Musar for Sanhedrin 43:14
אמרה ליה חסריה לגנבא נפשיה לשלמא נקיט אמר להו קראו לי לבת שבע וכתיב (מלכים א א, טו) ותבא בת שבע אל המלך החדרה אמר רב יהודה אמר רב באותה שעה קינחה בת שבע בשלש עשרה מפות
<b><i>GEMARA</i></b>. R. Jacob said in R. Johanan's name: Abishag was permitted to Solomon[in marriage]<a rel="footnote" href="#56a_24"><sup>24</sup></a> but not toAdonijah.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Solomon's elder brother who wished to secure Abishag for his wife, as an inheritance from his father, as a public confirmation of his claim to the throne, in accordance with the archaic law of succession, [cf. II Sam. XII, 8 and Herodotus III, 68]. ');"><sup>25</sup></span>
Shenei Luchot HaBerit
The expression of פתח בתשובה, "commenced with repentance," simply means that a person does Teshuvah before he feels any ill effects from his transgression. This is to be contrasted with someone whose repentance is due to old age, when the evil urge cannot hold out the promise of gratification as a reward for the sin. I have explained Lamentations 2,3, השיב אחור ימינו, "He has withdrawn His right hand," to mean that G–d withdrew the hand held out to repentant sinners. The reason G–d did so is because we find in that same verse: מפני אויב, "on account of the enemy." The "enemy" is the painful result of one's sins. When repentance is due only to G–d's retribution, they are not compared to "crowns." Repentance and good deeds are considered "crowns" of a person, i.e. adorn him when they are caused by free willed activity, and before reverses in one's life prompt one to try "religion."
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