David's life

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David

King David, German sculpture c.1460-70 ©

In this section, Dr R. W. L. Moberly from the University of Durham follows David's life and reign.

David was the first king in Jerusalem whose reign was later looked back on as a golden era. He is known both as a great fighter and as the "sweet singer of Israel", the source of poems and songs, some of which are collected in the book of Psalms.

The date of David's enthronement is approximately 1000 BC. The context of his life is a time of transition within the history of Israel. Because of the lawlessness of this period there was a growing desire to have a king. A king can give strong leadership and bring victory over enemies. But a king can also cream off his people's wealth and resources to promote his own power.

The scene is set when Saul, Israel's first king, is rejected by God for disobedience. God sends the prophet Samuel to the house of Jesse to anoint a successor at God's direction. When David his youngest son appears, God tells Samuel to anoint him.

David and Goliath, Osmar Schindler, 1888 ©

David's qualities "after the Lord's own heart" are perhaps best displayed in the famous contest with Goliath. The people of Israel are confronted by their enemies, the Philistines, and are terrified of their champion, Goliath. Goliath is huge and carries overwhelming military technology. He is the ancient equivalent of the Terminator and calls for a single combat to decide the battle.

David, still a shepherd, is bringing provisions for his brothers in the Israelite army. He is dismayed by Israel's fear of Goliath. King Saul hears of David's attitude and sends for him. When David offers to fight in single combat, Saul dismisses the idea as a joke. But, as a shepherd, David has learned to trust God in the face of terrifying opposition.

David stuns Goliath with a stone from his sling, and when Goliath falls to the ground David makes his triumph complete by cutting off Goliath's head with Goliath's own sword. This is the story of a young person who trusts God against all the odds, and to whom God gives success.

The Shepherd David, Elizabeth Jane Gardner ©

The next phase in David's life is far from straightforward. Saul takes David to court, and sends him out on military campaigns. Saul becomes envious of David and becomes suspicious that David might want to usurp him. This is not helped by the fact that Saul's son and heir, Jonathan, has become deeply attached to David, and Saul's daughter Michal loves him. Saul's suspicions quickly become paranoia, and David has to flee for his life and live rough.

After a while David decides that there is little point in constantly being on the run from Saul, and he moves to the territory of Israel's enemies, the Philistines. Here he agrees to serve as a mercenary, in return for a whole town for himself and his men to live in.

Then the Philistines go to war against Israel. David is expected to come with them and fight Israelites on their behalf, and is in no position to refuse. Yet some of the Philistine generals become suspicious of David; perhaps he might change sides in mid-battle. At their insistence David is dismissed from the Philistine army - providentially now he is spared from shedding Israelite blood. He is not there when the Philistines defeat Israel and Saul and Jonathan die.

King of Israel

David nobly and movingly laments Saul and Jonathan, leaves the Philistines, and returns to his home territory of Judah where he is made king.

Map of the locations in David's story

It seems that David has 'made it' - with as much success, prosperity, and peace (not to mention several wives and numerous children) as anyone in the ancient world could ever hope for. Yet at this point David becomes complacent. Living "after the Lord's own heart" ceases to be his priority and a terrible unraveling of his achievement sets in. The following chapters tell of David's household falling apart in the pattern of sex and murder that he himself has initiated.

David the great king finally appears as a rather pathetic old man, shivering uncontrollably in bed, while his court and family manoeuvre and jockey for position around the dying king. A power struggle between supporters of two of David's sons, half-brothers to each other, Adonijah and Solomon, ends with Solomon on the throne and some rather dismal settling of scores (1 Kings 1-2). The political wheelings and dealings have a hardy perennial feel to them.

The story of David in full is found in the books of 1 and 2 Samuel and 1 Kings 1-2.