David
By Mary Jane Chaignot
Categories: David, Men in the Old Testament, Old Testament Kings
- David lives from 1040-970 BCE.
- His father is Jesse; his great-grandmother is Ruth the Moabitess.
- He is the youngest of 8 sons.
- He spends his youth as a shepherd.
- David is described as “ruddy and handsome with beautiful eyes.”
- Samuel, the Prophet, anoints him with oil after rejecting all of his older brothers.
- They agree to keep everything secret for a while.
- Some time later the spirit of the Lord departs from Saul, and he is tormented.
- He instructs his servants to find someone skillful in playing the lyre.
- One of them knows David and describes him as “skillful in playing, a man of valor, a warrior, prudent in speech, a man of good presence; and the Lord is with him.”
- Saul sends word to Jesse to send David.
- Saul loves David and makes him his armor bearer. He carries Saul’s shield, spear, and sword.
- Whenever Saul grapples with the evil spirit, David plays for him and Saul feels better.
- Sometime later Saul goes out to fight against the Philistines.
- Every day Goliath, a giant, comes out of the Philistine camp and taunts the Israelites.
- Three of David’s brothers are in the army, and while he is visiting them, Goliath comes out.
- David wonders why someone doesn’t fight against him and then offers to do it.
- He says he has already fought against lions and bears. He is not afraid of Goliath.
- Saul wants David to wear a full set of armor, but David says he isn’t used to them.
- So he goes out to face Goliath armed only with his sling and five smooth stones.
- Goliath looks at him and despises him asking, “Am I a dog that this boy comes with a staff?”
- Then he curses David.
- David says, “This day the Lord will give you into my hand.”
- As he runs toward the giant, David hurls a stone at his forehead.
- The giant falls to the ground, and David kills him.
- Even though the Israelites rout the rest of the Philistines, David is known as the hero.
- By the end of the day, Saul’s son, Jonathan, “is bound to the soul of David and loves him as his own soul.”
- Saul takes David to his house.
- Jonathan makes a covenant with David—giving him his robe, his armor, sword, bow, and belt.
- Fully armed David goes out under Saul’s orders and is successful in whatever he does.
- Saul puts David in charge of military operations, and everyone admires him.
- Saul begins to be jealous of David’s popularity.
- Twice while David is playing his lyre for Saul, Saul throws a spear at him.
- Saul begins to fear David.
- Finally, he makes David an officer—putting him in a dangerous combat role.
- David continues to be very successful.
- Then Saul arranges for his eldest daughter to marry David, effectively becoming his father-in-law.
- At the last minute, Saul gives that daughter to someone else; another daughter, Michal, confesses that she is in love with David.
- For his bride price, Saul orders David to kill 100 Philistines (expecting that they will kill him instead).
- However, David goes out and fulfills his quota.
- By now Saul hates David and orders his servants to kill him.
- Jonathan, however, still loves David and finds a way to bring Saul and David together.
- That lasts until Saul has another bout of ill-temper.
- He sends his men to kill David at home, but Michal intervenes and warns David.
- David escapes to Ramah and meets up with Samuel.
- He briefly returns to talk with Jonathan and asks if Saul is still trying to kill him.
- Jonathan sets up a test and determines that Saul wants David dead.
- Jonathan and David make a pact for peace, but David flees for good.
- David goes to Ahimelech, the priest of Nob, and convinces him to give him the sword used to kill Goliath.
- When Saul finds out about this, he sends for Ahimelech and accuses him of siding with David. He orders his henchmen to kill the priests.
- David flees to Moab and begins to amass an army of 600 followers.
- Saul chases after him and, by chance, ends up relieving himself in the cave in which David and his men are hiding.
- David creeps up and cuts off a piece of Saul’s robe.
- After Saul leaves, David calls to him and shows him the piece from his robe saying he chose not to kill him.
- Saul breaks down and says he knows David will be king. He asks for leniency for his descendants.
- David agrees, but Saul continues to pursue him.
- David and his men go to Maon where Nabal insults them. His wife, Abigail, placates David and his men. He marries Abigail after her husband dies.
- David encounters Saul again when Saul camps close to David’s hiding place.
- David sneaks into camp and takes Saul’s spear and water jug.
- He calls to Saul the next morning and reiterates that he chose not to harm him.
- Saul apologizes and returns home.
- Tired of being on the run, David goes to Achish, the Philistine king of Gath, and offers to serve him. Achish gives him the city of Ziklag.
- Achish puts his trust in him, but David raids neighboring cities and gives the spoils to the leaders of Judah.
- Saul and Jonathan are killed in a battle with the Philistines.
- David and his men move to Hebron; the citizens of Judah come there and make him king.
- Seven years later, he is crowned king of all Israel; he is 30 years old.
- His first task is to capture Jerusalem and rename it the “City of David.”
- He fortifies the city and builds his palace.
- David and his armies successfully drive the Philistines out of Israel.
- He brings the Holy Ark to Jerusalem amid a great celebration.
- He establishes a central government with tribal administrators.
- David is a brilliant military strategist and warrior.
- Under his watchful eye, Jerusalem becomes the religious and secular center of the country.
- God makes a covenant that the house of David will remain forever.
- To honor the memory of Jonathan, David brings Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s son and the only remaining heir of Saul’s house, into the palace.
- One day he sees a beautiful woman from his rooftop.
- Even though he knows Bathsheba is married, he impregnates her.
- He arranges to have her husband, Uriah, killed in battle.
- He marries Bathsheba.
- Nathan, the prophet, confronts him, and David confesses his sin.
- After the child dies, David and Bathsheba have another son, Solomon.
- Among his 8 wives and many concubines, David has dozens of children. Twenty-two sons are named.
- There is much strife in his family.
- Eventually, his son, Absalom, rebels against him and takes the city of Jerusalem.
- David and his men leave Jerusalem for a time.
- Nonetheless, in the battle that ensues, Absalom is killed and David returns as the king.
- Near the end of his life, David buys the threshing floor that will become the Temple.
- As David ages, his sons struggle over which will succeed him.
- But David has already promised Bathsheba that Solomon will be the next king – and so he is.
- David instructs Solomon to follow the word of God and to repay those that have helped him throughout the years.
- David dies; he has ruled Israel for 40 years. He is buried in the City of David.
- Many scholars believe David wrote or edited most of the Psalms. 3-5 Years of Age
- David lives from 1040-970 BCE.
- He is the youngest of 8 sons.
- He spends his youth as a shepherd.
- David is described as “ruddy and handsome with beautiful eyes.”
- He plays the lyre for Saul when he has bad moods.
- David offers to fight Goliath, a giant Philistine.
- He runs toward the giant and hurls a stone at his forehead.
- The giant falls to the ground, and David kills him.
- David becomes a hero.
- Saul’s son, Jonathan, loves David.
- Saul hates David and orders his servants to kill him.
- David escapes.
- Jonathan and David make a pact for peace, but David flees for good.
- He goes to Moab and 600 men join him.
- Saul chases after him.
- Twice, Saul unknowingly camps near David.
- The first time, David creeps up and cuts off a piece of Saul’s robe.
- The second time, he steals his spear and water jug.
- David calls to him and shows him what he has and says he chose not to kill him.
- Saul apologizes.
- When Saul and Jonathan are killed, the citizens of Judah make David king.
- Seven years later, he is crowned king of all Israel; he is 30 years old.
- He renames Jerusalem the “City of David.”
- He builds his palace there.
- Jerusalem becomes an important city.
- God promises that the house of David will remain forever.
- One day he sees Bathsheba from his rooftop.
- Even though he knows Bathsheba is married, he gets her pregnant.
- He has her husband, Uriah, killed in battle.
- He marries Bathsheba.
- Nathan, the prophet, confronts him, and David confesses his sin.
- After the child dies, David and Bathsheba have another son, Solomon.
- David has 8 wives, many concubines, and dozens of children. Twenty-two sons are named.
- His children do not get along.
- David promises Bathsheba that Solomon will be the next king – and so he is.
- David tells Solomon to follow the word of God.
- David dies; he has ruled Israel for 40 years.
- Many scholars believe David wrote or edited most of the Psalms. 6-12 Years of Age
- David lives from 1040-970 BCE.
- His father is Jesse; his great-grandmother is Ruth the Moabitess.
- He is the youngest of 8 sons.
- He spends his youth as a shepherd.
- David is described as “ruddy and handsome with beautiful eyes.”
- Samuel anoints him to be a future king.
- Saul has bad dreams.
- David is “skillful in playing, a man of valor, a warrior, prudent in speech, a man of good presence; and the Lord is with him.”
- David carries Saul’s shield, spear, and sword.
- Sometime later, Saul goes out to fight against the Philistines.
- Every day Goliath, a giant Philistine, taunts the Israelites.
- David offers to fight him.
- Saul wants David to wear a full set of armor, but David says he isn’t used to them.
- So he goes out to face Goliath armed only with his sling and five smooth stones.
- As he runs toward the giant, David hurls a stone at his forehead.
- The giant falls to the ground, and David kills him.
- David becomes a hero.
- Saul’s son, Jonathan, loves David.
- Jonathan makes a covenant with David giving him his robe, his armor, sword, bow, and belt.
- Saul becomes jealous of David’s popularity and begins to fear him.
- Saul gives his daughter, Michal, to David.
- David kills 100 Philistines for Saul.
- Saul hates David and orders his servants to kill him.
- David escapes to Ramah and meets up with Samuel.
- He briefly returns to talk with Jonathan and asks if Saul is still trying to kill him.
- Jonathan finds out that Saul still wants David dead.
- Jonathan and David make a pact for peace, but David flees for good.
- He goes to Moab and 600 men join him.
- Saul chases after him.
- Twice, Saul unknowingly camps near David.
- The first time, David creeps up and cuts off a piece of Saul’s robe.
- The second time he steals his spear and water jug.
- David calls to him and shows him what he has and says he chose not to kill him.
- Saul apologizes.
- Tired of being on the run, David hides in a Philistine city.
- He is not part of the battle when Saul and Jonathan are killed.
- After their deaths, the citizens of Judah make David king.
- Seven years later he is crowned king of all Israel; he is 30 years old.
- He takes over Jerusalem and renames it the “City of David.”
- He builds his palace there.
- Under his leadership, Jerusalem becomes the religious and secular center of the country.
- God makes a covenant that the house of David will remain forever.
- One day he sees Bathsheba from his rooftop.
- Even though he knows Bathsheba is married, he gets her pregnant.
- He has her husband, Uriah, killed in battle.
- He marries Bathsheba.
- Nathan, the prophet, confronts him, and David confesses his sin.
- After the child dies, David and Bathsheba have another son, Solomon.
- David has 8 wives, many concubines, and dozens of children. Twenty-two sons are named.
- There is much strife in his family.
- Near the end of his life, David buys the threshing floor that will become the Temple.
- David promises Bathsheba that Solomon will be the next king – and so he is.
- David instructs Solomon to follow the word of God and to repay those that have helped him throughout the years.
- David dies; he has ruled Israel for 40 years. He is buried in the City of David.
- Many scholars believe David wrote or edited most of the Psalms.
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