A Summary of David's Life

A Summary of David’s Life

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David, king of Judah and Israel, is one of the most significant people in the entire Bible. His reign shaped the entire nation of Israel, and Jesus himself is known as the ‘Son of David.’ His story occupies the majority of the books of 1 and 2 Samuel in the Old Testament.

Early Life

David was born (c. 1040 BC) into an obscure family in the town of Bethlehem, in the Hebrew tribe of Judah. He was the great-grandson of Ruth, and the youngest of eight sons of Jesse. As a child, David’s father appointed him to keep the family sheep; during this time, David evidently developed great skill in music and fighting, since it was his custom to kill any lion or bear that disturbed the flock.

The shepherd years were interrupted suddenly when Samuel, the great judge and prophet of Israel, showed up in Bethlehem to offer a sacrifice. Samuel reviewed Jesse’s sons and then called for David, who was anointed as a future king of Israel in the presence of his family.

Interaction with Saul

Saul, king of Israel at that time, was rejected by God because of his disobedience. Saul began to experience spiritual oppression, and his court followers recommended a musician. David entered the court to play music for the tormented king, and quickly became the king’s armor-bearer.

David evidently alternated between life at court and life with the sheep. Eventually he ended up near the battlefield between the Israelites and the Philistines. When he heard a Philistine warrior, Goliath, insult the God of Israel, David determined to do something. He killed the giant, cut off his head, and was quickly hailed as a hero by the nation.

David’s popularity did not sit well with Saul. Even though Saul appointed him as a commander of the army, the king became jealous and eventually tried to murder David with his javelin. Saul’s son Jonathan, however, befriended David, and David married Saul’s daughter Michal as the king continued to make plots on his life. Even as he continued to wage successful war against the Philistines, David’s life was rescued by both Jonathan and Michal.

Finally, David fled the court, heading first to Nob and then southwest to the land of the Philistines. He visited the kingdom of Moab in the southeast, leaving his parents in the protection of that king, and then dwelt in the arid southern deserts of Judah. More than once Saul pursued him with armed men, but David continued to escape, even sparing Saul’s life when he had the opportunity to kill him.

David cultivated a friendship with Achish, the Philistine king of Gath. Achish made him the ruler of the city of Ziklag, and from this base, David continued to make raids against the enemies of Israel. Eventually, the Philistines prepared to make war against Saul. While David was away from Ziklag, a group of Amalekite warriors destroyed the village and captured the possessions and family members of David and his own followers. David responded by pursuing them into the desert, defeating them, and bringing back all the spoils of war.

King of Judah

Even as David was fighting to recover Ziklag, Saul and the Israelites were defeated in a stunning loss at the Battle of Mount Gilboa. Both Saul and Jonathan were killed, and David mourned when he heard the news. The leaders of the southern Israelite tribe of Judah responded by anointing David as their king; he became king of Judah (c. 1010 BC) at the age of 30 and reigned for seven years and six months.

Yet it was not a time of peace. To the north, the remaining Israelite tribes select Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, as their king. A civil war broke out between the northern Kingdom of Israel and the southern Kingdom of Judah. This continued until two men, Rechab and Baanah, assassinated Ishbosheth on his bed. When they brought his head to David, expecting gifts, David accused them of murder and had them executed.

King of Israel: The Years of Stability

With Ishbosheth removed, the leaders of Israel gathered together and anointed David to be king over a united kingdom. David would reign for 33 years over the twelve tribes. He conquered the city of Jerusalem from the non-Hebrew Jebusites, renaming it as the City of David. He rebuilt this city (also known as ‘Zion’), and established a diplomatic relationship with Hiram, king of the city of Tyre in the north. David continued the war against the Philistines, and he brought the Ark of God into the City of David.

David wanted to do more – he intended to build a temple of God in Jerusalem. However, the prophet Nathan recounted God’s Word to David: that David should not build a temple. Instead, God would himself bless David, providing him with a descendant whose throne would remain forever. After this, David continued to enjoy triumphs over neighboring nations, including Moab, Syria, and Edom. When he found a grandson of Saul – Mephibosheth – he showed kindness to the man.

King of Israel: The Years of Sorrow

David’s greatest years came to a sudden end when he fell into a scandal. While his army was away, David was relaxing at the palace. He happened to look out over the city of Jerusalem and saw a beautiful woman (Bathsheba) bathing. He brought her into the palace and committed adultery with her. In an attempt to cover his sin, he eventually murdered her husband, one of his most trusted military leaders, and married the now-widowed Bathsheba.

Nathan the prophet reappeared, condemning David for his sin. Suddenly filled with remorse, David repented with grief, crying out to God for mercy. Meanwhile, his child with Bathsheba died. Later, David had another child with Bathsheba, a child whom he named Solomon – the next king of Israel.

Yet the consequences of David’s sin would continue throughout the rest of his reign. A military victory over the Ammonites was soon forgotten when his son Amnon committed incestual rape against his daughter Tamar. Tamar’s brother, Absalom, determined to take justice into his own hands, and he responded by killing Amnon. Later, Absalom revolted against his own father. David and his trusted followers fled the capital, while Absalom moved into the royal palace and the royal harem.

Civil war broke out in Israel, leading to the defeat and death of Absalom. David was grieved to lose a son, but the turmoil was not over; another conspirator, Sheba, later made war with David. Sheba also ended up dead.

A three-year famine then weakened the Israelite economy. After this, David made successful war against the Philistines, but he sinned against God again when he determined to take a military census of the Israelite nation – an action strictly forbidden by God. The divine judgment was an outbreak of disease, killing tens of thousands of Hebrews. David repented, and the outbreak subsided.

In his last years, David married Abishag, a beautiful young Hebrew maiden. Adonijah, another of his sons, then tried to seize the throne, but David – though decrepit from age – intervened, ending the conspiracy and selecting Solomon as his successor. After giving words of wisdom and advice to his son Solomon, David died (c. 970 BC) and was buried in Jerusalem, the City of David.

Legacy

Despite his flaws, David was known as ‘a man after God’s own heart,’ the most pious of all Hebrew kings, and the standard by which every other Judean king would be measured. The prophecy of a king whose throne would endure forever fueled Messianic hopes among the Jews – hopes which were finally fulfilled in the coming of Jesus, the physical descendant and promised ‘Son of David.’

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