1 King David was now a very old man, and although his servants covered him with blankets, he could not keep warm.
2 So his officials said to him, “Your Majesty, let us find a young woman to stay with you and take care of you. She will lie close to you and keep you warm.”
3 A search was made all over Israel for a beautiful young woman, and in Shunem they found such a woman named Abishag, and brought her to the king.
4 She was very beautiful, and waited on the king and took care of him, but he did not have intercourse with her.
5-6 Now that Absalom was dead, Adonijah, the son of David and Haggith, was the eldest surviving son. He was a very handsome man. David had never reprimanded him about anything, and he was ambitious to be king. He provided for himself chariots, horses, and an escort of fifty men.
7 He talked with Joab (whose mother was Zeruiah) and with Abiathar the priest, and they agreed to support his cause.
8 But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and David's bodyguard were not on Adonijah's side.