1. Avishag the Shunamis, the body warmer of Dovid:
- Dovid is old and weak, unable to be warmed up: The king was old and ripe in day [i.e. 70 years old, after having reigned for 40 years from the age of 30[1]], and they covered him with clothing [as he became bedridden due to his weakness[2]], but it did not suffice to warm him up. [Dovid was stricken with cold blood after seeing the angel of death is discussed in the end of Shmuel Beis. Alternatively, he was punished that his clothing not be enough to warm him up being that he belittled them when he tore the garment of Shaul.[3]]
- The king is advised to have a girl become his body warmer: His servants said to him, “Let the king search for a young girl who is a Na’arah and a virgin, and let her stand before the king, and be a source of warmth for him [as a girl’s virginity warm up her body[4]]. She shall rest in your bosom, and warm up my master the king.”
- Avishag Hashunamis receives the position: So they went out in search for a beautiful young girl throughout all the borders of Israel and they found Avishag Shunamis. The girl was extremely beautiful, and she became the official body warmer of the king and served him, although the king was not intimate with her [as he wanted to retain her warmth capabilities which are greater when she is a virgin. Likewise, he already had 18 wives and was prohibited from having more.[5]]
[1] Radak 1:1
[2] Radak 1:1
[3] Rashi 1:1
[4] Rashi 1:1
[5] Rashi 1:4; Sanhedrin 22a
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