ABISHAG [AB ih shag] — a young woman from Shunem employed by David's physicians to care for him in his old age (1 Kin. 1:1–4, 15). The treatment implies that through physical contact Abishag's youth could revive a dying David. The treatment failed. After David's death, one of his sons, Adonijah, asked permission to marry Abishag (1 Kin. 2:17). Solomon saw Adonijah's request as an attempt to seize the throne. He had Adonijah killed (1 Kin. 2:13–25).