David

David. The son of Jesse, a Bethlehemite, second king of Israel (reigning from c. 1011 to 971 b.c.), and an ancestor of Christ. David's youth. David, the youngest son of Jesse (1 Sa 16:10—13 17:12—14), is described as a ruddy, handsome boy with beautiful eyes (ch 16:12, RSV). Like many other Palestinian boys, he was early placed in charge of the family's few sheep (ch 17:28). As shepherd boy he showed unusual bravery by killing a bear and a lion single—handed (vs 34—36). After Saul's rejection as king, God directed Samuel to anoint David king. This ceremony was carried out in secrecy (ch 16:1—13), and its true significance may not have been understood even by the members of David's family.

As Saul's courtier. Saul, plagued by fits of melancholy after the departure of God's Spirit from him, was counseled to seek relaxation in music. David, a skillful lyre player, was chosen to soothe Saul's troubled mind. Saul liked the boy and made him also an armor bearer and kept him at the court much of the time, though not continuously (1 Sa 16:14—23 1 Sa 17:15). This must have been of great educational value for the shepherd boy who was destined to become the future king of Israel. In a war with the Philistines about this time, the eldest three sons of Jesse followed Saul's call to arms and left for the battlefield, about 15 mi. (c. 24 km.) west of Bethlehem.

Here a Philistine champion, Goliath, challenged the Hebrews to appoint an opponent, but the challenge remained unanswered and for about 6 weeks the two hostile armies faced each other without being involved in actual fighting (1 Sa 17:1—16). At the end of this period David, who had been at home, was sent to take some provisions to his soldier brothers. Arriving in the Hebrew camp, he heard Goliath utter his challenging call. He was surprised that none of Saul's soldiers dared to fight the Philistine warrior and offered to do so himself (vs 17—27). His eldest brother considered David's offer an unwarranted insolence, but the king assented and allowed the youth to accept the Philistine's challenge.

David, laying aside the heavy armor that Saul offered him, went out to meet the Philistine giant with the equipment of a shepherd—a sling and a stick. Skillful in handling the sling, from a distance David shot a stone that struck Goliath on his unprotected forehead. He fell, stunned, and David ran and struck off the giant's head with Goliath's own sword. Having lost their champion, the Philistines lost heart and fled in panic. Saul no longer allowed David to leave him (1 Sa 18:2), but his attachment to the young man turned to jealousy and hatred when he saw that David was acclaimed as a greater hero than himself.

As a fugitive. With a few faithful followers David left the capital and hid from Saul who almost continually pursued David with the intent of killing him. Eventually, Saul and his sons were killed in a battle. Upon hearing the news of Israel's defeat, and of the death of Saul and Jonathan, he mourned their death in beautiful poetry (2 Sa 1).

As king of Judah. Abner, Saul's commander in chief, immediately placed Saul's son Ish—bosheth on the throne at Mahanaim, east of the Jordan, but the tribe of Judah seceded from Israel and crowned David king at Hebron (2 Sa 2:1—10). This division, with constant wars between the 2 factions, lasted for about 7 1/2 years, until first Abner and then Ishbosheth were assassinated. At this, the tribes left without a king invited David to assume the kingship over the whole nation (chs 2:11 3:6 to 5:5). David was now about 37 years of age and had several wives and sons (chs 5:4, 5 3:2—5).

As king over Israel and Judah. David's first act as king over all 12 tribes was to conquer Jerusalem from the Jebusites. He made that city the capital of the kingdom and called it the "city of David" (2 Sa 5:6—10). Since Jerusalem lay between Judah and the southernmost of the northern tribes, yet had belonged to neither, the choice of this stronghold as the nation's capital aroused no tribal jealousies. In several battles with the Philistines, David succeeded in defeating them so completely that they ceased to be a menace to Israel (2 Sa 5:17—25 8:1 21:15—22 1 Chr 14:8—17 18:1 20:4—8). He also waged war against the Moabites, the Aramaeans of Zobah and Damascus, the Ammonites, the Edomites, and the Amalekites (2 Sa 8 10 12:26—31). Victorious in every war, he was able to extend his territories into surrounding areas, and thus increased the nation's revenues and his personal fame.

Although David did not live a spotless life, and even loaded his soul with heavy guilt (see 1 Ki 15:5), he knew how to repent, and to accept the results of his transgressions without rebellion (2 Sa 12:13 16:10 Ps 51). He was an illustrious king, the founder of a Hebrew dynasty that lasted for about 425 years, a great religious leader, a true servant of God, and an ancestor of the Messiah, who was at once David's Son and Lord (Mt 22:41—45).