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Lumen

David

Shepherd, king, sinner and penitent; the Messiah is called the son of David.

Awaiting theological review

Who was David?

The youngest son of Jesse of Bethlehem, a shepherd anointed by Samuel, who defeated Goliath, served and fled from King Saul, and became king of Judah and then of all Israel, with Jerusalem as his capital. God promised that his throne would last for ever. He sinned gravely with Bethsabee and against Urias, and repented when the prophet Nathan confronted him.

The story

  1. Anointed by Samuel while still a shepherd boy

    1 Samuel 16:1–13

    Why did God choose the youngest son? →

  2. Defeats Goliath in the name of the Lord

    1 Samuel 17:32–51

  3. Covenant of friendship with Jonathan

    1 Samuel 18:1–4

  4. Spares Saul's life

    1 Samuel 24:4–8

  5. King of all Israel; takes Jerusalem

    2 Samuel 5:1–10

  6. Dances before the ark

    2 Samuel 6:12–16

  7. God promises him an everlasting house

    2 Samuel 7:8–16

    Why is Jesus called the son of David? →

  8. Adultery with Bethsabee and the death of Urias

    2 Samuel 11:1–27

  9. Confronted by Nathan; I have sinned against the Lord

    2 Samuel 12:1–13

  10. Mourns his rebel son Absalom

    2 Samuel 18:24–33

  11. Dies and is buried in the city of David

    1 Kings 2:10–12

What we know — and how

Scripture tells us

  • He was the youngest son of Jesse of Bethlehem and a shepherd.(1 Samuel 16:11–13)
  • Through Nathan, God promised that his house and kingdom would be established for ever.(2 Samuel 7:12–16)
  • He took Bethsabee, wife of Urias, and arranged Urias' death; when Nathan confronted him he confessed his sin.(2 Samuel 11:1–27; 2 Samuel 12:1–13)
  • Jesus is called son of David, and the angel promises Mary that her son will receive the throne of David.(Matthew 1:1; Luke 1:32)

Tradition holds

  • Many psalms bear his name in their titles, and tradition honours him as the psalmist of Israel; Psalm 50 (51 in Hebrew numbering) is titled as his prayer after Nathan's visit.Source: Psalm superscriptions; Jewish and Christian tradition

Historians debate

  • An Aramaic inscription from Tel Dan (9th century BC) refers to the house of David — the earliest reference to him outside the Bible.
  • The size and power of his kingdom; his reign is traditionally placed around 1000 BC.

Unknown

  • The exact dates of his birth, reign and death, and which psalms he composed himself.

Virtues

  • Trust in God
  • Loyalty
  • Generosity toward enemies
  • Worship with his whole heart
  • Repentance

Failures

  • Adultery
  • Murder of Urias
  • Weakness toward his sons' crimes
  • Pride in the census (2 Samuel 24)

Why David matters

David shows that God's choice does not depend on human greatness, and that even a king who sins terribly can repent and be forgiven. God's promise to him points forward to Jesus, the son of David whose kingdom has no end.

Related people

Places

Bethlehem · Valley of Terebinth · Hebron · Jerusalem (city of David)

Interactive map coming in a later phase.