Story of King David in the Hebrew Bible
David, whose name means "beloved," was the eighth and youngest son of Jesse, a citizen of Bethlehem [3]. His life is typically divided into three main periods: his youth before joining King Saul's court, his interactions with Saul, and his reign as king [2].
David's early life as a shepherd in the uplands of Judah provided the backdrop for his later career [2, 3]. He is described as having red hair, beautiful eyes, and a fair face [3]. The biblical narrative introduces David when the prophet Samuel is sent to anoint a new king from Jesse's sons in Bethlehem [2, 11]. After Samuel passes over David's elder brothers, David, the youngest, is chosen and anointed [11].
David's relationship with Saul was complex. Saul was the first king of the Jewish nation, chosen under singular providential circumstances [8]. However, Saul grew melancholic, and David's story begins to intertwine with his [11].
David's reign as king spanned forty years [4, 5]. He ruled for seven years in Hebron and then for thirty-three years in Jerusalem [4, 5]. During his time in Hebron, he was initially king over Judah [13]. All the elders of Israel eventually came to Hebron and made a covenant with David, anointing him king over all Israel, as prophesied by Samuel [6, 14]. This period saw David engage in battles, including against the Philistines, and his reign was marked by divine blessing and prosperity [9]. The books of 1 and 2 Samuel, and 1 and 2 Kings, provide a continuous history of Israel from the time of Joshua to the death of Jehoiachin, with the books of Kings covering events from David's death onward [7].
The acts of King David, both early and late in his life, are recorded in historical accounts attributed to Samuel the seer, Nathan the prophet, and Gad the seer [1, 10]. These writings served as journals of his life and actions, from which the canonical scriptures were drawn [10]. David is also presented as a significant type of Christ in the Old Testament [11], and the Lord chose him as his son and king to protect his people [12].
Sources
- 1 Chronicles “Now the acts of David the king, first and last, behold, they are written in the history of Samuel the seer, and in the history of Nathan the prophet, and in the history of Gad the seer, -- 1 Chronicles 29:29”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: David — (well-beloved), the son of Jesse. His life may be divided into three portions: + His youth before his introduction to the court of Saul; + His relations with Saul; + His reign. + The early life of David contains in many important respects the antecedents of his future career. It appears that David was the youngest son, probably the youngest child, of a family of ten, and was born in Bethlehem B.C. 1085. The first time that David appears in history at once admits us to the whole family circle. The annual sacrificial feast is being held when Samuel appears, sent”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: David — Beloved, the eighth and youngest son of Jesse, a citizen of Bethlehem. His father seems to have been a man in humble life. His mother's name is not recorded. Some think she was the Nahash of 2 Sam. 17:25. As to his personal appearance, we only know that he was red-haired, with beautiful eyes and a fair face (1 Sam. 16:12; 17:42). His early occupation was that of tending his father's sheep on the uplands of Judah. From what we know of his after history, doubtless he frequently beguiled his time, when thus engaged, with his shepherd's flute, while he drank in t”
- I Kings “I Kings 2:11 (BBE) — David was king over Israel for forty years: for seven years he was king in Hebron and for thirty-three years in Jerusalem.”
- 1 Kings “The days that David reigned over Israel were forty years; he reigned seven years in Hebron, and he reigned thirty-three years in Jerusalem. -- 1 Kings 2:11”
- 1 Chronicles “So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and David made a covenant with them in Hebron before Yahweh; and they anointed David king over Israel, according to Yahweh’s word by Samuel. -- 1 Chronicles 11:3”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Kings, First And Second Books Of — originally only one book in the Hebrew canon, from in the LXX. and the Vulgate the third and fourth books of Kings (the books of Samuel being the first and second). It must be remembered that the division between the books of Kings and Samuel is equally artificial, and that in point of fact the historical books commencing with Judges and ending with 2Kings present the appearance of one work, giving a continuous history of Israel from the time of Joshua to the death of jehoiachin. The books of Kings contain the history from David's de”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Saul — Asked for. (1.) A king of Edom (Gen. 36:37, 38); called Shaul in 1 Chr. 1:48. (2.) The son of Kish (probably his only son, and a child of prayer, "asked for"), of the tribe of Benjamin, the first king of the Jewish nation. The singular providential circumstances connected with his election as king are recorded in 1 Sam. 8-10. His father's she-asses had strayed, and Saul was sent with a servant to seek for them. Leaving his home at Gibeah (10:5, "the hill of God," A.V.; lit., as in R.V. marg., "Gibeah of God"), Saul and his servant went toward the north-west ov”
- 2 Samuel (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 2 Samuel 5:17: 5:17-25 For the first time as king, David engaged the Philistines in battle. • David’s life has been portrayed thus far in 2 Samuel with a repeated pattern: He was crowned king in Hebron (2:4), won a battle (2:12-17), became stronger (3:1), and started a large family (3:2-5). Now he was crowned in Jerusalem (5:3), became stronger (5:10), expanded his family (5:13-14), and won a battle (5:17-25). This parallel structure draws attention to both of David’s coronations with signs of divine blessing and prosperity.”
- 1 Chronicles (Lutheran) “Keil & Delitzsch on 1 Chronicles 29:27: Now the acts of David the king, first and last,.... All that he did that was memorable, both before he was king, and when king in Hebron, and then in Jerusalem: behold, they are written in the book of Samuel the seer, and in the book of Nathan the prophet, and in the book of Gad the seer; which were journals of his life and actions, begun by Samuel, and carried on by Nathan and Gad; out of which what is recorded in canonical Scripture was taken by divine direction, and preserved, while other writings are lost; or rather the book of Samuel designs the f”
- 1 Samuel (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 1 Samuel 16 (introduction): At this chapter begins the story of David, one that makes as great a figure in the sacred story as almost any of the worthies of the Old Testament, one that both with his sword and with his pen served the honour of God and the interests of Israel as much as most ever did, and was as illustrious a type of Christ. Here I. Samuel is appointed and commissioned to anoint a king among the sons of Jesse at Bethlehem (Sa1 16:1-5). II. All his elder sons are passed by and David the youngest is pitched upon and anointed (Sa1 16:6-13). III. Saul growing melanc”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 89:19: 89:19-37 The Lord chose David as his son and as king of Israel (see 2:4-6; 2 Sam 7:8-16) to provide protection for his people.”
- 2 Samuel (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Samuel 2:11: And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah,.... And over them only: was seven years and six months; to which being added thirty three years he reigned over all Israel in Jerusalem, made forty years and six months; and which, for the roundness of the number, is usually called forty years. See Sa2 5:4.”
- 1 Chronicles (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Chronicles 11:1: 11:1-3 David first became king of Judah at Hebron and ruled there 7½ years (3:4; 2 Sam 5:5). The Chronicler omits the account of that period (see 2 Sam 2–4) and focuses on David’s reign over the entire nation for 33½ years, beginning with his covenant . . . with all the elders of Israel at Hebron (see 2 Sam 5:1-5).”