General Notes

# Note: Founder of the Judean dynasty. Several accounts of his accomplishments occur in the Old Testament, chiefly in the books of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles.

# Event: Military ABT 1069 BC
# Note: Became known for his musical skill and for his courage, exemplified by his victorious encounter with the Philistine giant Goliath. As his reputation grew, he was summoned to the royal court, where he received an appointment as armor-bearer to King Saul. Achieved distinction in the wars against the Philistines. As a result of his growing popularity, however, he incurred the jealousy of the king, who banished him from the court. David spent the next period of his life in exile, at the head of a band of warriors, levying tribute on the landowners of Judah. After a period in the town of Adullam, near Jerusalem, and in the deserts of Judea, he entered the service of Achish, king of the Philistine city of Gath. As a reward for his help to Achish, he was made ruler of the town of Ziklag.
# Occupation: King of Israel BET 1048 BC AND 1015
# Note: Returned to his native country after King Saul, Jonathan, and two others of Saul's four sons died in battle with the Philistines. Becoming king of Judah at Hebron, he reigned for seven years, when he was anointed king of Israel. He subsequently defeated in rapid succession the Philistines, Moabites, Aramaeans, Edomites, and Ammonites, firmly establishing Israel as an independent national state and greatly extending its dominions. One of his principal conquests was that of the Jebusite stronghold of Zion, which he made the nucleus of his capital city, Jerusalem, often called the City of David. There he constructed his palace and installed, under a tabernacle, the Ark of the Covenant, making Jerusalem the religious and political center of the domains united in his person.