David (c. 1035 - 965 BC) is one of the greatest figures in biblical history. He came from the tribe of Judah (he was the great-grandson of Boaz and the Moabite Ruth). He reigned for 40 years (c. 1005 - 965 BC): for seven years and six months he was king of Judah (with his capital in Hebron), then for 33 years he was king of the united kingdom of Israel and Judah (with his capital in Jerusalem). David was the best of all Jewish kings. He unshakably believed in the true God and tried to do His will. In all his troubles, he placed all his hope in God, and the Lord delivered him from all his enemies.
The life of the holy prophet and king David is described in the Bible: in 1 Book of Samuel, 2 Book of Kings and 1 Book of Chronicles.
Boaz- great-grandfather of King David, hero of the book of Ruth. Nephew of Elimelech, who married Ruth, widow of Elimelech's son.
Ruth- the famous biblical righteous woman, after whom the “Book of Ruth” is named. A Moabite by birth, she became so attached to her new relative by husband (a Jew from Bethlehem) that after the death of her husband she did not want to part with her mother-in-law Naomi (Naomi), accepted her religion and moved with her from Moab (where Naomi and her husband were temporarily removed from Israel on the occasion of the famine) to Bethlehem (Beit Lechem), where they settled. The righteousness and beauty of young Ruth were the reason that she became the wife of the noble Boaz. The product of this marriage was Obed, David's grandfather. Thus Ruth the Moabite, a Gentile, became the great-grandmother (foremother) of King David and became one of the ancestors of the Lord Jesus Christ.
This is how King David is described in the book of Ruth: “ And this is the family of Perez: Perez begat Hezrom; Hezrom begat Aram; Aram gave birth to Abminadab; Amminadab begat Nahshon; Nahshon begat Salmon; Salmon begat Boaz; Boaz begat Obed; Obed begat Jesse; Jesse gave birth to David"(Ruth.4:18-22).
Tribes of Israel(Gen.49:28) - tribes of the descendants of the twelve sons of Jacob, who formed, according to the Holy Scriptures, the Israeli people. In the Promised Land, each tribe received its own portion.
Tribe Veniaminovo(1 Samuel 9:25, Judges 5:14, etc.) - one of the tribes of Israel. Benjamin- the youngest son of the biblical patriarch Jacob and his beloved wife, Rachel. Born on the way to Bethlehem. Rachel fell ill after giving birth and died. ( The famous Tomb of Rachel in Bethlehem has existed since ancient times and is a place of pilgrimage. This place is holy for Jews, Muslims and Christians alike.). The tribe of Benjamin had its destiny in the Promised Land, between the tribes of Judah and Ephraim. Within this domain was the capital city of Judea, Jerusalem. It became part of the kingdom of Judah (1 Kings 12:17-23), which, as you know, consisted of two tribes: Judah and Benjamin. This tribe was distinguished by its extreme warlikeness and courage. From his entourage, according to biblical tradition, came the first Israeli King Saul. Apostle Paul also came from the tribe of Benjamin (Phil. 3:5).
Tribe of Judah- one of the tribes of Israel. He traces his ancestry back to Judas ( translated means praise or glory to God), the fourth son of the patriarch Jacob from Leah (Gen. 29:35). It is known that he hated Joseph, the son of his aunt Rachel (Jacob’s second wife), and advised his brothers to sell Joseph to passing merchants rather than kill him. Judah became the ancestor of the famous tribe of Judah, from which he came King David, founder of the royal dynasty. Joseph the Betrothed also came from the same tribe. At the time of the Exodus from Egypt, the tribe of Judah numbered 74,600 people (Numbers 1:27) and was the largest Israeli tribe. One of the Jewish states was subsequently named after Judah - Kingdom of Judah. The names of the Jewish people in Hebrew and other languages \u200b\u200bare derived from the same name ( Jews).
Youth of David
The holy king and prophet David was born 1000 years before the birth of Christ in the Jewish city of Bethlehem. He was the youngest of the eight sons of Jesse (from the tribe of Judah), an elder of the city of Bethlehem (Bethlehem).
As a teenager, David tended his father's flocks. This activity largely determined the mental makeup of the future anointed of God. He spent many months alone in the pastures. He had to fight the evil predators that attacked his herds. This developed in David courage and strength, which amazed those around him. Life, fraught with many dangers, taught the young man to rely on God in everything.
David had a musical and poetic gift. In his leisure hours he practiced singing and playing the psalter (harp-like musical instrument). He achieved such perfection that he was invited to the court of King Saul. David dispelled Saul's melancholy by singing and playing the harp.
King Saul(d. c. 1005 BC) - the first king and founder of the united kingdom of Israel (about 1029-1005 BC), the incarnation of a ruler placed in the kingdom by the will of God, but who became displeasing to Him. Came from the tribe of Benjamin. He was chosen and anointed king by the prophet Samuel ( before Saul there was no king over the Jews), later came into conflict with him, and the prophet left him, depriving him of his support.
King Saul
After this, Saul's melancholy began. When he openly renounced God, that is, violated his order, and God rejected him, internal changes immediately began in Saul: “ And the spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord began to torment him" (1 Samuel 16:14)
Saul retreated from God and began to serve pride and vanity in his reign. Feeling that he was rejected by God, Saul fell into a cruel melancholy, “an evil spirit angered him.” The king was attacked by melancholy and despondency from the action of the evil spirit, and when Saul heard David’s playing, he felt more joyful, and the evil spirit retreated from him.
David plays the psalter to King Saul
Even during the reign of King Saul ( when he fell away from God) prophet Samuel, at the direction of God, anointed the young man David ( when David was still an unknown meek and pious youth) to the kingdom. David's anointing was secret. With the anointing, the Spirit of God descended on David and rested on him from then on (1 Samuel 16:1-13).
David's Anointing
Prophet Samuel (Hebrew "heard by the Lord") - biblical prophet, the last and most famous of the Judges of Israel (XI century BC). Samuel lived in the most difficult and troubled time in the life of the Israelis, when the moral state of the people fell to the extreme; the people had to endure a severe defeat from the Philistines. After the Jews conquered the land of Canaan, for several centuries they were ruled by so-called judges, who combined ecclesiastical, military and administrative powers. God himself sent the judges: “ For about four hundred and fifty years the Lord gave them judges" Samuel wisely ruled the people as chief judge until his old age and enjoyed great authority. Fearing that after the death of Samuel the previous lawlessness and anarchy would not return, the people, not trusting and rejecting God as their direct Ruler and King, began to ask him to install a human king over them. Then Samuel appointed Saul the son of Kish as their king. But Saul, by his actions, brought Samuel a lot of grief, because he retreated from God. An angry God said to Samuel: “ I regret that I made Saul king; for he has turned away from Me, and has not fulfilled My word” and ordered Samuel to anoint the new king. Samuel left Saul and never saw him again. He secretly anointed another king, David, as king. Samuel died at the age of 88 and was buried in Ramah, mourned by all the people. His life is described in the first chapters of the first book of Kings. Tradition credits him with compiling the biblical book of Judges.
David and Goliath
At the age of 18, David became famous and earned the universal love of the people.
The Philistines attacked the land of Israel. The pagan people, famous for their belligerence, ravaged the Promised Land with frequent raids. The Philistines killed the Jews and took them captive. And so, near the city of Ephesus-Dammim, two armies met - the Israeli and the Philistine.
From the ranks of the Philistine army emerged a mighty giant named Goliath. He suggested that the Jews decide the outcome of the battle through single combat: “ “Choose a man from yourself,” he shouted, “and let him come out against me.” If he kills me, then we will be your slaves; if I defeat and kill him, then you will be our slaves and serve us».
King Saul promised the daredevil who would defeat Goliath to give his daughter as a wife. Despite the promised reward, no one wanted to fight him.
At this time, young David appeared in the Israeli camp. He came to visit his older brothers and bring them food from his father. Hearing Goliath revile the living God and the army of the Israelites, David was troubled in spirit. His heart, full of devoted faith in God, boiled with righteous anger at the words disgracing God’s chosen people. He approached Saul asking him to allow him to fight Goliath. Saul said to him: " You are still very young, but he is strong and has become accustomed to war from a young age." But David told Saul how God helped him fight lions and bears while tending the sheep. Then Saul, infected by David's courage and courage, allowed him to fight.
Goliath was an unusually strong warrior of enormous height - about 2.89 m. He was dressed in scale armor weighing approximately 57 kg and copper knee pads, on his head was a copper helmet, and in his hands was a copper shield. Goliath carried a heavy spear, the tip of which alone weighed 6.84 kg, and a large sword. David had no armor at all, and his only weapon was a sling ( a throwing bladed weapon, which is a rope or belt, one end of which is folded into a loop into which the slinger's hand is threaded). The Philistine giant considered it an insult that a young man, just a boy, came out to fight him. It seemed to everyone who watched what was happening that the result of the fight was a foregone conclusion, but physical strength does not always determine the outcome of the battle.
David and Goliath (Osmar Schindler, 1888)
David defeated Goliath without a weapon: a stone, accurately thrown from a sling by David, hit the giant’s forehead with such force that Goliath fell and did not get up.
David and Goliath (Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld)
David, like lightning, jumped up to the defeated enemy and cut off his head with his own sword.
David with the head of Goliath (Gustave Doré)
David's victory over Goliath began the offensive of the Israeli and Judah troops, who drove the Philistines out of their land (1 Sam. 17:52).
The victory over Goliath glorified David throughout the country. Saul, despite David's youth, appointed him military leader and married his youngest daughter Michal to him. And Saul's eldest son, Jonathan, became David's best friend.
Life at the Court of King Saul
David won many military victories, and soon his glory eclipsed the glory of Saul himself. Saul began to be jealous of David and gradually began to hate him. In addition, rumors began to reach Saul that the prophet Samuel had secretly anointed David as king. Offended pride, fear and suspicion drove Saul almost to madness: “ An evil spirit from God fell upon Saul, and he raged in his house».
Usually, David played the harp to drive away the evil spirit that was tormenting the king for his apostasy. One day, David, as in former times, came to Saul to play the harp for him, but Saul threw a spear at David, which he barely managed to dodge.
Saul throws a spear at David (Konstantin Hansen)
Soon Saul sent David on a dangerous campaign against the Philistines, hoping that he would die. But David returned with a victory, which further strengthened his glory.
Then Saul decided to send hired assassins to David. This became known to Saul's son, Jonathan. At the risk of incurring his father's wrath, he warned his sister Michal, David's wife, about the impending danger. Michal loved David and said to him: “ If you do not save your soul this night, then tomorrow you will be killed"(1 Samuel 19:11-16).
David fled through the window, and Michal put the doll to bed, covering it with David's clothes.
Michal lets David down from the window
Now Saul no longer hid his enmity. The incident with the spear that the king threw at David, and the threat of going to prison, from which only his wife Michal saved him, forced David to flee to Samuel in Ramah. At the last meeting, Jonathan confirmed to David that reconciliation with Saul was no longer possible (1 Samuel 19:20).
Flight from King Saul. In the service of the Philistines.
The Flight of David (Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld)
Saul's hatred of him caused David to flee; He wandered in the desert for a long time, hiding in caves, fleeing from Saul, who was pursuing him. In his many travels, David gets to know the life of his people closely, learns to be generous to his enemies, compassionate to ordinary people.
Soon, “all the oppressed and all the debtors, and all the saddened in soul, gathered to him, and he became a ruler over them.” With his supporters (600 men), David fled to his recent enemies the Philistines (1 Samuel 27:1), seeking the protection of their king Achish, ruler of the city of Gath. Achish granted David the border city of Ziklag (in the Negev desert) (1 Samuel 27:6). So David became the leader of a band of robbers. David's troops robbed the natives (Amalekites), and sent part of the spoils to the Philistine king Achish (1 Sam. 27:9).
But when the Philistines gathered on a campaign against Israel, David cunningly refused to join the troops of the anti-Israel coalition (1 Samuel 28:4).
King in Hebron
Meanwhile, the Philistines inflicted a crushing defeat on the Israelites in Battle of Gilboa(1 Samuel 31:6).
The Israelites were defeated, and King Saul also died ( After being seriously wounded and losing the battle with the Philistines, Saul committed suicide) with his eldest son Jonathan, who was a friend of David and more than once saved him from his father’s persecution. David mourns them bitterly; he did not want Saul to die and repeatedly wanted to reconcile with him.
David receives news of Saul's death
After this, David, at the head of an armed detachment, arrived in Judean Hebron, where the tribe of Judah at a meeting anointed him to the royal throne in Judea, that is, the southern part of Israel. Then David was 30 years old.
The proclamation of David as king of Judah meant the actual separation from Israel, whose king was proclaimed one of the sons of Saul (2 Sam. 2:10). The two Jewish states entered into an internecine struggle, which lasted two years and ended with the victory of David (2 Samuel 3:1).
David - King of Israel
After the victory over Israel, the elders of Israel came to Hebron and chose David as king over all Israel (2 Samuel 5:3). Thus God fulfilled what he had promised him through the prophet Samuel.
David reigns over all Israel
God gave David blessing, wisdom and power to defeat all of Israel's enemies. David won many military victories and no one dared to attack Israel anymore.
For the first seven years of his reign, David lived in Hebron. During this time, the new capital of Israel was built - Jerusalem (i.e., the city of peace). In order to enhance its significance, David brought here the Ark of the Covenant, which was installed in the middle of the tabernacle built for him.
After this, the Lord promised David to establish his royal house, saying: “ I will be his father, and he will be my son: even if he sins. I will punish him with the rod of men and the blows of the sons of men, but I will not take My mercy from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I rejected before you. And your house and your kingdom will be established forever before Me, and your throne will stand forever.” These words of God were conveyed to David by the prophet Nathan. Hearing this, David stood before the Lord and began to pray: “Who am I, Lord, Lord, and what is my house, that You have magnified me so much!... You are great in everything, my Lord, Lord! For there is no one like You, and there is no God besides You... Even now. Lord God, establish forever the word that You have spoken about Your servant and about his house, and fulfill what You have spoken».
David loved God very much. After becoming a great king, he continued to compose songs inspired by the love of God and glorifying His name.
King David ruled justly and tried to keep the Lord's commandments with all his heart. For this, the Lord was always with him.
All the days of his life he built up the kingdom and in every possible way contributed to strengthening faith in the God of Heaven. The years of King David's reign became a time of prosperity and prosperity for the Jewish people.
David also intended to build a house for the Ark of God - Temple. But not David, but only his son will carry out the construction, for David, participating in wars, shed too much blood (1 Chronicles 22:8). Although David was not supposed to build the Temple, he began to prepare the construction, collected funds, developed drawings of all the buildings of the sacred building and made drawings of all the accessories of worship and provided his son Solomon with building materials and plans (2 Samuel 7; 1 Chronicles 17; 22; 28 :1 - 29:21).
Like other rulers of the East, David had several wives and concubines, from whom David had many sons, among whom was the future king Solomon (2 Sam. 5:14).
David and Bathsheba
David loved the Lord and tried to be obedient to Him. But Satan always watched him, as he watches every person, and tried to instill evil in David.
At the height of his power, David fell into sin, which left a sad imprint on the entire future fate of David and all of Israel.
One evening he was walking along the roof of his palace and saw a beautiful woman bathing in the garden of a neighboring house. Forgetting about everything in the world, the king immediately became inflamed with passion for her and sent servants to find out who she was. The beauty turned out to be the wife of one of David’s commanders, Uriah the Hittite, who at that time was on a distant military campaign. Her name was Bathsheba.
David and Bathsheba (Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld)
Satan began to inspire evil thoughts in David, and David succumbed to his temptations. He seduced Bathsheba. Soon she became pregnant. David fell in love with Bathsheba so much that he decided to make her his wife, after first getting rid of Uriah. The king sent a letter to the commander of the army in which Uriah fought: “ Place Uriah where the fighting will be the heaviest and retreat from him so that he is struck and dies". The order was carried out and Uriah died, and King David took his widow as his wife. Bathsheba was forced to comply.
Bathsheba (Pozdnikova Ivetta)
David’s cruel act could not but bring upon him the wrath of the Lord: “And this work which David did was evil in the sight of the Lord.” After some time, the Lord sent the prophet Nathan to David, who denounced him.
Prophet Nathan denounces David
David repented and said: “ I have sinned before the Lord" After this repentance, Nathan announced to him the verdict of God: “ And the Lord has taken away your sin: you will not die. But since by this deed you have given the enemies of the Lord a reason to blaspheme Him, the son born to you will die." So David's sin was forgiven, but did not go unpunished.
The Crushing of David (Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld)
Bathsheba soon gave birth to a son, but a few days later the baby became seriously ill. David fervently prayed to God to spare the child’s life. He spent seven days in prayer, prostrating himself on the ground and not eating. However, on the eighth day the baby died.
A year later, Bathsheba gave birth to another son - Solomon(2 Samuel 11:2 - 12:25), who will become the third king of Israel.
David's sin was great, but his repentance was sincere and great. And God forgave him. During his repentance, King David wrote a repentant prayer-song (Psalm 50), which is an example of repentance and begins with these words: “Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your great mercy and according to the multitude of Your mercies, blot out my iniquities. Wash Me from my iniquity many times and cleanse me from my sin...”
Psalms of David
David had a poetic and musical gift, composing prayer songs addressed to God - psalms in which he praised the Almighty, who so wisely created the world. He thanked God for His mercies and prophesied about the times to come.
Throughout his life, David constantly communicated with the Lord in prayer. He never forgot to offer a prayer to the Almighty, despite his busyness as a ruler and military leader.
No songs have gained such fame on the globe as the “Psalms of David.” As poetic works, many of them are of very high quality - real pearls, for “the Spirit of the Lord spoke in him, and the words of God were on his tongue” (2 Sam. 23:1).
During the years of trials, delving into the ways of Providence with special reasoning, David poured out his deep sorrow before God and asked for His help. At the same time, often from depicting his own suffering, the persecuted psalmist in a prophetic spirit was transported in his hymns into the distant future and contemplated the suffering of Christ the Savior of the world. David's inspired narratives were subsequently collected into one book of Psalms or Psalms, which the saints of the New Testament Church called “the physician of souls.”
King David (Gerrig van Honthorst, 1611)
David wrote many sacred songs, or psalms, which he sang in prayer to God, playing the harp or other musical instruments. In these prayer songs, David cried out to God, repented of his sins before Him, sang the greatness of God and predicted the coming of Christ and the suffering that Christ would endure for us. Therefore, the Holy Church calls King David a psalmist and prophet.
The Psalms of David are often read and sung in the Church during divine services. The sacred book in which all these psalms, or songs, are found is called the psalter. The Psalter is the best book of the Old Testament. Many Christian prayers are composed of words from the psalms of this book.
David was not only a king and a singer, but also a prophet who prophesied about the Messiah - “the Son and Lord of David.” Christ refers to Ps. 109 in Matthew 22:43ff., and Peter, in his sermon on the day of Pentecost, refers to the testimony of the “forefather and prophet” David about the resurrection and ascension of Christ into heaven (Acts 2:25ff.; Ps. 15:2).
Decline of reign
The main problem of the last years of David's reign was the appointment of an heir to the throne. The Bible tells of court intrigues in the struggle of heirs for power.
Among the sons of David there was one named Absalom, handsome and dandy, “from the soles of his feet to the top of his head he had no shortage.” But under the prepossessing appearance of the royal son, there was hidden a cruel and insidious soul.
Absalom and Tamar
One day, David's eldest son Amnon raped his half-sister Tamar (2 Samuel 13:14). David was upset, but did not punish his son. Seeing such injustice, Absalom stood up for his sister’s honor and killed his older brother, but, fearing his father’s wrath, he fled to Gessur (2 Samuel 13:38), where he stayed for three years (970 - 967 BC). Then, when David's grief subsided, Absalom was forgiven and was able to return to Jerusalem.
However, Absalom planned to take the throne from his father and become king. To implement his plan, he tried to secure the support of the common people. By cunning, Absalom won supporters for himself. Gradually he gained many followers.
One day Absalom asked David for leave to go to the city of Hebron under the pretext that he wanted to make a sacrifice to God there, and he himself gathered his supporters in Hebron and rebelled against his father.
David, having learned that an army of rebels was marching on Jerusalem, led by his son, whom in his heart he loved more than his other children, was deeply saddened. He decided not to join the fight and, taking his family, people loyal to him and his army, left the capital.
Psalm 3
1 Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son.
2 Lord! how my enemies have multiplied! Many are rebelling against me
3 Many say to my soul, “He has no salvation in God.”
4 But You, O Lord, are a shield before me, my glory, and You lift up my head.
5 With my voice I cry to the Lord, and He hears me from His holy mountain.
6 I lie down, sleep and get up, for the Lord protects me.
7 I will not be afraid of the people who have taken up arms against me on all sides.
8 Arise, Lord! save me, my God! for You strike all my enemies on the cheek; you break the teeth of the wicked.
9 Salvation is from the Lord. Upon Your people is Your blessing.
The rebels occupied Jerusalem. Absalom ordered a pursuit of David. The armies of David and Absalom met in the forest of Ephraim, where a bloody battle took place and the rebels were defeated.
Even before the battle began, David ordered all his soldiers to spare Absalom. But Absalom did not know this, and when his army was defeated, he tried to escape. He rode on a mule. Driving under a branchy oak tree, Absalom got entangled with his long hair in its branches “and hung between heaven and earth, and the mule that was under him ran away.”
Death of Absalom
Absalom was found by one of David's soldiers and, contrary to the king's orders, he killed the traitor, and threw his body into a pit and stoned him. “And the victory of that day turned into mourning for all the people.” King David was plunged into deep sorrow. He mourned his dead son.
But David’s power was still shaky, since a new rebellion opened, led by Sheba (2 Samuel 20:2). However, David managed to pacify this rebellion, but he still could not find peace.
Adonijah (1 Kings 1:18), the next eldest son of David, declared his rights to the royal throne. Adonijah created his own detachment of bodyguards and tried to win over the army and some of the priests and Levites to his side. But he failed to attract either the prophet Nathan, the priest Zadok, or the royal guard. Adonijah's plot fails.
At the end of his reign, David took a census of the population. God considered this enterprise impudent and vain, became angry with David, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem were struck by a pestilence. David prayed to the Lord: “ So I sinned, I, the shepherd, acted lawlessly, and these sheep, what did they do? Let Thy hand turn upon me and upon my father's house" The Lord heeded David’s prayer, and the plague stopped.
Feeling the approach of death, at the insistence of the prophet Nathan and Bathsheba, David anointed his son Solomon as king, telling him: “ Here I am setting out on the journey of the whole earth, so be strong and be courageous. And you shall keep the covenant of the Lord your God, walk in His ways and keep His statutes and His commandments."(1 Kings 2:1; 1 Chronicles 23:1).
David died at the age of 70 after 40 years of reign and was buried in Jerusalem.(1 Kings 2:10-11), on Mount Zion, where, according to Christian tradition, the Last Supper took place.
The image of David has become over the centuries the ideal of a righteous king, the personification of the past greatness of the people and a symbol of hope for its revival in the future.
In the New Testament
The New Testament sees David as a prophet (Acts 2:30) and a hero of the faith (Heb. 11:32), a man after God's own heart and the forefather of Jesus, the “Son of David” (Acts 13:22ff; Matt. 1: 1.6; Matt.9:27; 15:22; Rom.1:3), who is also David’s Lord, Christ (Matthew 22:42-45). In this the promises made to David are fulfilled (Luke 1:32,33).
God made an agreement with David, according to which the dynasty of David would rule the people of Israel forever, and David's capital - Jerusalem - would forever be the holy city, the only abode of God himself (see Ps. 89:4-5, Ps. 89:29- 30, Psalm 89:34–38, Psalm 132:13–14, Psalm 132:17). According to legend, the Messiah was supposed to come from the line of David (through the male line), which came true, according to the New Testament. The Mother of God and the Savior Christ Himself came from the line of David..
Michelangelo's David
For many centuries, the personality of David and his exploits served as an inexhaustible source of inspiration for artistic creativity. A monumental sculpture by Michelangelo (1503, Accademia, Florence) and paintings by Rembrandt are dedicated to David.
The statue of David by the great Michelangelo is a masterpiece of the Renaissance. This sculpture was created between 1501 – 1504. The height of the statue is almost 5.2 meters. It was created from marble according to biblical motifs. Initially, the statue of David was supposed to be one of the statues to decorate the Florence Cathedral, and was supposed to depict one of the biblical prophets. But the figure of a naked David, instead of the cathedral, became a decoration of the main square of Florence, and became a symbol of the protection of civil liberties of the Florentines, who created an independent republic in their city, surrounded on all sides by enemies who were trying to seize it.
The statue of David was installed in the square in 1504, and it occupied its place in the center of the main square of Florence until 1873, when an exact copy of David was installed in the square and the original was placed in the Accademia Gallery.
This work by Michelangelo also brings a new representation of David, who was previously usually represented with the head of the already killed Goliath in his hands. In this case, David is depicted before the battle with Goliath, his face is serious, he looks forward with a gaze, his eyebrows are furrowed, he is ready to fight with an obviously stronger opponent. His whole figure is tense, the muscles on his body are tense and bulging, the bulge of the veins on his lowered right arm is especially noticeable, but at the same time, David’s body posture is quite relaxed. It is this contrast between the tense expression of the face and some parts of the body and the calm pose that attracts attention to this statue, it makes it possible to speculate about what is happening.
This sculpture by Michelangelo is an interpretation of the ancient Greek theme of sculptural work, where a man was depicted naked and with a heroic appearance. During the Renaissance, typical ancient Greek classical forms began to change slightly, although the basis remained precisely classical, which can be seen in many sculptures of this time. This statue also became a symbol of male, human beauty, becoming the most famous work of the Renaissance.
In Moscow, at the State Museum of Fine Arts. A.S. Pushkin, there is a plaster cast of “David”.
Tomb of King David
King David's Tomb on Mount Zion
The tomb of King David is located on Mount Zion on the lower floor of a building built by the Crusaders directly below the room of the Last Supper.
The authenticity of the tomb has not been proven. Perhaps David was buried in the Kidron Valley, in the same place as all the rulers of Israel. The tomb is considered a holy place among Jews, Christians and Muslims.
Next to the tomb of King David there is a functioning synagogue named after him. In the 4th century, there was the Christian Church of St. David, which was destroyed by the Persians, and in 1524, the El-Daoud Mosque was built in its place, the minaret of which can still be seen today. The large stone sarcophagus is covered with a veil, on which are installed the crowns of the Torah scrolls, symbolizing the 22 kingdoms of Israel, and embroidered with the words from the First Book of Kings: “David, king of Israel, lives and exists.” Legend says that the treasures of the First Temple were hidden behind the tomb of King David. Many conquerors of Jerusalem (Persians, Crusaders, Mamluks) destroyed the grave in search of treasures.
Archaeological discoveries
In the Holy Scriptures, King David appears to us as a contradictory personality: a wise commander, a subtle politician, a brave and cruel warrior, not a very good father and not a very faithful husband, the creator of beautiful lyrical works - psalms, a sincere believer in God, but not without human vices.
Until recently, archaeologists and historians questioned the existence of King David as a historical figure - no evidence of his existence was found and David’s exploits and accomplishments seemed too implausible to them.
But in 1993, during excavations in northern Israel at a site called Tel Dan, a fragment of basalt was found embedded in a wall with words about the House of David. According to an ancient custom widespread in the east, many kings erected monuments to their greatness and achievements.
This inscription testified precisely to the victory of the Syrian king over the kings from the house of David, which serves as proof of the existence of David himself, since the mythical king could not have heirs.
Material prepared by Sergey Shulyak
Troparion, tone 2
The memory of thy prophet David, O Lord, is in celebration; therefore we pray to Thee: save our souls.
Kontakion, tone 4
Enlightened by the Spirit, the pure heart of the prophecy became the brightest friend: see that the real one exists far away: for this reason we honor you, prophet David, glorious.
Prayers to King David:
Remember, Lord, King David and his meekness forever, and with his holy prayers have mercy on us sinners. Amen.
O holy servant of God, King and Prophet David! Having fought a good fight on earth, you have received in Heaven the crown of righteousness, which the Lord has prepared for all who love Him. In the same way, looking at your holy image, we rejoice at the glorious end of your life and honor your holy memory. You, standing before the Throne of God, accept our prayers and bring them to the All-Merciful God, to forgive us every sin and help us against the wiles of the devil, so that you will be delivered from sorrows, illnesses, troubles and misfortunes and all evil, piously and righteously
One of the most famous kings of Israel, the greatest righteous man, psalmist and musician. David became the founder of the royal dynasty. According to tradition, the Jewish savior - Mashiach (Messiah) - will be a direct descendant of David. Under David, the Israeli power reached its peak. King David, being a brave warrior and skilled military leader, defeated the enemies of the Jewish people and united the 12 tribes of Israel. David recaptured Jerusalem, where he moved the capital and where he created a unified spiritual and political center. David’s contribution to the spiritual life of the people is no less great: David edited the book Tehillim - a collection of Psalms (Psalms), many of the Psalms were written by David himself. It is believed that it was King David who chose the site for the Jerusalem Temple and laid its foundation, on which David’s son, the wise King Shlomo (Solomon), built the magnificent building of the First Temple.
Years of life: 2854-2924 (906-836 BC).
Born in the city of Beit Lehem. On his father's side he was descended from the chief judge Ivzan-Boaz, who was a direct descendant of the leader of the tribe of Judah - Nachshon, son of Amminadab. And David’s great-grandmother was the wife of Ivzan-Boaz, the Moabite Ruth ( Ruth 4:20-21, Targum; I Divrei Hayamim 2:10-11).
David in the books of TaNakh
Many chapters of both books of Shmuel are devoted to the life of David. They tell about the hero's youth, about his duel with the Philistine giant [Goliath, or Galjat], about the conflict with the then king Shaul.
David lived a hard and dangerous life, he wandered a lot, and was often persecuted. He survived family discord, conspiracies among his comrades, and civil uprisings.
For many years, David was a shepherd, as were once the forefathers of the Jewish people, as well as the prophet Moses. In his nomadic life in the lap of nature, David acquired exceptional dexterity and strength: protecting his sheep, the young shepherd defeated lions and bears in battle ( Midrash Shmuel 2:20:5; Otsar Ishei HaTanach, David).
The anointing and accession of David
IN 2883 year /877 BC/ an unexpected radical change occurred in the fate of the twenty-nine-year-old shepherd. One day he was hastily called home from a distant pasture. At home, the prophet Shmuel was waiting for him, who, without giving any explanation, took his horn of oil and anointed him as king instead of King Shaul - for such was the will of G‑d ( I Shmuel 16:11-13; Seder Olam Rabbah 13; Seder Hadorot).
Anointed to reign by the prophet Shmuel, King David [became officially recognized as king only a few years later].
IN 2884 year the inhabitants of the tribe of Judah made him king over them ( II Shmuel 2:1-4; Seder Olam Zuta 5:2; Seder Hadorot). And in 2892/868 BC/, representatives of all tribes and elevated David to the kingdom over the entire country.
Strengthening the kingdom centered in Jerusalem
David recaptured and rebuilt Jerusalem, making it the capital of a large and powerful Jewish state. He lived in a palace on Mount Zion and prepared everything for the construction of the Jerusalem Temple, but did not receive permission for this, because he shed a lot of human blood. The first Temple was built by his son Bat Sheva, the great and wisest king Shlomo (Solomon).
King David managed to become the center of life of his people. A born ruler, he had the ability to win over everyone with whom he dealt. The extraordinary difficulties he had to overcome forged his character, revealing in the dreamy young man a genius for political maneuvers.
David lived only seventy years, but those were years of incredible work and holy asceticism. He reigned for forty years and is buried in a cave carved into the rock at the foot of the hill now known as the City of David.
The greatness of David and his role in history
Many legends are associated with the name of David. According to one of them, he was supposed to die immediately after birth, but Adam, the first man, agreed to give him seventy years, living the remaining 930.
David did not lose his greatness even after his death: on the day of the last judgment, when a great feast will be arranged for the tzaddikim [righteous people] of all generations, it is he who will pronounce
David. David, anointed king when he was still a shepherd, became the most famous king of Israel and the ancestor of a long line of kings of Judah almost until the end of the political existence of the people.
David did not immediately ascend the throne, but had to spend his entire youth in various adventures, hiding from the bloodthirsty jealousy of the increasingly morally declining king.
During the first seven years of his reign, his residence was, and after the murder of Saul’s son, Ishbosheth (Ishbosheth), everyone recognized David as their king.
David came to the conviction that in order to establish royal power in the country, he needed a capital, which, not belonging to any tribe individually, could serve as a common capital for the entire people.
For this purpose, he outlined one strong fortress on the border between the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, which, despite all the efforts of the Israelites, defended its independence and previously belonged to the brave tribe.
That was Jerusalem, which, as can be seen from the latest discoveries, even before occupied an important position among other cities of the country, having a kind of hegemony over them.
This fortress was now about to fall before the power of the new king, and David founded his royal capital in it. The new capital, thanks to its magnificent position, began to quickly attract the Jewish population, soon flourished magnificently and richly, and Jerusalem became one of the most famous cities in the history of not only the Israeli people, but of all mankind.
With David, the rapid growth of the entire kingdom begins.
Thanks to the extraordinary energy of this brilliant king, the affairs of internal improvement that had been upset at the end of the previous reign were soon put in order, and then a whole series of victorious wars began, during which the worst enemies of Israel were finally crushed - as well as the Edomites, whose lands became the property of Israel.
Thanks to these victories and conquests, the kingdom of the Israeli people became a powerful monarchy, which for a time ruled all of Western Asia and in whose hands lay the fate of numerous peoples who reverently brought their tribute to the formidable king.
The Israelites entered into close friendly relations with the Phoenicians, and this friendship with a highly cultured people was very useful and beneficial to them in the development of their material culture.
At the same time, spiritual life began to develop rapidly, and the richest flowering of ancient Jewish spiritual and religious poetry dates back to this time, which found especially remarkable expression in the marvelous in its depth and fiery feelings of David himself and the singers close to him.
Towards the end of the reign, as a result of polygamy introduced by the king, various unrest began, which overshadowed the last years of the life of the great king, and after severe turmoil, the throne passed to the son of his most beloved wife, but at the same time the main culprit of all his disasters, Bathsheba, namely to young Solomon (around 1020 BC).
The Jewish prophets perceived him as the ancestor of the future Messiah. In King David is mentioned as the ancestor of Jesus.
Family of King David
Wives of King David.
King David had many wives. Through marriage, David strengthened his relationships with various political and national groups. It is very likely that he had 8 wives:
- Michal, second daughter of King Saul;
- Bathsheba, originally the wife of one of David's commanders6
- Ahinoama;
- Abigail the Carmelite, formerly the wife of Nabal;
- Maachi, daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur;
- Aggifa;
- Avital;
- Egla.
Children of King David.
Genealogy of King DavidReign of King David
God is angry when Saul, the king of Israel, does not do His will, and therefore he sends the prophet Samuel to anoint young David, the youngest son of Jesse of Bethlehem, as king. This is how the Lord showed His intention.
...He was blond, with beautiful eyes and a pleasant face. And the Lord said, Arise, anoint him, for it is he. And Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him among his brethren, and the Spirit of the Lord rested upon David from that day and after...
After this incident, nothing changed in David’s life; he still tended cattle and played the lyre for his flocks.
The Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him. Saul's courtiers recommend that he find a talented musician so that he can calm Saul with his music. So David, who played the lyre beautifully, becomes a court musician and plays music to calm the king, who is occasionally bothered by an evil spirit.
P.P. Rubens David and Goliath. 1616 Saul appoints David as commander of the army. All Israel loves David, but his popularity causes Saul to fear and hate him. He plans to kill David, but Saul's son Jonathan warns David about his father's evil plans and David manages to escape. First he flees to Nob, where he is helped by the priest Ahimelech, then he flees to the Philistine city of Gath, intending to seek refuge with King Achish. After some time, David realizes that he is again in danger and hides in the cave of Adollam with his family.
David planned to seek refuge with the king of Moab, but the prophet Gad conveys to him God's command to go to the forest of Hereth, and then to Keilah, where David takes part in a further battle with the Philistines. Saul plans to conquer Keilah and capture David, so David leaves the city to protect its inhabitants. David takes refuge in the mountains and then in the Negev desert.
The locals tell Saul where David is hiding. Saul enters the cave where David and his men were hiding. David realizes that he has the opportunity to kill Saul, but he does not do it. Instead, he secretly cuts off a corner of Saul's clothing and, when Saul left the cave, David bowed to Saul and showed a piece of cut clothing, thereby letting Saul understand that he had no claims to the Kingdom and was not going to fight with Saul. Thus the two made peace and Saul accepted David as his successor. Theologian Donald Spence-Jones believes that "one of the most beautiful features of David's multifaceted nature was his devotion to Saul and the house of Saul."
David leaves the cave to bow to Saul David had the opportunity to kill King Saul later, but he also did not take advantage of it. This case is described in. David found Saul sleeping, but did not listen to the advice of Abishai and did not hit the sleeping Saul with a spear and did not allow Abishai to do this.
After the death of Saul and his son, the elders of Israel came to Hebron to David, who was considered God's anointed. Soon David conquers Jerusalem and makes it his capital. He carries the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem, intending to build a temple here, but the prophet Nathan (Nathan) forbids him, prophesying that the Temple must be built one of David's sons. Throughout his life, David prepared everything needed to build the Temple in order to make the task easier for his son.
Nathan also prophesies that God has made a Covenant with the house of David:
your throne will stand forever
David regularly won victories over the Philistines. The Moabites, Edomites, Amalekites and Ammonites paid him tribute. Almost all the wars that David waged were initially defensive in nature: David primarily defended his Kingdom. However, these wars ended with the creation of David's empire, which stretched on both sides of the Jordan River, all the way to the Mediterranean Sea.
David divided the country into twelve districts, each with its own civil, military, and religious institutions. He also established Jerusalem as the secular and religious center of the two Kingdoms. People from other districts began to make pilgrimages to Jerusalem every year for the holidays.
David and Bathsheba.
Marc Chagall. David and Bathsheba, 1956 David seduces Bathsheba, the wife of his military commander, and wishes for the death of her husband. In response, Nathan prophesies the punishment that will fall on David.
... by this act you gave a reason to the enemies of God to blaspheme Him, the son born to you will die...
David's son Absalom rebels against his father. David suppresses the rebellion, but orders the soldiers who pursued Absalom into the forest of Ephraim to spare his son's life. Absalom clings to the trees with his long hair and falls victim to Joab's three arrows. David mourns the death of his beloved son for a long time.
David's sinful relationship with Bathsheba is also considered the cause of many sad events in the family of King David. For example, the rape of his daughter Tomar by his eldest son Amnon, as well as the murder of Amnon at the hands of his brother Absalom.
Old age and death of King David.
In his old age, David was bedridden. He constantly felt cold and could not warm up. He bequeathed his throne to Solomon, son of Bathsheba. Adonijah, David's eldest son, declared himself king. However, in response to this, David publicly anointed Solomon as king. Fearing retribution, Adonijah fled to the altar in Jerusalem, but Solomon had mercy on him. David died at the age of 70 after 40 years of reign. On his deathbed, David instructs Solomon to walk in the ways of God and take revenge on his enemies.
King David was buried on Mount Zion. According to the New Testament, it was at this place that the Last Supper took place.
King David in history and archeology
The question of whether King David is a real historical figure is still relevant today. Until recently there was no evidence of the historicity of David. However, some recently discovered archaeological artifacts suggest that David is probably a real historical figure.
Tel Dan Stele (a stone covered with inscriptions), erected in Damascus in the late 9th - early 8th century BC. e. to commemorate the ruler's victory over enemy kings, contains the phrase bytdwd, which most scholars translate as “house of David.” It is likely that this is a reference to the dynasty of the Kingdom of Judah.
Mesha Stele The Mesha Stele from Moab, dating from around the same period, also contains the name David in two places. In addition to the two stelae, the name of David also appears on a bas-relief in Egypt. All other evidence about the life and reign of David comes from biblical literature. At the same time, many biblical scholars believe that the biblical narrative about a unified Israeli monarchy is just ideological propaganda created in the 6th century BC. e. and that the figure of David is not historical.
Archaeological evidence suggests that in the 10th century BC (during the time of David), Judea was sparsely populated and Jerusalem was a small village. The next century saw the rise of the Kingdom of Judah. Judea gradually grew from a place inhabited by various tribes into a small state. These facts do not confirm, but also do not refute the possibility of the existence of King David as a real historical person.
Some scholars believe in the historicity of David, but not in his status. For example, Baruch Halpern believes that David was a lifelong vassal of Achish, the Philistine king. Israel Finkelstein and Neil Asher Silberman describe David as the charismatic leader of a band of bandits who captured Jerusalem and made it their capital. Israel Finkelstein and Neil Asher Silberman reject the idea that David ruled over two kingdoms. They suggest that he was a small leader of the Southern Kingdom (Judah). At the same time, they emphasize that in the time of David, Judea was a polytheistic state, and the biblical stories about David were created according to legends much later and are an attempt to portray the past as golden age of monotheistic monarchy only to confirm their contemporary interests.
Stephen Mackenzie, author of a biography of King David, believes that David actually came from a wealthy family and was an "ambitious and ruthless" tyrant who killed his opponents, including his own sons, on his way to power.
Psalmist David
David is considered the author of all or most of the psalms in the Psalter. According to another version, he only edited the Psalter. Many psalms deal with specific events in David's life (eg Psalms 3, 7, 18, 34, 51, 52, 54, 56, 57, 59, 60, 63, and 142).
Figure of David in Christianity
The concept of the Messiah is central to Christianity. The first earthly king to rule by divine appointment (“anointed one”) was the Davidic king. The story of David is the background to the concept of Messiahship in early Christianity. So David, as a leader and king, was a mediator between God and the people. The early Church believed that David's life foreshadowed the life of Christ: they were born in the same place, David was a shepherd, which points to Christ.
Memory of David.
In the Roman Catholic Church and Lutheran Church, David's memory is celebrated on December 29. In the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Day of the Holy Righteous Prophet and King David is celebrated on the Sunday of the Holy Forefathers (two Sundays before the great feast of the Nativity of Christ). David is also commemorated on the Sunday after the Nativity of Christ, along with Joseph and Jacob, the Lord's brother.
In the scriptures
In the Old Testament
Origin and anointing
David was the youngest of the eight sons of Jesse, a Bethlehemite from the tribe of Judah, the great-grandson of Boaz (Boaz) and the Moabite Ruth (Ruth).
Therefore, God, having rejected King Saul (Shaul) for disobedience, sent the prophet Samuel (Shmuel) to anoint David in the presence of his father and brothers as the future king. With the anointing, the Spirit of God descended on David and rested on him (1 Samuel 16:1-13).
At the court of King Saul
Called to King Saul, David played the harp to drive away the evil spirit that was tormenting the king for his apostasy. After David, who came to the Israeli army to visit his brothers, accepted the challenge of the Philistine giant Goliath and killed him with a sling, thereby ensuring victory for the Israelites, Saul finally took him to court (1 Samuel 16:14 - 18:2).
As a courtier and warrior, David won the friendship of the king's son Jonathan (Jonathan), and his courage and success in the fight against the Philistines began to overshadow the glory of Saul himself in the eyes of the people. This aroused the envy and jealousy of the king, so “ from that day forward Saul looked at David suspiciously"(1 Samuel 18:7-9). Over time, suspicions grew stronger and Saul tried to kill David twice. When this failed, Saul began to act more cautiously. He put David in danger during the war with the Philistines - using the feelings of his daughter Michal for the young leader, he forced David to risk his life, but he proved himself to be a brave and courageous man (1 Sam. 18: 3-30).
Now Saul no longer hid his enmity. The incident with the spear that the king threw at David, and the threat of going to prison, from which only his wife Michal saved him, forced David to flee to Samuel in Ramah. At the last meeting, Jonathan confirmed to David that reconciliation with Saul was no longer possible (1 Samuel 19:20).
Flight and emigration
Under the pretext of fulfilling the king's secret order, David received the showbread and the sword of Goliath from the priest Ahimelech in Nob (Nove), and then fled to the Philistine king Achish in Gath (Gat). There they wanted to capture David, and in order to save himself, he pretended to be insane (1 Sam. 21; Ps. 33:1; 55:1).
Then David sought refuge in the cave of Adollam, where he gathered around him relatives and many oppressed and dissatisfied; he hid his parents with the Moabite king. David's hasty flight and his futile attempts to find safety were put an end to God's command conveyed to him through the prophet Gad to go to the land of Judah (1 Sam. 22:1-5). From there the Lord, in response to David's question, led him further to the liberation of Keilah from the Philistines, where Abiathar, the only priest from Nob who escaped Saul's vengeance, came to him with the ephod. Saul, having heard about David’s stay in Keilah, began many years of merciless persecution of his rival (1 Sam. 23). However, he eluded him again and again, while David twice refused the opportunity to kill the king, God’s anointed, so as not to suffer punishment for this (1 Samuel 23; 24; 26).
Realizing the possible consequences (1 Samuel 27:1), David, with 600 soldiers and both wives, whom he had married by that time, left for Gath. There he entered the service of the Philistine king Achish, who provided him with Ziklag (Ziklag) to live in (1 Sam. 27:2-7). Over the next 16 months, God forced David to drink the bitter cup to the end. He was supposed to appear to be an enemy of Israel without actually being one. Therefore, he deceived Achishus regarding the direction of his robber raids and killed mercilessly so that his lies would not be revealed. Having thus won the trust of the Philistine, David was forced to go with the army of Achish against Israel, but he and his people, as potential defectors, were sent home (1 Samuel 27:8 - 28:2; 29).
Finding upon their return that Ziklag had been burned and their wives and children taken captive, David’s people rebelled and wanted to stone him. Then David did something that he had not resorted to since Keilah: he turned to the Lord and received an answer. Pursuing the Amalekite army, David's detachment captured rich booty and captured all the captives alive and unharmed, and their property intact. Two days later, a certain Amalekite brought him news of the death of Saul on Gilboa (Gilboa). David grieved until evening, and his grief found vent in a song of lament dedicated to Saul and Jonathan. Then he ordered the execution of the messenger who confessed to the murder of the king of Israel (2 Sam. 1).
King in Hebron
After David again inquired of the Lord, he moved (possibly with the consent of Achish) to Hebron, where the tribe of Judah anointed him king. However, Abner, Saul's military commander, installed the latter's son, Ishbosheth, in Mahanaim, which was not under the rule of the Philistines, and established his authority over the remaining tribes.
In the many years of war between Judah and Israel, David's power constantly increased. He had 6 sons in Hebron, including Amnon, Absalom and Adonijah. Finally, Abner quarreled with Ishbosheth and entered into negotiations with David, who first of all demanded that his wife Michal be returned to him. This was fulfilled, but even before a final agreement was reached, Abner was killed by Joab, who avenged the death of Asahel. However, instead of trying his nephew Joab for murder, the king only publicly mourned Abner, thus trying to avert suspicions of incitement from himself.
When, soon after this, two Benjamites who served in the army of Ish-bosheth killed their king and brought his head to Hebron, David immediately ordered their execution (2 Sam. 2-4). After seven years of David's reign over the house of Judah, the path to power over all the people was clear. All the elders of Israel, prepared in advance by Abner, appeared in Hebron and anointed David as king (2 Sam. 5:1-5; 1 Chron. 11:1-3; -40).
King in Jerusalem
After his accession to the throne, David first took Jerusalem, which was considered impregnable and had previously belonged to the Jebusites, and made this city, located on the border between the inheritances of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, the capital, the so-called “city of David” - from a military and political point of view, an unusually successful step (it did not turn out to be preference neither to the north nor to Judah). David re-fortified the city and ordered the construction of a royal palace there, using the labor of artisans sent to him by the Tyrian king.
New wives and concubines bore him new sons and daughters (2 Samuel 5:6-16; 1 Chronicles 3:4-9; 1 Chronicles 14:1-7). As soon as the first victories provided David with foreign policy peace, he began to transform Jerusalem into a cult-religious capital. From the time of his return from the land of the Philistines, the Ark of the Covenant was located in Kiriathiarim (Kiryat Jearim) (1 Sam. 7:1). Although the first attempt to transfer the Ark to Jerusalem ended in failure, David still managed to complete this task, and amid the rejoicing of the people, a solemn procession brought the Ark carried by the Levites to the capital, where it was placed in a pre-arranged tabernacle (cf. Ps. 23; 131). On the way, the king himself, dressed in a priestly cape (ephod), danced in front of the ark. Michal condemned this behavior as degrading the king's dignity before the people. As punishment for this, from that time on she remained childless (2 Samuel 6; 1 Chronicles 13; 15 et seq.).
Foreign Wars
As soon as David became king of all Israel, the Philistines, to whom he seemed dependent and harmless in Hebron, again became active. Near Jerusalem, they were twice completely defeated by David, acting on the instructions of the Lord (2 Sam. 5:17-25). Subsequent battles (2 Kings 21:15-22) led to the conquest of the Philistines (2 Kings 8:1; 1 Chronicles 18:1). In the north, David defeated the Syrians of Damascus and Adraazar, king of Suva, which earned him the friendship of Adraazar’s opponent, Thoi, king of Hamath; in the south and southeast, David established his dominance over Moab, Edom, and the Amalekites (2 Sam. 8:2-14). Relations with the Ammonites under King Naash were peaceful, but his son Hannon provoked a war by insulting David’s ambassadors. With their first campaign, Joab and Abishai destroyed the alliance between Annon and the Arameans (Syrians) called to his aid, who then finally submitted to David. A year later, David took Rabbah.
The kingdom of David extended from Ezion-Geber on the Gulf of Aqaba in the south to the border of Hamath in the north and occupied, with the exception of narrow coastal strips inhabited by the Philistines and Phoenicians, the entire space between the sea and the Arabian desert. Thus, Israel basically reached the borders of the promised land (Num. 34:2-12; Ezek. 47:15-20).
State building
A vast kingdom required an orderly organization of administration and troops. At court, David created, largely following the Egyptian model, the positions of scribe and scribe (2 Sam. 8:16 et seq.).
Next we learn about the king's advisers (1 Chron. 27:32-34), about the officials who managed the king's property (27:25-31), and about the overseer of the collection of taxes (2 Sam. 20:24). Along with the leaders over individual tribes (1 Chronicles 27:16-22), the already mentioned Levitical judges and officials acted (1 Chronicles 26:29-32). David also carried out a general census of the people, which, however, was contrary to the will of the Lord and was not completed (1 Chron. 27:23 et seq.).
The highest military rank was possessed by the chief military commander, that is, the head of the people's militia, which consisted of 12 military units obliged to serve for a month, and the head of the personal guard of the king, the Chelethites and the Peletheites (2 Sam. 20:23), mercenaries of Cretan and Philistine origin.
A special position was occupied brave of David- his companions since the flight from Saul, famous for their exploits. Some of them (Joab, Abishai, Benei) subsequently occupied senior command positions (2 Kings 23:8-39; 1 Chronicles 11:10 - 12:22; 20:4-8).
Gibeonites and Mephibosheth
When David asked the Lord about the cause of the three-year famine, he was ordered to atone for Saul's old blood debt to the Gibeonites. At the request of the latter, David gave them two sons and five grandsons of Saul, who were brutally executed. After David ordered their remains to be interred, “ God had mercy on the country"(2 Samuel 21:1-14). David was to act in this case as the supreme ruler and judge of his people, obeying the requirement of the Lord, who laid the debt of Saul's blood on his family; he himself did not harbor personal hatred for the family of Saul.
As a sign of this, David called Mephibosheth, the lame son of Jonathan, to his court and allowed him to eat at the royal table with his sons (2 Sam. 9). Because God had given him kingdom and victory, David showed royal mercy towards Saul's last grandson.
David and Bathsheba
At the height of his power, during the war with the Ammonites, David fell into sin. Seeing a beautiful woman bathing and learning that she was Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, one of his brave men, David, despite this, sent for her.
Bathsheba was forced to comply. When the king learned that she was expecting a child from him, he called her husband from the campaign. However, Uriah refused to enter his house in front of the entire court, which confused the plans of David, who hoped that with the arrival of Uriah, Bathsheba’s pregnancy would be associated with the name of her husband. David sent orders to Joab to send Uriah to a place where he would die in battle. And this commander, who had not yet atoned for the sin of killing Abner, carried out the order. Uriah fell in battle. After the mourning period, Bathsheba officially became David’s wife and bore him a son. Then God sent the prophet Nathan to the king, who announced the verdict: the sword will not depart from the house of David forever, and his wives will be openly given to another. His son must die, but David himself will have his death sentence revoked because he admitted his sin. Forgiveness extended to the marriage with Bathsheba, from whom David’s successor, Solomon, was now born (2 Sam. 11:2 - 12:25).
From this time on, David's life was both subject to judgment and promise. The king's eldest son Amnon committed violence against his half-sister Tamar. David, having learned about this, did nothing and thus betrayed Amnon to the revenge of Tamar’s brother (Tamar) Absalom, who ordered him to be killed, and he himself fled to his grandfather in Geshur (chapter 13).
Joab came up with a pretext under which the king could, without passing judgment, call his son back. Absalom achieved complete forgiveness for himself (2 Samuel 14) and prepared a rebellion against David. Suddenly launching hostilities, he received the support of Ahithophel, Bathsheba's grandfather and adviser to the king. After the capture of Jerusalem, Ahithophel prompted Absalom to openly make his wives the concubines left in the palace by the fleeing David (2 Samuel 15; 16).
Thus, God's judgment was fulfilled, but another council of Ahithophel managed to disavow Hushai, David's confidant. This gave the king the opportunity to go beyond the Jordan with reliable troops and gather an army in Mahanaim. In the decisive battle, David did not take command, but gave his commanders a categorical order to spare the life of Absalom, which Joab deliberately ignored.
Infinitely grieving over the death of his son, the king, under the influence of Joab, who threatened him with new betrayals, nevertheless gathered his courage and showed himself to the people at the city gates (2 Samuel 17:1 - 19:9). On the way back to Jerusalem, David, fully aware of God's judgment, showed mercy to opponents and suspects.
By this, however, he was unable to prevent a new uprising that broke out under the leadership of Sheba, from the tribe of Benjamin, but was skillfully and mercilessly suppressed by Joab. At the same time, Joab, with the help of another murder, eliminated Amasa, who was appointed by David as military leader in his place (2 Samuel 19:10 - 20:22).
Transfer of the kingdom to Solomon and death
Peace reigned, but only until the time when the king’s condescension turned out to be fatal for Adonijah, the eldest king’s son at that time: knowing that his father was in old age, he lusted for power. The prophet Nathan and Bathsheba managed to motivate David to action. Having gathered his strength, he said: “ Take with you the servants of your lord, and put Solomon my son on my mule, and bring him to Gion, and let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there as king over Israel, and blow the trumpet and shout: Long live King Solomon! Then bring him back, and he will come and sit on my throne; he will reign in my place; I bequeathed to him to be the leader of Israel and Judah"(1 Kings 1:33-35). They did so, and Solomon, having become king, solemnly returned to the palace, and Adonijah’s party disintegrated, but temporarily remained unpunished.
David felt that his end was near. He called Solomon to him and bequeathed him to faithfully serve God and build a Temple in Jerusalem from the gold and silver he had prepared. With his last will, David bequeathed to his son to carry out royal justice over Joab. He also ordered Solomon to reward the sons of Barzillai and not to leave Shimei unpunished. (1 Kings 2:7-8)
David died at the age of 70 after 40 years of reign and was buried in Jerusalem (1 Kings 2:10-11).
In the New Testament
In legends
In Jewish tradition
According to Jewish tradition, the Messiah should come from the line of David, who will transform the world of violence and selfishness into a world where there will be no wars, and the whole earth will be filled with love for God and people.
In Christianity
David in Islam
Image in art
Many works of art from different eras and generations are dedicated to David. For example, the famous sculpture by Michelangelo, paintings by Titian and Rembrandt, reflecting episodes from his life, the oratorio “King David” by the French composer Arthur Honegger, etc.
On October 7, 2008, a bronze monument to King David was erected on Mount Zion, received by the Israeli authorities as a gift from the Russian charitable foundation St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.
Footnotes and sources
see also
Links
- Article " David» in the Electronic Jewish Encyclopedia
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