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David

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David was the leader of the Tribe of Judah and the first king of a united Kingdom of Israel.

Samuel e david
Samuel e david

Most of the information regarding his life comes from the Hebrew Bible and the Old Testament. His reign may have occurred around the 9th century BC. However, historians dispute the exact timeframe and the geographical boundaries of his kingdom. There is very little concrete and undisputed detail about his life. Scholars debate whether the biblical stories serve as a political defense of his dynasty. They also study if the texts are heroic tales similar to those found in Ancient Near East literature.

David SM Maggiore
David SM Maggiore

The biblical narrative in the Books of Samuel describes David as a young shepherd. He was also a skilled harpist whose heart was devoted to Yahweh, the one true God. David gained fame as a hero by killing the giant Goliath.

Osmar Schindler David und Goliath
Osmar Schindler David und Goliath

He initially became a favorite of King Saul, the first king of Israel. However, Saul eventually suspected David of plotting to take the throne. This suspicion forced David to go into hiding for a long time. He sought refuge in many locations, including the cave of Adullam and the Wilderness of Ziph.

Jusepe Leonardo 001
Jusepe Leonardo 001

During his time as a fugitive, David showed great restraint toward King Saul. In one instance, David entered a cave where Saul was resting. David had a clear opportunity to kill the king. Instead, he only secretly cut off a piece of Saul's robe. He later showed Saul the cloth to prove he held no malice. This act helped reconcile the two men.

After the deaths of Saul and his son Jonathan in battle, David was anointed king. He was first anointed by the tribe of Judah and later by all the tribes of Israel.

As king, David took several major steps to establish his rule. He conquered Jerusalem and made it the capital of the united nation. He also brought the Ark of the Covenant to the city. David expanded his influence through many military victories. He fought against the Philistines, Moabites, Edomites, and Ammonites. These groups eventually became tributaries to his kingdom.

Karnak Tempel 19
Karnak Tempel 19

David also used marriage to cement relations with different political and national groups. He had many wives, including Michal, the daughter of Saul, and Bathsheba. His family was large and complex, including many sons such as Absalom, Adonijah, and Solomon.

David's reign was marked by significant internal struggles and personal mistakes. The Bible records that David committed adultery with Bathsheba. He also arranged for the death of her husband, Uriah the Hittite. These actions led to family conflicts, such as Absalom's attempt to overthrow him. David also faced difficulty with his children, including the rape of his daughter Tamar by his son Amnon.

081.David Mourns the Death of Absalom
081.David Mourns the Death of Absalom

Despite these hardships, David is often honored as an ideal king in religious literature. He expressed great grief for his sons, weeping seven times for Absalom.

David had a deep desire to build a temple for Yahweh. However, the prophet Nathan denied this request. Nathan prophesied that David's son would be the one to build the temple. This denial was due to the bloodshed that occurred during David's reign.

Eugène Siberdt - The Prophet Nathan rebukes King David
Eugène Siberdt - The Prophet Nathan rebukes King David

Instead of building a temple, David focused on his role as a leader. He eventually chose his son Solomon to be his successor. Solomon was the son of David and Bathsheba. David died at the age of 70.

The legacy of David extends far beyond the ancient kingdom of Israel. In Jewish prophetic literature, he is the forefather of the future Hebrew Messiah. Many of the Psalms found in the Bible are attributed to him.

Psautier de Paris, MSS. gr. 139, fol. 1v
Psautier de Paris, MSS. gr. 139, fol. 1v

In the New Testament, the Gospels of Matthew and Luke describe Jesus as a direct descendant of David. The Quran also recognizes David as an Israelite king and a prophet of Allah. His life has inspired a vast amount of art and literature throughout history.

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🖼️ Images & Media (13)
File:Samuel e david.jpg
Samuel e david.jpg
File:Osmar Schindler David und Goliath.jpg
Osmar Schindler David und Goliath.jpg
File:Sweet stories of God; in the language of childhood and the beautiful delineations of sacred art (1899) (14751566596).jpg
Sweet stories of God; in the language of...
File:Jusepe Leonardo 001.jpeg
Jusepe Leonardo 001.jpeg
File:Eugène Siberdt - The Prophet Nathan rebukes King David.jpg
Eugène Siberdt - The Prophet Nathan...
File:Psautier de Paris, MSS. gr. 139, fol. 1v.jpg
Psautier de Paris, MSS. gr. 139, fol. 1v.jpg
File:Arms of Ireland (Variant 1) (Historical).svg
Arms of Ireland (Variant 1) (Historical).svg
File:Spencer Coll. Persian MS. 46 fol 113v Davud slingshot.jpg
Spencer Coll. Persian MS. 46 fol 113v...
File:David SM Maggiore.jpg
David SM Maggiore.jpg
File:JRSLM 300116 Tel Dan Stele 01.jpg
JRSLM 300116 Tel Dan Stele 01.jpg
File:Karnak Tempel 19.jpg
Karnak Tempel 19.jpg
File:081.David Mourns the Death of Absalom.jpg
081.David Mourns the Death of Absalom.jpg

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