“After looking through all of Israel’s territory for a beautiful girl, they found Avishag the Shunamit and brought her to the king. The girl was very beautiful and became a companion for the king. She took care of him, but the king did not have sexual relations with her.“-1 Kings 1:3-4
Why does Scripture go out of its way to tell us that Avishag the Shunamit was beautiful?
There were two reasons.
First, in those days, outward beauty was associated with grace and humility.
It was also seen as a physical reflection of one’s inner qualities.
Second, it was the norm that royalty always got the best, whether furniture, clothing, housing, transportation, or female companionship.
So it only made sense that if the King was to be provided a caretaker, she would have to be stunning in every way.
Now, note that Scripture goes out of its way to tell us that “the king did not have sexual relations with her.”
She was not a prostitute.
Why is this point being stressed?
The narrator doesn’t want us to get the wrong idea about this relationship.
She had not become David’s concubine or a new addition to his harem.
Remember, outside of transactional sex, sexual intercourse creates a ‘one flesh’ union that belongs inside the marriage covenant.
That’s why we’re told that Avishag did not have sex with David.
We’re basically being told that she was neither David’s wife nor his concubine.
She was to be his caretaker, nothing more.
You might think I’m harping on this too excessively, but this point is actually gonna play an important role in a future chapter.
Anyways, for now, let’s switch over to the takeaway.
What’s coming to me is just how powerful sex is.
Bottomline, Scripture says sex creates a “one flesh” union.
The foundation is in the Book of Genesis.
“Therefore, a man shall leave
his father and mother
and be joined to his wife,
and they shall become one flesh.”
-Genesis 2:24
The Apostle Paul quoted this verse in the New Testament.
“Do you not know that he
who joins himself to a prostitute
is one body with her?
For it says,
‘The two will become one flesh.’”
-1 Corinthians 6:16
So Paul is saying that sex is never just physical in Scripture.
It creates a deep covenant-like bond.
However, one mistake is to assume that intercourse itself equals a marriage covenant.
Scripture still distinguishes sex from marriage.
The Bible shows several examples where people had sex before marriage was formally established.
Here’s a clear example:
“If a man seduces a virgin
who is not betrothed
and lies with her,
he must pay the bride price
and she shall become his wife.”
-Exodus 22:16
If sex automatically created marriage, this command would make no sense.
Instead, they had sex first.
Then he must marry her.
Ya feeling me here?
So Scripture treats sex as serious and binding, but not automatically marriage itself.
Anyways, I digress, and feel like I’m getting off track.
See ya all next time.
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