I. Name and Genealogy.

David belonged to the tribe of Judah: his ancestor Nahshon was chieftain of the whole tribe (Numbers 1:7;2:3; 1 Chronicles 2:10) and brother-in-law of Aaron the high priest (Exodus 6:23). As no other descendants of Nahshon are mentioned, his authority probably descended to Jesse. This supposition is countenanced by the fact that Salma (Salmon), the name of the son of Nahshon and father of Boaz, is also the name of a grandson of Caleb who became "father" of Bethlehem, the home of Jesse (1 Chronicles 2:51).

II. Early Years.

The home of David, when he comes upon the stage of history, was the picturesque town of Bethlehem.

1. Shepherd:

There his family had been settled for generations, indeed ever since the Israelite nation had overrun the land of Canaan. His father was apparently not only the chief man of the place, but he seems to have been chieftain of the whole clan to which he belonged--the clan of Judah. Although the country round Bethlehem is more fertile than that in the neighborhood of Jerusalem, the inhabitants joined to the cultivation of the soil the breeding of cattle (Luke 2:8). David's father, not only cultivated his ancestral fields, but kept flocks of sheep and goats as well. The flocks were sent out every day to pasture in the neighboring valleys attended by the herdsmen. They were armed so as to defend themselves and their charge, not only against marauders from the surrounding deserts, but also from the lions and bears with which the country was then infested. David seems to have been in the habit of accompanying his father's servants in their task (1 Samuel 17:20,22), and on occasion would be left in full charge by himself. He had not only to keep a sharp lookout for thieves, but on more than one occasion had with no other weapon than his shepherd's club or staff to rescue a lamb from the clutches of a lion or a bear (1 Samuel 17:34). Such adventures, however, must have been rare, and David must often have watched eagerly the lengthening of the shadow that told of the approach of sunset, when he could drive his charge into the zariba for the night and return home. 

2. Slinger: 

In the East, every man is a soldier, and David's bent was in that direction. The tribesmen of Benjamin near whose border his home was situated were famed through all Israel as "slingers", some of whom could sling at a hair and not miss (Judges 20:16). Taught, perhaps, by one of these, but certainly by dint of constant practice, David acquired an accuracy of aim (1 Samuel 17:49).

3. Harpist:

Another of the pastimes in the pursuit of which David spent many an hour of his youthful days was music. The instrument that he used was the "harp" (Hebrew kinnor). David acquired such proficiency in playing it that his fame as a musician soon spread throughout the countryside (1 Samuel 16:18).

4. Poet:

To the accompaniment of his lyre, David no doubt sang words in that wailing eastern tone which seems to be an imitation of the bleating of flocks. The secular poetry of David which have come down to us are his elegies on Saul and Jonathan and on Abner (2 Samuel 1:19-27; 3:33,14), which show him to have been a real poet.

5. Psalmist:

David also composed sacred verses. He was "the sweet psalmist of Israel" (2 Samuel 23:1). It is in the later books and passages that sacred music and psalms are ascribed to him. Perhaps the earliest instance is the passage just cited containing the "last words" of David (2 Samuel 23:1-7). The Chronicler (about 300 BC) puts parts of Psalms 105; 96, and 106 into the mouth of David (1 Chronicles 16:7). And Nehemiah 12:36 regards him as the inventor of the instruments used in the Temple service (1 Chronicles 23:5), and as a player of sacred music. So too in the Septuagint Psalter (Psalms 150:2) we read, "My hands made an organ, my fingers fashioned a psaltery". The majority of the Psalms are ascribed to David as author. David composed sacred poems, and he used his musical gifts for the purposes of praising God.

III. In the Service of Saul.

The earliest events in the career of David are less clear.

1. David First Meets Saul:

This issue is due mainly to what appears to be a difficulty in 1 Samuel 16 and 17. In chapter 16, David is engaged to play before Saul in order to dispel his melancholy and becomes his squire or armor-bearer (16:21). In the following chapter, he is unknown to Saul, who, after the death of Goliath, asks Abner who he is, and Abner replies that he does not know (17:55). This apparent contradiction may be accounted for by the following considerations:

(a) 1 Samuel 16:14-23 may be inserted out of its chronological order for the sake of the contrast with the section immediately preceding--"the Spirit of Yahweh came mightily upon David from that day forward .... the Spirit of Yahweh departed from Saul" (16:13,14);

(b) The fact of David becoming Saul's squire does not imply constant personal attendance upon him; the text says David became an (not his) armor-bearer to Saul. The king would have many such squires: for example, Joab, though only commander-in-chief, had, it seems, eighteen (2 Samuel 23:37 reads "armor-bearers");

(c) David would not play before Saul every day: his presence might not be required for a space of weeks or months;

(d) Saul's failure to recognize David may have been a result of the `evil spirit from Yahweh' and Abner's denial of knowledge may have been feigned out of jealousy.

2. His First Exploit:

After Saul had disobeyed the Lord God's instructions in 1 Samuel 15 regarding the Amalekites, Samuel was sent to anoint a new king in 1 Samuel 16. After viewing seven of Jesse's sons, Samuel asked if there were any more since the Lord had not selected any of the seven. So Jesse sent for the youngest and David was anointed, and the Spirit of the Lord came upon him (1 Samuel 16:11-13). David then became attached to Saul as a minstrel (compare 2 Kings 3:15) and subsequently as one of his armor-bearers. It must have been after an interval of some months that an event happened which made it impossible for Saul ever again to forget the existence of David. This event was the famous duel between David and the Philistine Goliath, which saved the situation for Saul at the time (1 Samuel 17). The event gained for David a reputation as a great warrior, and from this time on David stayed with Saul instead of going back and forth to his father (1 Samuel 1:2). It also gained David the devoted friendship of Jonathan and the enmity of Saul (1 Samuel 18:1-9).

The next years of David's life were spent in the service of Saul in his wars with the Philistines. David's success where Saul had failed, however, instead of gratifying only inflamed the jealousy of the latter, and he determined to put David out of the way. More than once he attempted to do so with his own hand (1 Samuel 18:11; 19:10), but he also employed stratagem. It came to his ears that his daughter Michal, as well as his son Jonathan, loved David, and Saul undertook to give her to David on the condition of his killing one hundred Philistines.

3. Envy of Saul and Flight of David:

The gruesome dowry was paid, and David became Saul's son-in-law. The Hebrew text states that Saul first offered his elder daughter to David, and then failed to implement his promise (1 Samuel 18:17-19,21). David's relation to Saul did not mitigate the hatred of the latter; indeed his enmity became so bitter that David determined upon flight. With the help of stratagem on the part of Michal, this was effected and David went to Samuel at Ramah for counsel and advice (1 Samuel 19:18). There Saul pursued him, but when he came into the presence of the prophet, even he was overcome by the Spirit of God and prophesied (1 Samuel 19:24) as he had on a previous occasion (1 Samuel 10:11). David returned to Gibeah, while the coast was clear, to meet Jonathan, but Saul also returned immediately, his hatred more intense than before. David then continued his flight and came to Ahimelech, the priest at Nob (1 Samuel 21:1). Saul sought to make sure that David would not return by giving his daughter Michal to a man of the tribe of Benjamin as his wife (1 Samuel 25:44).

4. Jonathan and David:

The relation existing between Jonathan and David was one of pure friendship.  A hereditary monarchy did not yet exist in Israel. The only previous attempt to establish such an institution--that of Gideon's family (1 Samuel 8:22)--had ended in failure. Saul was indebted for his election to Samuel through God's appointment, just as Barak was to Deborah (Judges 4:6). Like the judges who preceded him he had been put forward to meet a definite crisis in the national affairs--the rise of the Philistine power (1 Samuel 9:16). Had he succeeded in crushing these invaders, the newly-established kingdom would in the absence of this bond of union have dissolved again into its elements, as had happened on every similar occasion before. He was the only judge who had failed to accomplish the task for which he was appointed, and he was the only one who had been appointed on the understanding that his son should succeed him, for this constitutes the distinction between king and judge. Moreover, not only was Saul aware that he had failed, but he saw before him the man who was ready to step into his place and succeed. His rival had, besides, the backing of the mass of the people, of Samuel, who was still virtual head of the state and last court of appeal, and of God. It is not to be wondered at that Saul was hostile to David. Jonathan, on the other hand, acquiesced to the turn things had taken and bowed to what he believed to be the inevitable (1 Samuel 23:17). David's position was perhaps the most difficult imaginable. He had to fight the battles of a king whose one idea was to bring about his ruin. He was the bosom friend of a prince whom he proposed to supplant in his inheritance. His hope of salvation lay in the death of his king, the father of his wife and of his best friend. The situation would in ordinary circumstances be intolerable, and it would have been impossible but for the fact that those concerned knew that this was God's will. Jonathan bore no grudge against David for aiming at the throne, because to the throne he was destined by the will of Yahweh. 

IV. David in Exile.

1. David as Outlaw:

From the moment of his flight, David became an outlaw and remained so until the death of Saul. Like other heroes, he carried a famous sword--the sword of Goliath (1 Samuel 21:9). Having obtained it of Ahimelech, he for the first time left Israelite territory and went to the Philistine city of Gath (1 Samuel 21:10). Not feeling safe there he left and took up his abode in the cave of Adullam (1 Samuel 22:1) in the country of Judah, almost within sight of his native Bethlehem. This cave was admirably suited to the outlaw's purpose and no doubt David had many a time explored its recesses when a boy. Here he was joined by his parents and brothers, with their servants, as well as by all sorts of persons who were at war with the government, debtors, fugitives from justice, and discontented persons. David thus became the chief of a band of outlaws who numbered about 400. Of such stuff some of his bravest soldiers were made (2 Samuel 23:13). He had a prophet, Gad, to direct his actions, and, after Saul killed the priests at Nob, a priest, Abiathar, carrying an ephod (1 Samuel 22:5; 23:6). During this period, he supported himself and his men by making raids on the Philistine outposts and asking the support of his own countrymen (1 Samuel 25:2) in return for giving them his protection. Hard pressed both by Saul and the Philistines (who had established themselves even in Bethlehem) he committed his parents to the keeping of the king of Moab, and began to travel through the country (1 Samuel 23:5,15,25,29). On two occasions David had Saul in his power, but refused to seize the opportunity of taking his life (1 Samuel 24-26). During his wandering, David's followers increased in numbers (compare 1 Samuel 22:2; 23:13; 25:13). His chief lieutenant was his nephew Abishai, the son of his sister Zeruiah, but his brothers, Joab and Asahel, do not seem to have joined David yet. Another of his nephews, Jonathan the son of Shimei (Shammah), is mentioned (2 Samuel 21:21; compare 1 Samuel 16:9) and many other men joined him during this period (1 Chronicles 11:10). That there was some stability in it is shown by his taking two wives at this time--Ahinoam and Abigail (1 Samuel 25:42,43).

2. David Joins the Philistines:

David now, abandoning all hope of ever conciliating the king (1 Samuel 27:1), made a move which shows at once his daring and consummate genius. He offered the services of himself and his little army of 600 men to the enemies of his country. The town of Gath appears to have been an asylum for fugitive Israelites (1 Kings 2:39). David's first impulse on his flight from Saul had been to seek safety there (1 Samuel 21:10-15). Then, however, he was the hero of Israel, whose assassination would be the highest gain to the Philistines. Now he was the embittered antagonist of Saul, and was welcomed accordingly. Achish placed at his disposal the fortified town of Ziklag in the territory of the now extinct tribe of Simeon, and there he and his followers, each of whom had his family with him, took up their quarters for sixteen months (1 Samuel 27:6,7). The advantages to David were many. He was safe at last from the persecution of Saul (1 Samuel 27:4); he could secure ample supplies by making raids upon the Amalekites and other tribes hostile to Israel toward the South (1 Samuel 27:8); and if the opportunity presented itself he could deal a serious blow at the Philistine arms. The position was no doubt a precarious one. It could last just as long as David could hoodwink Achish by persuading him that his raids were directed against his own tribe (1 Samuel 27:10). This he succeeded in doing so completely that Achish would have taken him with him on the campaign which ended in the decisive battle of Gilboa, but the other chiefs, fearing treachery, refused to allow him to do so. David was forced to return with his followers to Ziklag, only to find that town razed to the ground and all the women and children carried off by his old enemies the Amalekites (1 Samuel 30:1,2). By the time he had recovered the spoil and returned in triumph to Ziklag the battle of Gilboa had been fought and Saul was slain.

V. David as King.

1. Civil War:

David immediately removed from Ziklag and took up his quarters at Hebron, where he was at once anointed king over his own tribe of Judah. Thus began the cleavage between Judah and Israel. Here he was joined, apparently for the first time, by his nephew Joab. Abner, however, loyal to his former master, had Esh-baal (1 Chronicles 8:33), son of Saul, anointed king over the remaining tribes at Mahanaim, a fortified town East of the Jordan. War continued between David and Abner for several years, always favoring David. Seeing things were going against him Abner forced Esh-baal into a personal quarrel with himself and then transferred his allegiance and persuaded his side to transfer theirs to David (2 Samuel 3:21). He did not reap the fruit of his defection, as he was immediately after assassinated by Joab in revenge for the death of Asahel whom Abner had killed in self-defence (2 Samuel 3:27). Deprived of his chief support Esh-baal also fell a victim to assassination (2 Samuel 4:2). David denounced both crimes with apparent sincerity. He composed an elegy and fasted for Abner (2 Samuel 3:33) and avenged the death of Esh-baal (2 Samuel 4:9). Yet these acts of violence laid the sovereignty of all Israel at his feet. Of the male heirs of Saul there remained only a son of Jonathan, Merib-baal (1 Chronicles 8:34) who was a crippled child. David was therefore elected king over the nation (2 Samuel 5:1). His sovereignty of Judah is said to have lasted 7 1/2 years and that over the undivided people 33, making a reign of 40 years, beginning from David's 30th year (2 Samuel 5:5; 1 Chronicles 3:4; in 2 Samuel 2:10). These are round numbers.

2. Conquests Abroad:

King of all the Israelite tribes, David found his hands free to expel the foreigners who had invaded the territory. His first step was to move his headquarters from the Southern Hebron, which he had been compelled at first to make his capital, to the more central Jerusalem. The fort here, which was still held by the Jebusites, was stormed by Joab, David's nephew, who also superintended the rebuilding for David. He was in consequence appointed commander-in-chief (1 Chronicles 11:6,8), a post which he held as long as David lived. The materials and the skilled workmen for the erection of the palace were supplied by Hiram of Tyre (2 Samuel 5:11). David now turned his attention to the surrounding tribes and peoples. The most formidable enemy, the Philistines, were worsted in several campaigns, and their power crippled (2 Samuel 5:17; 8:1). In one of these David so nearly came by his death, that his people would not afterward permit him to take part in the fighting (2 Samuel 21:16,17). David also turned his arms against the land of Moab (2 Samuel 8:2). The king of Zobah (Chalkis) was defeated (2 Samuel 8:3), and Israelite garrisons were placed in Syria of Damascus (2 Samuel 8:6) and Edom (2 Samuel 8:14). The sons of Ammon formed a league with the Syrian kingdoms to the North and East of Palestine (2 Samuel 10:6,16), but these also had no success. All these people became tributary to the kingdom of Israel under David (2 Samuel 10:18,19). Thus, Israel became one of the "great powers" of the world during the reign of David and his immediate successor.

3. Political Situation:

There is no doubt that the expansion of the boundaries of Israel at this period almost to their ideal limits (Deuteronomy 11:24, etc.) was largely due to the fact that the two great empires of Egypt and Assyria were at the moment passing through a period of weakness and decay. The Assyrian monarchy was in a decadent state from about the year 1050 BC, and the 22nd Dynasty--to which Shishak belonged (1 Kings 14:25)--had not yet arisen. David, therefore, had a free hand when his time came and found no more formidable opposition than that of the petty states bordering upon Israel. Against the combined forces of all the Israelite tribes these had never been able to effect much.

4. The Ark:

It had been the custom of the Israelites on setting out upon expeditions in which the nation as a whole took part to carry with them the sacred ark which contained the two stone tables (Joshua 4:7, etc.). When David had secured Jerusalem for his metropolis, one of his first thoughts was to bring into it this emblem of victory. It was then lying at Kiriath-jearim, possibly Abu Gosh about 8 miles northwest of Jerusalem (compare Psalms 132). Owing to the death of Uzzah, which he interpreted as indicative of anger on the part of Yahweh, David left the ark at the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite which happened to be near at hand. Since no misfortune befell this person, but on the contrary much prosperity, David took courage after three months to bring the sacred chest and its contents into his royal city. The ceremony was conducted with rejoicing and religious dancing and music (6:12,14-15) and sacrifices and blessing (6:18,19). A tent was pitched for it, in which it remained (7:2), except when it was sent with the army to the seat of war (11:11; 15:24). David, however, had already built for himself a stone palace, and he wished now to add to it a temple. He was the more anxious to so do since he had much of the material ready at hand in the precious metals which formed the most valuable part of the plunder of the conquered peoples, such as bronze from Chalkis (8:8), gold and silver (8:11) and the vessels which he had received as a present from the king of Hamath (8:10). He was persuaded, however, by the word of the LORD through the prophet Nathan to forego that task, on the ground of his having shed too much blood, and to leave it to his successor (1 Chronicles 22:8;28:3).

VI. Domestic Life.

1. His Wives and Children:

In accordance with the practice of the kings of his time, David had several wives. His first wife was Michal, the younger daughter of Saul. When David fled from Saul, she was given to Phaltiel but was restored to David after Saul's death. She did not have any children. During the period of separation from Michal, David took to wife Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the wife of Nabal (1 Samuel 25:43,12), who accompanied him to Ziklag (1 Samuel 27:3), when they were among those captured by the Amalekites (1 Samuel 30:5). A fourth wife was the daughter of Talmai of Geshur, Maacah, whom he had captured in war (1 Samuel 27:8; 2 Samuel 3:3). When he removed to Hebron Ahinoam bore him his oldest son Amnon, and Abigail his second son Kileab or Daniel (2 Samuel 3:2,3; 1 Chronicles 3:1); his third son was Absalom, whose mother was Maacah, and his fourth Adonijah. His mother's name was Haggith; nothing is known about her. Two other sons, Shephatiah and Ithream were also born in Hebron (2 Samuel 3:2-5; 1 Chronicles 3:1-4). When David added the kingdom of Israel to that of Judah, he, in accordance with custom, took more wives with a view to increase his state and dignity. One of these was Bathsheba, who became the mother of Solomon (2 Samuel 5:13; 2 Samuel 11,12; 1 Chronicles 3:5;14:3).

2. Domestic Troubles:

It was perhaps inevitable that in so large a household the usual dissensions and crimes of the harem should have sprung up. A most unvarnished account of these is given in 2 Samuel 11-20. 1 Chronicles 13 recounts the wrong done to Tamar, the daughter of David and Maacah, and sister of Absalom. It also tells how Absalom, having avenged his sister's honor by killing Amnon, his oldest brother, fled for asylum to his mother's father the king of Geshur. Thence after two years he returned (chapter 14), only to lead a rebellion against his father (chapter 15), leading to civil war between David and Judah on the one side and Absalom and Israel on the other (chapters 16; 17), and ending in the death of himself (chapter 18) and of Amasa, David's nephew, at the hands of his cousins Joab and Abishai (20:7), as well as nearly precipitating the disruption of the newly founded kingdom (19:43). The rebellion of Absalom was probably due to the fact of Solomon having been designated David's successor (compare 12:24; 1 Chronicles 22:9), for Absalom had the best claim, Amnon being dead and Kileab apparently of no account.

VII. His Officials.

As David's circumstances improved, he required assistance in the management of his affairs.

1. Prophets:

At the beginning of his rise to power, David had the friendship of the prophet Samuel (1 Samuel 16:13; 19:18). The prophet or seer was the keeper of the king's conscience and was not appointed by him, but claimed divine authority (2 Samuel 7:3,1; 12:1; 24:11). Among the persons who discharged this duty for David were Gad the prophet (1 Samuel 22:5) and Nathan the prophet (1 Kings 1:11). All these are said to have written memoirs of their times (1 Chronicles 29:29; 2 Chronicles 9:29).

2. Priests:

Next to the prophet came the priest. The kohen (priest) was, as the name indicates, a soothsayer or diviner. The duty of Abiathar, David's first priest (1 Samuel 22:20), was to carry the ephod and inquire of the LORD what to do (1 Samuel 23:6; 1 Samuel 30:7). Later, at Hebron, Abiathar was given a colleague, Zadok (1 Chronicles 12:28), and it became their duty to carry the ark in expeditions (2 Samuel 15:24). Shortly after the death of David, Abiathar was deposed by Solomon for his part in Adonijah's attempt to seize the throne (1 Kings 2:26,27), and Zadok remained sole priest to the king (1 Kings 2:35). David's sons also acted in the same capacity (2 Samuel 8:18). An extra private priest is mentioned in 2 Samuel 20:26 (compare 2 Samuel 23:26,38).

3. Military Officers:

When still an outlaw David required a reliable man to take command of his men in his absence. This post was held at first by different persons according to circumstances, but generally, it seems, by his nephew Abishai (1 Samuel 26:6). It was only after the death of Saul that his brother Joab threw in his lot with David. His great military talents at once gave him a leading place, and as a reward for the capture of Jerusalem he was given the chief command, which he held against all rivals (2 Samuel 3:27;20:10) during the whole reign. David's special body-guard of Philistine troops--the Cherethites and Pelethites--were commanded by Benaiah, who in the following reign, succeeded Joab (1 Kings 2:35).

4. Other Officials:

The office of recorder was held during this reign and in the following by Jehoshaphat (2 Samuel 8:16); and that of secretary by Seraiah (2 Samuel 8:17), also called Shavsha (1 Chronicles 18:16) or Shisha (1 Kings 4:3). There were also the counselors, men noted for their great acumen and knowledge of human nature, such as Ahithophel and Hushai.

5. Mutual Rivalry:

It was natural that there should be much mutual jealousy and rivalry among these officials, and that some of them should attach themselves to one of David's many sons, others to another. Thus, Amnon is the special patron of David's nephew Jonadab (2 Samuel 13:3; compare 2 Samuel 21:21), and Absalom is backed by Amasa (2 Samuel 17:25). The claim of Adonijah to the throne is supported by Joab and Abiathar (1 Kings 1:7), as against that of Solomon who is backed by Nathan, Benaiah, Zadok (1 Kings 1:8) and Hushai. Ahithophel sides with Absalom; Hushai with David (2 Samuel 15:12,32).

VIII. Personal Character of David.

1. Psalms

Since David is the author of many of the Psalms, they throw a flood of light upon the religious side of his nature. David shows his reverence of Yahweh and gives Yahweh all glory and praise. He was a man after the LORD's heart (1 Samuel 13:14).

2. Physical Courage:

Perhaps the feature of his character which stands out most prominently in his earlier years, at any rate, is his boundless physical courage. He never shirked danger (1 Samuel 17:28,34) and delighted in hairbreadth escapes like in 1 Samuel 26:6. He had a need, indeed, to be a brave man, considering the character of the men whom he ruled (1 Samuel 22:2). Yet he could rule them by gentleness as well as by force (30:23). All classes had unbounded confidence in his personal courage and soldierly qualities (2 Samuel 18:3) and were themselves driven to restrain his military ardor (2 Samuel 21:17).

3. Prudence/wisdom:

But David was even more prudent than courageous. He is so described by the person who recommended him (somewhat eulogistically) to Saul (1 Samuel 16:18). Prudence or wisdom was indeed what his biographer most remarks in him (1 Samuel 18:5,30), and situated as he was he could not have too much of it. It shows itself in the fact that he consistently made as many friends and as few enemies as was possible. His wonderful foresight is shown in such acts as his conciliating the Judean chiefs with gifts taken from his spoil (1 Samuel 30:26), in his commendation of the men of Ja-besh-Gilead (2 Samuel 2:5-7), and in his reception of Abner (2 Samuel 3:20).  His kindness to Merib-baal did him no harm and some advantage (2 Samuel 9;19:24), and his clemency to Shimei helped to win him the tribe of Benjamin (2 Samuel 19:16). Perhaps nothing proves the genius of David better than his choice of Jebus/Jerusalem as the capital of the country--which it still continues to be after a lapse of three thousand years.

4. Nobility:

David was, indeed, a man very much ahead of the times in which he lived. His fine elegies upon the death of Saul and Jonathan, Abner, and Absalom show that his nature was untainted with malice. It was no superstitious fear but a high sense of honor which kept him back from putting out of his way his arch-enemy when he had him in his power (1Sa 24-26). He even attempts to find an excuse for him (1 Samuel 26:19), while depreciating himself (1 Samuel 24:14; 26:20). It was the ambition of his life to be the founder of a permanent dynasty (2 Samuel 7:29), yet he was willing that his house should be sacrificed to save his nation from destruction (2 Samuel 24:17). He was endowed with a refinement of feeling unknown in the West. His refusal to drink of water obtained at the cost of bloodshed has become classic (2 Samuel 23:17). And he seems to have been gifted with the saving sense of humor (1 Samuel 26:15). That he was a religious person goes without saying (2 Samuel 7;8:11). He did not believe that outside the land of Israel Yahweh ceased to rule. He believed in Yahweh alone as the ruler of the universe.

5. David in Relation to His Family:

David discharged his duty toward his parents (1 Samuel 22:3). To Michal, his first wife, his love was constant (2 Samuel 3:13), although she did not bear him any children. In accordance with the custom of the times, as his estate improved, he took other wives and concubines. The favorite wife of his latter days was Bathsheba. His court made some show of splendor as contrasted with the dwellings of the peasantry and the farmer class (2 Samuel 19:28,35), but his palace was always small and plain, so that it could be left to the keeping of ten women when he removed from it (2 Samuel 15:16). David and Michal seem to have lived on terms of perfect equality (2 Samuel 6:20). In this he contrasts somewhat with Ahab (1 Kings 21:5). David's chief weakness in regard to his family was his indulgence of some of his sons and favoring some above others, and want of firmness in regard to them. He could refuse them nothing (2 Samuel 13:27). His first favorite was his oldest son Amnon (2 Samuel 13:21). After the death of Amnon, Absalom became the favorite (2 Samuel 18:33), and after the death of Absalom, Adonijah (1 Kings 1:6). Yet David lived for two whole years in Jerusalem along with Absalom without seeing him (2 Samuel 14:28), and he was succeeded not by Adonijah, but by Solomon, whose mother was the favorite wife of his later years.

6. David in Relation to His Friends:

Not only did David know the value of having many friends, but he was capable of sincere attachment. There is no reason to doubt the sincerity of his love for Jonathan. David, indeed, had the faculty of winning the confidence and love of all sorts and conditions of people, not only of Jonathan (1 Samuel 18:1; 20;23:16), but of Jonathan's sister Michal (1 Samuel 18:20), of the whole people (1 Samuel 18:28; 2 Samuel 19:14), and even of his people's enemies (2 Samuel 17:27). His friendship lasted as long as the object of it lived (2 Samuel 1:17;10:1). In the case of his officers this was partly due to his faculty for choosing good men (2 Samuel 8:16), so that the same persons often held the same offices during David's life (2 Samuel 20:23). Yet the services of one of them at least were retained more by compulsion than by choice (2 Samuel 3:39). He seems, indeed, to have continued Joab in his post because he felt he could not do without him. Joab was devoted to David, and he was unscrupulous. He did not hesitate to commit any crime that would benefit David. The latter dared not perpetrate these atrocities himself, but he did not mind taking advantage of such a useful instrument, and never punished Joab for them, save with a curse (2 Samuel 3:29). 

7. His Success:

One reason for the high position David held in the popular estimation was no doubt his almost uninterrupted success. He was regarded as the chosen of Yahweh, by friend and foe alike (1 Samuel 23:17). Nothing could have been more timely than the death of Saul and Jonathan, of Ishbaal and Abner, of Absalom and Amasa, and he did not raise his hand against one of them. As a guerrilla chief with his 600 bandits he could keep at bay Saul with his 3,000 picked men (1 Samuel 24:2;26:2).

8. His Foreign Friends:

David knew how to cultivate friendships with foreigners. He was diplomatic and shrewd. He found favor in the eyes of Achish the Philistine leader (1 Samuel 27). When he became king, his personal body-guard was composed of the Cherethites and Pelethites with whom he had become acquainted when at Ziklag (1 Samuel 30:14; 2 Samuel 8:18; 20:23). It was to a native of Gath that he committed the care of the sacred ark on its passage from Kiriath-jearim to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6:10,11). When the rebellion broke out under Absalom, he committed one-third of his forces to a banished soldier of the same town, who had come to him a little while before with a band of followers (2 Samuel 15:19; 18:2). Some of the soldiers in whom he placed the greatest confidence were Hittites (1 Samuel 26:6; 2 Samuel 11:6), and his commissariat was furnished by persons outside of Israel (2 Samuel 17:27; 1 Chronicles 7:14). The threshing-floor of a Jebusite became the site of the temple of Solomon (2 Samuel 24:18). These are a few of the examples of David's relating with foreigners.

9. References in the New Testament:

Even as early as Ezekiel, David became the ruler who was to govern the restored people of Israel (34:23,14; 37:24). If there were to be a ruling house, it must be the Davidic dynasty; it did not occur to the Jews to think of any other solution (Amos 9:11; Hosea 3:5; Jeremiah 30:9; Zechariah 12:8). That Jesus was descended from David (Matthew 9:27, etc.) is proved by the fact that his enemies did not deny that he was so (Matthew 22:41). In the New Testament, David is regarded as the author of the Psalms (Acts 4:25; Romans 4:6; Hebrews 4:7). He is also one of the Old Testament saints (Hebrews 11:32) whose actions are to be imitated (Matthew 12:3); but yet not to be compared with the Messiah (Acts 2:29; 13:36) who has power over the life to come (Revelation 3:7) and who is "the Root of David" (Revelation 5:5; 22:16).

LITERATURE.

See the commentaries on the books of Samuel, Kings, Chronicles, and Psalms, and histories of the kingdoms of Israel and Judah, especially Wellhausen and Kittel. A sketch of the life and historical position of David from the modern Continental point of view will be found in G. Beer, Saul, David, Salomo, published by Mohr, Tubingen, 1906.

Thomas Hunter Weir

Modifié le: mercredi 8 août 2018, 10:26