1 Kings 1:2

his servants The word, though primarily applied to those who were occupied in servile work, had come by this time to be used regularly of those who were about a royal person, and in such a position as to venture on giving him counsel. Josephus (Ant.vii. 15.3) says they were the king's physicians. (Cf. Genesis 1:2.)

Let there be sought Literally -Let them seek." This kind of variation is frequent in the A.V. for the sake of the English; as also the personal form of a sentence, put where the Hebrew verb is impersonal. Thus the last clause in 1 Kings 1:1 is literally -and it grew not warm to him." As such literal renderings are very often noticed on the margin, no special mention will hereafter be made of them.

a young virgin This device, whereby it was thought to communicate vital heat from a young frame to an old one, was adopted by the advice of physicians long after David's time. See Bacon, Hist. Vitœ et Mortis, Medicamina ad longævitatem 1 Kings 9:25.

and let her stand before the king This phrase is used of those who serve or minister to another. Thus Deuteronomy 1:38, Joshua the minister of Moses is said to -stand before him." It seems clear from the language of Solomon (1 Kings 2:22) that Abishag was to be counted as one of the wives of David. Polygamy was not at this time confined to kings like David and Solomon, but was practised by other Israelites, as is shewn by the history of Elkanah (1 Samuel 1:2).