מלכים א, פרק ב׳, פסוק י״ז

Adonijah approaches Bathsheba with a highly sensitive and politically charged request, asking her to act as a mediator with King Solomon so he can marry Abishag, the young woman who served his late father. He deliberately chooses Bathsheba for this task because he recognizes her status and influence, feeling confident that Solomon will listen to her and will not refuse her plea [אברבנאל, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

Adonijah wishes to formalize a relationship with the woman he came to know in his father's household. Because Abishag was strictly a servant and never David's actual wife, Adonijah assumes there is no legal or moral barrier to their union. This underlying desire also sheds light on why Abishag's physical beauty was emphasized earlier in the story [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

However, Adonijah is fully aware of the danger embedded in his request. Marrying someone so intimately connected to the former king could easily be viewed as a subtle challenge to the throne and a grasp for royal power. To prevent Solomon from seeing this as a political threat, Adonijah carefully sets the stage before asking for her hand. He openly confesses that he has abandoned all hopes for the crown and admits that Solomon's reign was ordained by God. By making this clear declaration first, he hopes to assure Solomon that he fully accepts God's decision and harbors no rebellious intentions, thereby making the marriage request appear entirely harmless [אברבנאל].