So translates the common Hebrew conjunction, which here expresses the logical result of what the servants suggested in verse 2.

They sought for a beautiful maiden throughout all the territory of Israel: No explicit subject of the verb sought is stated in Hebrew. It is not clear whether the king’s officials, mentioned in verse 2, are the persons who actually searched throughout the kingdom or whether they gave this task to other unnamed persons.

Regarding the word maiden, see the comments on verse 2. Here the noun is qualified by the adjective beautiful, which in Hebrew is used of both men and women and refers to outward physical appearance.

The search was made in all the territory of Israel. Here the word Israel refers to the entire kingdom of both the northern and southern tribes.

And found Abishag the Shunammite: The Shunammite refers to a person from the village of Shunem, which is located southwest of Lake Galilee and at the northern end of the Valley of Jezreel, near Mount Gilboa (1 Sam 28.4). The prophet Elisha in the ninth century B.C. frequently visited Shunem (2 Kgs 4.8-37). It may be helpful to make explicit that Shunem was a village (so Parole de Vie). Contemporary English Version translates “who lived in the town of Shunem.” Abishag reappears in the narrative of Adonijah’s death in 1 Kgs 2.13-25.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Kings, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .