin from across Israel—Abishag the Shunammite—to lie beside him and provide bodily warmth as a nurse, highlighting human physical frailty in old age, ancient caregiving customs involving close personal attendance without sexual relations, and the backdrop of royal succession struggles.