King David
The son of Jesse the Bethlehemite and the father of Solomon by Bathsheba. His siblings are Eliab, Abinadab, and Shammah. He was in the line of Christ through Joseph. (Matthew 1:5-6) A handsome, ruddy king with beautiful eyes who grew up tending sheep and playing the lyre.
He sometimes lies and runs away in fear but always repents with a contrite heart in praise. He is mighty yet spares his personal enemies, allowing the LORD to avenge him. He seeks the Lord's guidance before life decisions. He receives promotions, even to king of all Israel, yet remains humble (2 Samuel 7:18). He received the Davidic Covenant. (2 Samuel 7)
He kept His commandments and followed Him with all his heart, doing only that which was right in His eyes. (1 Kings 14:8)
- Tribe: Judah, Bethlehemite (1 Samuel 16:1)
- Reign: 40 years (Beginning at age 30, 7 in Hebron over Judah and 33 in Jerusalem over all Israel) (1 Kings 2:11)
- Burial: buried in the city of David (1 Kings 2:10)
- Predecessor: King Saul (he was his armor-bearer and highly ranked in the army)
- Successor: King Solomon, his son (His house temporarily lost the kingdom (1 Kings 14:8), but it will ultimately be eternally ruled by his root and descendant, Jesus (Revelation 22:16).)
- Father: Jesse (1 Chronicles 2:13-17)
- Mother: Nitzevet, the daughter of Adael (Jewish tradition, not Scripture)
- Brothers: Eliab; Abinadab; Shammah; Nethanel, Raddai, Ozem (1 Chronicles 2:13-17) (David was the seventh son)
- Sisters: Zeruiah, Abigail (1 Chronicles 2:13-17)
- Nephews: Zeruiah's sons: Abishai, Joab, Asahel; Abigail's son: Amasa (1 Chronicles 2:16-17)
- Nephew: Jonadab, the son of Shimeah (2 Samuel 13:3), Jonathan the son of Shimei (2 Samuel 21:21) (Unless Jonadab and Jonathan are the same person??)
- Wives: Michal, Ahinoam of Jezreel, Abigail of Carmel, Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur, Haggith, Abital, Eglah, Bathsheba
- Sons: Amnon of Ahinoam of Jezreel, Chileab of Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur, Adonijah the son of Haggith, Shephatiah the son of Abital, and Ithream of Eglah.
- Daughters: Tamar the daughter of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur
David's officials (2 Samuel 8:15-18; 2 Samuel 20:23-26)
- Commander over the Army - Joab the son of Zeruiah (2 Samuel 8:16) then Amasa (2 Samuel 19:13) then Joab again (2 Samuel 20:23)
- Recorder - Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud (2 Samuel 8:16; 2 Samuel 20:24)
- Priests - Zadok the son of Ahitub, Ahimelech the son of Abiathar (2 Samuel 8:17) then also David's sons (2 Samuel 8:18), then Zadok and Abiathar and Ira the Jairite (2 Samuel 20:25-26)
- Secretary - Seraiah (2 Samuel 8:17) then Sheva (2 Samuel 20:25)
- Over the Cherethites and Pelethites - Benaiah the son of Jehoiada (2 Samuel 8:18; 2 Samuel 20:23)
- Over forced labor - Adoram (2 Samuel 20:24)
David's Authorship
- David's Song of Deliverance
- The Lament of the Bow
David's Life
The LORD sent Samuel to anoint one of Jesse's sons for kingship. All his brothers passed while he tended sheep. Samuel sent for him, and the LORD directed him to be anointed. The LORD rushed upon David from that day forward. (1 Samuel 16:1-13)
- David in Saul's Court
- David the Refugee
- David the King of Judah
- David the King of Israel - Davidic Covenant
- David's Fall
Active prophets during his time
- David himself was a prophet. (2 Samuel 22-23:1-7)
- Samuel anointed him as a boy but died before he took the throne of Judah.
- Nathan (2 Samuel 7; 12:1-15)
- Gad (2 Samuel 24:18; 1 Chronicles 29:29)
Literary Form
David is one of the most complex heroes in all of literature, both in his roles and personal qualities. His story as a successful warrior and king is the Bible's closest parallel to the hero stories of ancient literature.
He writes psalms, which are technically lyric poems, and they can be further divided into laments/complaints and praise psalms. Additional subtypes are identified by content: nature poems, worship psalms (songs of Zion), penitential psalms, historical psalms, royal psalms, meditative psalms, encomium, and imprecatory psalms.
(The Origin of the Bible: Newly Updated by F. F. Bruce, J. I. Packer, Philip W. Comfort, and Carl F. H. Henry, 2020. The Bible as Literature by Leland Ryken, Page 113, 131-132, 140-141)