Who is King David?
King David (r. perhaps 1000-970 B.C.) is a Biblical figure remembered for his youthful victory against the Philistine giant Goliath whom he felled with a slingshot and for writing the 23rd Psalm. From the tribe of Judah and a family that had included judges, King David was the son of the scholar Jesse, but he grew up as a shepherd. King David was one of the kings of the Israelites during the period known as the United Monarchy. King David ruled first Judah and then Israel, following the death of Saul. King David established his capital in Jerusalem.Before Saul died and King David took the throne, David loved Saul's son Jonathan. The feeling was mutual, but whether the love was fraternal or sexual is up to interpretation. Jonathan and his father died in the battle against the Philistines. Before Saul died and while there was rivalry between Saul and David, David married Saul's daughter Michal.
After causing the death of Bathsheba's husband, Uriah, King David married her. Their son Solomon (perhaps 968-928) was the last king of the United Monarchy.
Biblical sources on King David: Books of Samuel, 1st Kings, Psalms, and Chronicles.
Main source: David M. Gunn "David" The Oxford Guide to People and Places of the Bible. Ed. Bruce M. Metzger and Michael D. Coogan. Oxford University Press, 2001.
Ezekiel 37:24-28
“‘My servant David will be king over them, and they will all have one shepherd. They will follow my laws and be careful to keep my decrees. They will live in the land I gave to my servant Jacob, the land where your ancestors lived. They and their children and their children’s children will live there forever, and David my servant will be their prince forever. I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant. I will establish them and increase their numbers, and I will put my sanctuary among them forever. My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people. Then the nations will know that I the Lord make Israel holy, when my sanctuary is among them forever. ’”
Hosea 3:4-5
For the Israelites will live many days without king or prince,without sacrifice or sacred stones, without ephod or household gods. Afterward the Israelites will return and seek the Lord their God and David their king. They will come trembling to the Lord and to his blessings in the last days.
Jeremiah 30:9
Instead, they will serve the Lord their God
and David their king,
whom I will raise up for them.
After causing the death of Bathsheba's husband, Uriah, King David married her. Their son Solomon (perhaps 968-928) was the last king of the United Monarchy.
Biblical sources on King David: Books of Samuel, 1st Kings, Psalms, and Chronicles.
Main source: David M. Gunn "David" The Oxford Guide to People and Places of the Bible. Ed. Bruce M. Metzger and Michael D. Coogan. Oxford University Press, 2001.
Ezekiel 37:24-28
“‘My servant David will be king over them, and they will all have one shepherd. They will follow my laws and be careful to keep my decrees. They will live in the land I gave to my servant Jacob, the land where your ancestors lived. They and their children and their children’s children will live there forever, and David my servant will be their prince forever. I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant. I will establish them and increase their numbers, and I will put my sanctuary among them forever. My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people. Then the nations will know that I the Lord make Israel holy, when my sanctuary is among them forever. ’”
Hosea 3:4-5
For the Israelites will live many days without king or prince,without sacrifice or sacred stones, without ephod or household gods. Afterward the Israelites will return and seek the Lord their God and David their king. They will come trembling to the Lord and to his blessings in the last days.
Jeremiah 30:9
Instead, they will serve the Lord their God
and David their king,
whom I will raise up for them.