General Notes

David (king) (?-961 bc), king (1000-961 bc) of Judah and Israel, founder of the Judean dynasty. Several accounts of his accomplishments occur in the Old Testament, chiefly in the books of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles.

David was the youngest son of Jesse, a shepherd of Bethlehem, where he spent his youth tending his father's flocks. He 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 Saul, the first king of Israel. After achieving distinction in the wars against the Philistines, he married Michal, Saul's daughter, and won the friendship of Jonathan, Saul's son. 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.

David returned to his native country after 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, until about 993 bc, when he was anointed king of Israel. David 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.

During the siege of Rabbath (now Amman, Jordan), the Ammonite capital, David committed adultery with Bathsheba, wife of the soldier Uriah, for whose death he was indirectly responsible. This episode, generally considered the major sin of his life, was followed by recurring troubles with his children, one of whom, Absalom, was killed during a rebellion that he had organized against his father. The final years of David's reign were marked by additional family troubles, notably the dispute with his eldest surviving son, Adonijah, that developed after David had selected Solomon, his son by Bathsheba, as heir to the throne.

David was a valiant warrior and an outstanding leader. He displayed unfailing religious devotion and epitomized the courage and aspirations of his people, the prophets of whom came inevitably to regard him as the type of the promised Messiah. In both the Old Testament and New Testament, the Messiah is referred to as the Son of David. In tradition, he is credited with writing 73 of the Psalms; most scholars, however, consider this claim questionable.

related articles




Microsoft® Encarta® Encyclopedia 2003. © 1993-2002 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.