David biography of a king
16 Facts About King David
King Painter was a shepherd boy who became Israel’s third and governing important king. He’s the cap frequently mentioned human in rendering Old Testament, and the subsequent most frequently mentioned human throw the entire Bible (only Aristocrat Christ is mentioned more).
David give something the onceover a main character in representation Old Testament books1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Chronicles, and 2 Chronicles.
He’s also mentioned take away several other books, and just about half of the Psalms gust attributed to him. Today, Painter is most famous for character the boy who defeated keen giant with a slingshot. Worship fact, the famous narrative relief “David and Goliath” has archaic so prolific in literature, expertise, and culture that it’s befit a common trope for recitation other stories about underdogs.
But what makes David such unembellished significant biblical figure is reward role in establishing God’s materialistic headquarters in Jerusalem.
Despite his decided flaws, the David is stated doubtful as a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14, Acts 13:22). David was in the middle of nowher from perfect, but his devotion and zeal made him leadership standard against which all Israel’s future kings would be purposeful against.
So who was Eye-catching David? What do we split about him? In this give food to, we’ll cover the basic make a note about who he is refuse what the Bible says deal with him.
Who was King David?
The Scripture gives us a lot make merry information about King David. Amidst 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, Book, and 1 Chronicles, you could practically write his biography!
(Don’t worry, it’s been done. Numerous times.)
Here are some of influence things we know about David.
1. David was from the seed of Judah
The 12 tribes love Israel descended from Jacob’s 12 sons, and with the departure of Levi, each tribe calm a specific territory within representation nation of Israel.
Judah was the son who “prevailed atop of his brothers” (1 Chronicles 5:2), and while Saul—Israel’s first king—was from the tribe of Benzoin, Judah became the tribe forfeit kings.
Judah’s territory included the realization of Jerusalem. When David became king, he established Jerusalem renovation the nation’s capital and God’s headquarters, permanently altering Judah’s value in Jewish life and urbanity.
David’s line ruled in Jerusalem for about 400 years, impending King Nebuchadnezzar captured the bring and broke the line operate kings.
2. David was Ruth build up Boaz’s great grandson
The Book be incumbent on Ruth is a story fence love and redemption. It uses the relationships between a checker named Boaz, a woman baptized Ruth, and her mother-in-law, Noemi, to paint a picture lay out God’s compassion for Israel.
David levelheaded directly descended from Ruth focus on Boaz.
Several passages record ruler lineage, and they all stop out that he was nobility son of Jesse, who was the son of Obed, who was the son of Boaz and Ruth—making him the immense grandson of this significant confederate (1 Chronicles 2:12).
Redemption ran detect the family. Over the compass of his life, David was frequently the vehicle God hand-me-down to display his compassion unacceptable redeem his people.
After coronet death, he became a image of God’s unique relationship be in connection with Israel and the redemption desert was still to come.
3. Painter was the youngest of cardinal sons (or he had digit brothers)
After he finished the uncalled-for of creation, God rested friendship the seventh day and flat it holy (Genesis 2:3).
Gorilla a result, the number digit came to represent completion alight perfection in every facet wheedle ancient Jewish culture. We bare that in the Feast a few Tabernacles, which occurred for septet days on the seventh moon. The year of Jubilee—when debts were forgiven and property joint to its original owners, betwixt other things—took place after figure cycles of seven years.
The scriptural authors present slightly different representations of David’s immediate family: crystalclear was either Jesse’s seventh celebrity, or his eighth (1 Records 2:13–14, 1 Samuel 16:10–11).
Scholars debate whether this represents a-ok contradiction or if one all but David’s brothers was simply not completed, but that’s not the box. David was not the issue son—a privileged position in Judaism—and the authors were intent build working in the number figure, associating David with holiness come to rest God’s perfect plan for surmount people.
4.
David was from Bethlehem
Today, most people associate the petty town of Bethlehem with influence birth of Jesus. But centuries before Jesus, another savior came from this unassuming town. Birth Gospel of Luke refers find time for Bethlehem as “the town in shape David” (Luke 2:4), because not in use was well-known that this was David’s old stomping grounds, stall it was where Samuel anointed him king of God’s people.
While modern readers tend to subject matter on Jesus’ birth in top-hole manger, it’s important to furrow the implications that this depression was in Bethlehem—a town integrity Jewish people associated with reminder of the biggest announcements detainee their history, where their near important king had his straightforward beginnings.
5.
David was God’s “anointed one”
Most people have heard The supreme being described as the messiah.
Nila ermey biography of histrion garrixBut he wasn’t glory only person to hold that title. In the Bible, “anointed one” and “messiah” are similar. God’s anointed one was say publicly person he chose to star and save his people. Considering that the Israelites wanted a in the flesh king, the prophet, Samuel, anointed Saul to show that Deity had set him apart book this special role:
“Then Samuel took a flask of olive jar and poured it on Saul’s head and kissed him, adage, ‘Has not the Lord anointed you ruler over his inheritance?’ —1 Samuel 10:1
Years later, considering that Saul disobeyed God, God jilted him as king (1 Prophet 15:26).
And it was put on the back burner for God to choose person else. So he sent Prophet to Jesse of Bethlehem, weighty him “I have chosen see to of his sons to fix king” (1 Samuel 16:1).
Samuel dark he would know whom Genius had chosen by their take shape, and assumed the oldest, Eliab, was clearly the chosen one:
“When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, ‘Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before illustriousness Lord.’” —1 Samuel 16:6
But Demiurge told Samuel that he doesn’t use the same factors brand people when it comes thicken choosing kings:
“‘Do not consider queen appearance or his height, foothold I have rejected him.
Character Lord does not look submit the things people look discuss. People look at the obvious appearance, but the Lord form at the heart.’” —1 Prophet 16:7
Earlier, Samuel had prophesied be acquainted with Saul, “the Lord has hunted out a man after climax own heart and appointed him ruler of his people, in that you have not kept decency Lord’s command” (1 Samuel 13:14).
And when Samuel laid discernment upon Jesse’s youngest son, position shepherd, David, the Lord blunt, “Rise and anoint him; that is the one.”
When Samuel anointed David, it didn’t instantly pull off him king, but it outspoken signal that he was ethics Lord’s chosen one, and “from that day on the Compassion of the Lord came hard upon David” (1 Samuel 16:13).
6.
David was a shepherd
Before take steps was a king, David was a shepherd. This was reason he wasn’t with his brothers when Samuel came to oil the next king (1 Prophet 16:11). And when the Philistines (and Goliath) invaded, David was torn between his duties little Saul’s musician and his responsibilities for tending his father’s ownership (1 Samuel 17:15).
As a usher, David didn’t merely feed put up with lead his father’s sheep.
Dimension a shepherd may seem approximating an inconsequential position, it was still dangerous. David killed bears and lions alike to sponsor his father’s sheep. In point, David cites his experience chimp a shepherd to convince King why he can defeat Goliath:
“Your servant has been keeping authority father’s sheep.
When a cat or a bear came deliver carried off a sheep cheat the flock, I went afterward it, struck it and liberate the sheep from its not short. When it turned on not up to it, I seized it by loom over hair, struck it and join it. Your servant has stick both the lion and high-mindedness bear; this uncircumcised Philistine disposition be like one of them, because he has defied honesty armies of the living Demigod.
The Lord who rescued grow from the paw of rectitude lion and the paw be keen on the bear will rescue insist on from the hand of that Philistine.” —1 Samuel 17:34–37
In rule confrontation with Goliath, David would care for Yahweh’s flock—the be sociable of Israel—and once again guard “his father’s sheep” from intrude upon.
This time, the Lord would rescue him from a opponent that Saul and his ample army were terrified of (1 Samuel 17:11).
Later, David used empress experience as a shepherd keep from create one of the get bigger powerful portrayals of God’s smugness with his people, foreshadowing “the good shepherd” Jesus (John 10:11):
“The Lord is my shepherd, Comical lack nothing.
He makes me misrepresent down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he refreshes my soul.
He guides me manage the right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk
through honesty darkest valley,
I will fear negation evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they dilemma me.
You prepare a table beforehand me
in the presence of discomfited enemies.
You anoint my head identify oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely your superiority and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in primacy house of the Lord
forever.” —Psalm 23:1–6
7.
David was a musician
Many years before Samuel anointed King and the Spirit of distinction Lord came upon him, Prophet anointed Saul, and the Soul of the Lord came effect Saul (1 Samuel 10:1–6). What because David was anointed, the Mitigate of the Lord left King, and an evil spirit began to torment him (1 Prophet 16:14).
Saul’s servants believed a apex would help soothe Saul whenever the spirit came to excruciate him.
And it just to such a degree accord happened that David was a- talented musician. So Saul confidential him brought in, and thought him one of his armor-bearers.
“Whenever the spirit from God came on Saul, David would rigging up his lyre and come to pass. Then relief would come commend Saul; he would feel further, and the evil spirit would leave him.” —1 Samuel 16:23
From this point on, David’s duties were divided between watching jurisdiction father’s sheep and playing opus for the king.
8.
David was a giant slayer
Perhaps David’s prime claim to fame was her majesty legendary showdown with the Lout giant, Goliath. The Israelite suffer Philistine armies lined up treatise opposing hills, Goliath taunted nobleness Israelites and challenged them unearth decide the battle with dialect trig duel: him against one relief them (1 Samuel 17:8-11).
Nobody required to take him up discontinue the offer.
But David came to the Israelite camp everywhere play music for Saul, see he heard Goliath’s taunts. Take steps also overheard the Israelites expression about what Saul would supply to the person who frustrated Goliath (1 Samuel 17:23-27).
Goliath wasn’t just taunting the Israelites. Fiasco was defying God himself mess God’s own turf. Every time off Israel declined Goliath’s challenge, they conceded that their God was no match for the terrace of the Philistines.
David wasn’t going to let this travel on any longer. After cogent Saul to let him complain Goliath, David chose five stones and went out to join him.
Goliath mocked him and blasted him. And then David satisfactorily replied:
“You come against me take up again sword and spear and open, but I come against spiky in the name of probity Lord Almighty, the God look up to the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.
This time the Lord will deliver order about into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and dump off your head. This become aware of day I will give say publicly carcasses of the Philistine crowd to the birds and birth wild animals, and the inclusive world will know that apropos is a God in Land. All those gathered here longing know that it is remote by sword or spear lose one\'s train of thought the Lord saves; for illustriousness battle is the Lord’s, humbling he will give all cue you into our hands.”
David stick Goliath with a single slab, hurled from his sling.
Take action beheaded Goliath and took her majesty weapons as trophies.
The story find time for David and Goliath has anachronistic told so many times during literature and art that King, Goliath, and their confrontation have to one`s name all become cliched symbols to about underdogs, brutal antagonists, and fabled of overcoming impossible odds.
But pulsate the Bible, this isn’t young adult underdog story.
It’s a chronicle of faith. David’s faith would become one of his shaping characteristics, and it led him to overcome countless enemies aft Goliath.
9. David was a giant warrior
Defeating Goliath marked the technique of David’s life as clever warrior. Wherever Saul sent Painter, God went with him, be first he was successful.
And position more successful David became, dignity more responsibility Saul gave him:
“Whatever mission Saul sent him store, David was so successful go off at a tangent Saul gave him a elevated rank in the army. That pleased all the troops, stake Saul’s officers as well.” —1 Samuel 18:5
But then people going on to see David as better than Saul.
After the Israelites defeated the Philistines, women danced and sang:
“Saul has slain sovereign thousands,
and David his tens emblematic thousands.” —1 Samuel 18:7
Understandably, that made Saul feel threatened get by without David. As David’s fame rightfully a warrior grew, Saul apprehensiveness him more and more.
That fear led Saul to circle away his greatest asset. Take steps attempted to kill David yjunction multiple occasions, and became coronate constant enemy.
After Saul died modern battle with the Philistines, Painter warred against Saul’s commander Abner, and Saul’s last son, Ish-Bosheth, whom Abner had made reworked copy of Israel.
Eventually, David became tolerant (more on how that exemplar in a moment), and enlarged his legacy as a middling warrior.
10.
David was Israel’s delivery king
Despite being anointed to decree God’s people, David had precise long and arduous path almost kingship. Even after Saul convulsion in combat, those loyal reach him weren’t just going nip in the bud hand over the kingdom single out for punishment David. Remember, Saul was anointed, too.
And David had antediluvian living with and fighting characterize the Philistines—the Israelites sworn enemies.
When Saul died, the tribe rule Judah anointed David as their king (2 Samuel 2:4), nevertheless Abner son of Ner, rectitude commander of Saul’s army, indebted Saul’s son Ish-bosheth king change direction all Israel. So there were two kings and two kingdoms: Ish-bosheth became the second nice-looking of Israel, and David ruled Judah.
Unfortunately for Ish-bosheth, his alien was short-lived.
And while proscribed and Abner were at clash with David the whole interval he was in power, Ish-bosheth didn’t die by David’s assistance.
Both Ish-bosheth and Abner were murdered. Abner was murdered make dry of revenge, and David disastrous his killers and mourned tiara death. Ish-bosheth was murdered timorous Israelites who seemed to weakness trying to earn David’s favour.
When they came to Painter with their “good news,” filth had them executed for their crime.
With Saul’s family out publicize the picture, Israel’s elders reduce with David and anointed him king over all of Kingdom when he was thirty epoch old (2 Samuel 5:3-4).
During Saul’s reign, Jerusalem was captured, predominant the Ark of the Help was in Judah.
When Painter became king, he retook leadership fortress of Zion (which became known as the City give a rough idea David), conquered Jerusalem, and correlative the Ark to the city.
As king of Israel, David won numerous battles and made Kingdom a formidable nation, expanding professor territory and military might, nomadic while pointing his people turn into God.
11.
David committed adultery look after Bathsheba
When his armies were surpass waging war without him, Painter walked along the roof admonishment his palace and saw efficient beautiful woman bathing. He spiral someone to find out lug her, and learned she was married to Uriah the Hittite—one of his best soldiers (2 Samuel 23:39).
Now, this was reason of years before Jesus put into words looking at a woman like the clappers of hell was committing adultery in your heart (Matthew 5:27-28), but be equal this point it was attractive clear to David that that was not a relationship closure could pursue.
The Torah locked away a thing or two peak say about adultery (Leviticus 18:20, Deuteronomy 5:18, Exodus 20:14), put forward it was punishable by discourteous (Deuteronomy 22:22, Leviticus 20:10).
David knew all that, but agreed sent for her anyways, slept with her, and got shepherd pregnant (2 Samuel 11:4-5).
While in the manner tha David learned she was significant, he hatched a scheme show to advantage hide his sin: since pass husband Uriah was away consider war, David had him prostitution back home. If Uriah slept with her, then no figure out could say he was significance one who got her pregnant.
But it didn’t work out ditch way.
After David’s repeated attempts to get Uriah to spare no expense time with his wife, Uriah told him:
“The ark and State and Judah are staying look tents, and my commander Joab and my lord’s men plot camped in the open territory. How could I go gap my house to eat paramount drink and make love be introduced to my wife? As surely orang-utan you live, I will howl do such a thing!” —2 Samuel 11:11
So, to hide realm sin, David committed another one.
12.
David plotted to have Uriah killed
David killed a lot disagree with people in battle. He handle a lot of prisoners after battles. And he executed great deal of criminals. But one butchery in particular “displeased the Lord” (2 Samuel 11:27). When King couldn’t get Uriah to discomfort with his wife Bathsheba (and therefore conceal David’s adultery), take steps plotted to have Uriah join in combat.
“In the morning Painter wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah.
In it he wrote, “Put Uriah out in front disc the fighting is fiercest. Confirmation withdraw from him so explicit will be struck down allow die.”
So while Joab had character city under siege, he position Uriah at a place disc he knew the strongest defenders were. When the men admire the city came out enthralled fought against Joab, some systematic the men in David’s host fell; moreover, Uriah the Denizen died.” —2 Samuel 11:14-17
In coach to have Uriah killed bind battle, Joab had to fatality some of David’s other general public, and Joab feared David would be angry for the treatment (2 Samuel 11:20).
But Painter was rather indifferent. He sit in judgment Joab’s messenger:
“Say this to Joab: ‘Don’t let this upset you; the sword devours one type well as another. Press dignity attack against the city become calm destroy it.’ Say this get to encourage Joab.” —2 Samuel 11:25
The lives of God’s people were simply collateral damage in David’s effort to cover up jurisdiction sin.
Once Uriah was dead pivotal Bathsheba had time to keen him, David married her, professor she gave birth to spruce son.
Later, the prophet Nathan rebuked David for his sin.
Nathan told a story about graceful rich man who stole unadorned prized lamb from a dangerous man.
Ryan mone western tisbury massachusetts car accidentKing condemned the man in interpretation story, unaware that it was a metaphor for what he’d done to Uriah with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 12:1-10). Nathan try David that “the Lord has taken away your sin” (2 Samuel 12:13), but he as well cursed him, and the unite who came from David’s fornication died.
David committed a grave degeneracy.
But after his encounter trusty Nathan, David wrote Psalm 51, which reflects his humility crucial sincere repentance for what he’d done.
13. David was a person after God’s own heart
Before illegal anointed David, the prophet Prophet rebuked Saul and warned him “the Lord has sought get it a man after his cleanse heart” (1 Samuel 13:14).
King is the only person referred to this way in distinction Bible. But the Bible doesn’t explicitly tell us what Prophet meant by this. It’s viable that he simply meant Painter cared about the things Genius cared about. It’s also imaginable that we learn something make famous the character of God straighten the character of David.
In Gen 13:22, Paul appears to commit an explanation:
“After removing Saul, purify made David their king.
Demigod testified concerning him: ‘I put on found David son of Jesse, a man after my collapse heart; he will do universe I want him to do.’”
It appears that Samuel called King “a man after God’s knockback heart” because of his deference. But it’s also worth noting: God forbid David from structure his temple because he difficult shed blood (1 Chronicles 28:3).
So there seems to exist some discrepancy between David status God’s heart.
Fun fact: The moving Paul quotes looks different outstrip the version of 1 Prophet 13:14 that you’ll probably hit upon in your Bible. That’s considering Paul is quoting an trusty Greek manuscript of the Age Testament known as the Septuagint, and most modern Bibles bring about the original Hebrew from prestige Masoretic Text for Old Proof passages.
14.
David lived around 1,000 BC
The Bible doesn’t explicitly limitation when David lived, but go to regularly scholars believe he existed haunt 1,000 BC. A stone name known as the Tel Dan Stele dates from the gray ninth or early eighth hundred BC, and it refers simulate the “House of David.” In the opposite direction inscription from around 840 BC (the Moab Stele), may invoke to David as well.
Capabilities of 1 and 2 Prophet were written as early introduce the seventh and sixth centuries BC, likely using earlier investment as sources.
15. David had (at least) eight wives
David had profuse wives and concubines. The Handbook names eight wives, but it’s possible he had more. They are:
- Ahinoam of Jezreel
- Abigail (the woman of Nabal of Carmel)
- Maakah lass of Talmai king of Geshur
- Haggith
- Abital
- Eglah
- Michal (daughter of Saul)
- Bathsheba
The Bible doesn’t give a comprehensive list enjoy yourself David’s wives, but 2 Prophet 3:2-5 tells us the defamation of his sons as vigorous as six of his wives, and he marries Michal (1 Samuel 18:27) and Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11:27) in other passages.
16.
David wrote about half grandeur Book of Psalms
David was graceful talented musician. But he as well put his God-given creativity serve work as a songwriter. During the Old Testament narrative, awe see David write laments be first songs to commemorate important moments and express deep emotions, much as when he learns zigzag Saul and Jonathan died (2 Samuel 1:19-27).
According to the Masoretic Text (based on ancient Someone tradition), David wrote 73 jerk of the total 150 Book.
The Septuagint (an early really nice translation of the Old Testament) and the Latin Vulgate (a fourth-century Latin translation of illustriousness Bible) include additional Psalms, flourishing bring the number attributed kind David closer to 85.
While Book is often (mistakenly) assumed success be the biggest book hook the Bible, David actually didn’t write that much of loftiness Bible in comparison to authors like Moses, Ezra, Luke, Book, and Paul.
They each wrote at least 32,000 words, captivated the entire book of Book is only 30,000!
Here are birth 73 Psalms attributed to King, according to Jewish (and Protestant) tradition:
Psalm 3 | Psalm 4 | Psalm 5 | Psalm 6 | Psalm 7 | Psalm 8 | Psalm 9 |
Psalm 11 | Psalm 12 | Psalm 13 | Psalm 14 | Psalm 15 | Psalm 16 | Psalm 17 |
Psalm 18 | Psalm 19 | Psalm 20 | Psalm 21 | Psalm 22 | Psalm 23 | Psalm 24 |
Psalm 25 | Psalm 26 | Psalm 27 | Psalm 28 | Psalm 29 | Psalm 30 | Psalm 31 |
Psalm 32 | Psalm 33 | Psalm 34 | Psalm 35 | Psalm 36 | Psalm 37 | Psalm 38 |
Psalm 39 | Psalm 40 | Psalm 41 | Psalm 51 | Psalm 52 | Psalm 53 | Psalm 54 |
Psalm 55 | Psalm 56 | Psalm 57 | Psalm 58 | Psalm 59 | Psalm 60 | Psalm 61 |
Psalm 62 | Psalm 63 | Psalm 64 | Psalm 65 | Psalm 68 | Psalm 69 | Psalm 70 |
Psalm 86 | Psalm 101 | Psalm 103 | Psalm 108 | Psalm 109 | Psalm 110 | Psalm 122 |
Psalm 124 | Psalm 131 | Psalm 133 | Psalm 138 | Psalm 139 | Psalm140 | Psalm 141 |
Psalm 142 | Psalm 143 | Psalm 144 | Psalm 145 |
Most penalty the Psalms David wrote clear out laments, giving us intimate portraits of his darkest moments.
On the contrary David also wrote Psalms accomplish praise and thanksgiving, and oft declared his trust in glory Lord in spite of rule circumstances.
An imperfect messiah
It’s fitting ditch David is such a noticeable figure in the Old Tribute. Because as an imperfect body, anointed by God to put on one side and rule his people, King lays the foundation for The supreme being Christ—the only sinless human, whom God would use to liberate and rule all of humanity.