David, King of Israel

Michelangelo

Without knowing it David became one of the most influential of historical figures. Whether he existed as told in the biblical stories or not has no importance here. For millenia and till today people hear the stories about King David, and many believe them true.

The account of David is one of the most detailed accounts of anyone in the Bible, beginning with his ancestors and to his death,  and descendants. We hear about his accomplishments as a warrior, as a player of the lyre and the writer of songs. But we also hear about his frailties and faults, of his relationships with some family members and supporters.

Who Was King David

David was the second king of ancient Israel. He is accredited with uniting the two kingdoms, Judah and Israel, under one united Kingdom of Israel. He is also the conqueror of the small town of Jebus, making it into his capital, under the new name Jerusalem. It is these two events that made the historical imprint.

He is generally believed to be born in 1040 BCE*, became king of Judah 1010 BCE and in 1003 BCE created the united Kingdom of Israel. He died in 970 BCE, to be followed by his son Solomon.

The only sources for the life and reign of David can be found in the Bible, in Samuel 1 and 2, 1 Kings and 1 Chronicles. There is to date only one extra biblical record where the name David appears. This is the Tel Dan Stele, an Aramaic inscription from 9th or 8th century BCE, commemorating victories over local peoples including Israel and The House of David.

Biblical Narrative – Early Days

David was the youngest of eight sons of Jesse, a grandson of Ruth and Boaz (Ruth 4:17). As a young man, while King Saul still ruled, he was annointed to be king by the prophet Samuel. (1 Samuel 16:13).

Carravagoio, 1600

While still a youth he was sent by his father to meet his three oldest brothers, who had joined King Saul in the battle against the Philistines in the Valley of Elah (1 Samuel 17:17). There David killed Goliath, the mightiest of the Philistine warriors, with a stone from his sling (1 Samuel 17:49), causing the Israelite victory. Saul takes him to his court and a deep friendship develops between David and Jonathan, Saul’s son (1 Samuel 18:1).

David becomes the most successful and renowned fighter in the Israelite army, loved by all, but causing Saul’s jealousy (1 Samuel 18: 5-16). Hoping to snare David, Saul arranges for his daughter Michal to marry David (1 Samuel 18:27). David is also known as an accomplished harp player (1 Samuel 18:10), and is accredited with writing many of the psalms.

David becomes an accomplished warrior, and captain of Saul’s army. His popularity enrages Saul, and David flees the court into the desert, where many men join his band. He comes to an agreement with one of the Philistine rulers, Achish of Gat, and stays in Ziglak for many years (David in wilderness and Ziglak 1 Samuel 19:1-30:31), only to return to Judah on the death of Saul and Jonathan during the battle with the Philistines at Mount Gilboa (1 Samuel 31).

David As King

David mourned the death of Saul and his sons (2 Samuel:11), moves to Hebron (2 Samuel 2:3), from where he rules for 7 years. After the death of Ish-boshet, Saul’s surviving son and ruler of Israel (2 Samuel 4:7), David is anointed king of Judah and Israel, the United Kingdom (2 Samuel 5:3).

He now conquers the Jebusite stronghold (2 Samuel 5:7), to become known as The City of David, Jerusalem. He establishes it as his capital and the center of worship by bringing the Ark of the Covenant into the city (2 Samuel 6:12). The Ark is placed on Mount Moriah, but David is not allowed by God to build a temple around it. This falls to his son, Solomon.

There are many stories about David as king, how he keeps defeating the Philistines and his relationship with friends and family. To recount them here would make long and tedious reading. But two stories are better known. The first is the story of his infatuation with Batsheba, the wife of Uriah the Hittite, how he disposes of Uriah, so he can marry Batsheba, who becomes the mother of Solomon (2 Samuel 11:1-27).

The other story is about his son, Absalom, who rebels against his father (2 Samuel 15:1—)  and his death (2 Samuel 18:14). The cause of the rebellion is partly the rape of Tamar, Absalom’s full sister, by her brother or rather half-brother Amnon (2 Samuel 13:1-14).

The End

Before his death David finally made order in his inheritance, and had Solomon annointed king (1 Kings 1:39). He dies soon hereafter (1 Kings 2:10), after having ruled his kingdom and people for 40 years.

His legacy is not only in creating the United Kingdom and making Jerusalem the religious center of Jewish worship. It goes much deeper. For Jews in later generations he becomes the ultimate symbol of unity and belonging to the Land. In later generations he came to be seen as a model for the mashiah (Hebrew for messiah). This is still true to some degree for certain parts of Jews today.

*BCE – Before Common Era; CE – Common Era.