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When Samuel grew old, and it became obvious that his sons fell far short of the integrity of their father (just as had happened with Eli), the people demanded a king "such as all the other nations have.". They foolishly ignored the fact that they already had a King, Almighty God, guiding and protecting them. Reluctantly, but in obedience to The Lord's instruction Samuel then found himself as Israel's "king maker" - he anointed Saul as Israel's first king, and after Saul proved himself to be unstable and unwise, Samuel anointed Israel's second king, David .... When Samuel died, he was buried in Ramah. It was a very big funeral "all Israel assembled and mourned for him." .... After Samuel's death, Saul, by then corrupt and insane, used the witch of Endor to attempt to consult the spirit of Samuel.David slays Goliath of Gath, the Philistine giant - 1029 B.C. David was the eighth and youngest son of Jesse, from Bethlehem. He was a strong, healthy lad, apparently with an uncommon characteristic among his people of the time - red hair. He was a Shepherd from an early age, and developed his courage and fighting skills by defending the flocks from the wild animals, including lions and bears, that preyed upon them. The free time that being a shepherd provided also allowed him to develop two other skills, that of music and poetry. David was a warrior, and a writer of psalms. .... When the Israelites were at war with the Philistines, the two armies faced each other from opposite hills with the Valley of Elah between them. Every morning for forty days, the mighty Goliath (who stood over 9 feet tall) challenged the Israelites for someone to come out and fight him, but none would go out. One day, David, who was then too young for the army, arrived with some deliveries for his older brothers. He heard Goliath and immediately volunteered to fight him.
When David explained to King Saul that he had been fighting fierce animals all his life, he convinced the king that he could defeat the Philistine. .... After turning down an offer of the king's own armor, which was too big for him, David went down to the creek and got five suitable stones The rest of the story is famous. He killed Goliath with a single perfectly-accurate shot.. The stone didn't just rebound off the giant man's thick skull as would naturally be expected, but actually penetrated with the power of a modern high-velocity bullet. Upon seeing their hero defeated, the Philistine army made a disorderly retreat (i.e. they just dropped everything and ran), giving the Israelites, then in hot pursuit, the victory. The success made David very popular in Israel.
Listen to King David's literary Masterpiece : The Lament
over the death of Saul and Jonathan CLICK HERE
David Crowned King of Judah in Hebron After the death of Saul, David thought the time had come for him to emerge from exile and take over the leadership of his people. He left Ziklag and proceeded to the ancient city of Hebron in Judah. There the people of Judah gathered and anointed him king. In the prime and vigor of his life (he was then thirty years old), wise in council, prompt in action, God-fearing and earnest, he seemed to all men best fitted to be king in those troubled times. He was the warrior king, the poet of Judah.
David was surrounded by a band of valiant heroes who had long shared his adventurous exploits. Chief among his followers, bravest of his captains, was Joab, his kinsman, son of his sister Zeruiah. Joab had two brothers, Abishai and Asahel. The former was renowned for his fiery courage, and had slain three hundred Philistines with his own hands; the latter was "as swift of foot as the wild gazelle."
There are mentioned by name many other heroes, who accomplished wonderful feats of boldness. One of these adventures affords a touching proof of the feeling of strong attachment with which David had inspired his followers. At one time when war was being waged with the Philistines, he was hidden with his men near Adullam, while his enemies were encamped at Beth-Lehem. Tormented with thirst and wearied by the scorching rays of the sun, he longed for some water from his own pure well at Beth-Lehem. Eager to do his bidding at the peril of their lives, three of his most courageous men fought their way through the Philistine host and returned with the longed-for draught. David, though praising their heroism and devotion, would not taste the water they had obtained by risking their own life-blood, and poured it out as an offering to God. It was with the aid of followers so resolute and so undaunted that David might well hope to establish the new kingdom, and to become the protector of his people. He began his rule by a graceful act. He sent his greeting to the men of Jabesh in Gilead and thanked them for burying the bodies of Saul and his sons, and promised them his assistance whenever needed .
Civil War In the meantime, Abner, the commander of Saul's army and his ever faithful follower, was determined that the sceptre should not depart from the house of Saul, and proclaimed Ishbosheth king over Israel. But considering him unsafe so near the land of Judah, Abner went with him to the old town of Mahanaim, east of the Jordan, where the prince took up his temporary residence; Abner himself soon returned to the province of Benjamin, and remained in Gibeon at the head of the army. Soon he was met there by Joab, captain of David's soldiers. A battle ensued, in which many of Abner's soldiers were slain. As Abner himself turned and fled, he was boldly pursued by the fleet-footed Asahel. Abner knew the young Asahel was no match for him, and begged Asahel to avoid a hand-to-hand combat with him; but the youth heard this advice with disdain. Again in the heat of pursuit, Abner repeated his request, and again it was tauntingly rejected. At last Abner, to save his honor, felt obliged to take up the challenge. Thenext moment Asahel lay dead, easily slain by Abner. Enraged at the sad untimely end of their brother, Joab and Abishai carried on the pursuit. .At last Abner made a personal appeal to Joab to stop the bloodshed. Joab was moved; he commanded his men to leave off fighting, and both generals parted that day apparently reconciled.
Yet the feeling of revenge was not extinguished in the heart of Joab. After burying his brother in Beth-Lehem, he returned with his men to Hebron, while Abner and his soldiers passed safely over the Jordan, and joined their master in Mahanaim. This reconciliation did not last long, and frequent clashes between the two parties occurred from time to time. David was as yet too weak to stop the powerful and popular Joab from continuing his feud with Abner.
Abner Swears Allegiance to David At last, Abner could not help being convinced that the whole land would soon acknowledge David, who alone was able to lead and shield the people. He spoke with the elders of Israel and showed them the utter hopelessness of the struggle. He then sent messengers to David at Hebron, and offered him his alliance. Sincere in his proffered loyalty to David, Abner proceeded to Hebron fearlessly, accompanied by no more than twenty men. He was kindly received by David, and a feast was prepared for him and his followers. He finally left Hebron in peace, promising David to win over all Israel to him.
Abner's Death At the time of Abner's visit to Hebron, Joab was absent on a military expedition. When he returned victorious and laden with spoil and heard what had happened meanwhile, he upbraided the king for having given his old enemy a friendly reception and allowed him to leave Hebron unhurt. Without David's knowledge, he secretly sent messengers to entice Abner back into the town. At the gates of the city he ambushed the unsuspecting general and killed him to avenge the death of his brother Asahel. David heard of this act of treachery with horror. Addressing the people, he declared himself guiltless of Abner's blood, and lamented the death of the brave Abner with these words: "A chief and great man is fallen in Israel."
Soon afterwards, the feeble Ishbosheth was murdered by two treacherous Benjaminites. The perpetrators of the deed brought their master's head in triumph to David, who, revolted at the crime, ordered them to be put to death. David then interred the head of his slain rival in the vault of Abner. Ishbosheth's sad rule, if rule it could becalled, had lasted two years.
David's Coronation in Hebron David was now the acknowledged king over all Israel. His fine character, his honesty, selflessness, and piety, had won him the hearts of all his peopleand they swarmed to Hebron to pay homage to their beloved king and to anoint him publicly. The occasion turned into a great national celebration that lasted for three days. Present also were three thousand warriors who were formerly the body guard of King Ishbosheth and hosts of other warriors as well as scholars, all of whom pledged their allegiance to David.
The Capture of Jerusalem For 450 years since the Jewish people first entered the Land of Israel until the time of King David, Jebus or Jerusalem has been a city-state inhabited by Canaanite tribe called Jebusites (the Arab village of Silwan is located there now). Jebus has one weakness -- its only source of water is a spring outside the city walls. The spring is accessed from inside the city by a long shaft carved into rock.
Warren's ShaftThe Book of Samuel and the Book of Chronicles describe how David's general, Joab, climbs up a tzinor (literally "pipe") enters the city and conquers it. Archaeologists speculate that this might refer to "the Warren Shaft" -- a vertical tunnel running up from Gihon Spring -- which is a tourist attraction in "David's City," outside the walls of modern Jerusalem. "The king and his men marched to Jerusalem to attack the Jebusites, who lived there. The Jebusites said to David, "You will not get in here; even the blind and the lame can ward you off." They thought, "David cannot get in here." Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion, the City of David. (2 Samuel 5:6-7)
As first established, the City of David consisted of David's palace, which overlooked the tent that David had set up to house The Ark Of The Covenant The fame of this new capital spread far and wide; it reached Hiram, the king of Tyre, who sent skilled workmen and the wood of his much prized cedar trees for the building of a palace. Other neighboring peoples, however, began to fear the new united Jewish kingdom and sought to destroy it. Among them were Israel's old enemies, the Philistines who set out to attack them again. But David marched out to meet their army, defeated it repeatedly, and pursued the fugitives northward as far as Gezer.
King David is one of the most important figures in Bible history. Born in 1055 BC, he reigns as king of Israel for 40 years, dying at age 70 in 985 BC. David is a man with human faults -- whose first and foremost drive is to have a relationship with God. We get the glimpse of the beauty of his soul when we read the Psalms, most of which he wrote.
The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want ... (Psalm 23)
The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom should I fear ... (Psalm 27)
I lift my eyes to the mountains -- from where will my help come? My help comes from the Lord, Maker of heaven and earth ... (Psalm 121)
On the Temple site today is a large rock 58 feet by 51 feet called Rock Moriah. This is where Jacob dreamt of a ladder going to heaven, and said: "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven." (Genesis 28:17)This is also the site where Abraham earlier went up to offer Isaac and was part of the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite (Araunah) which David purchased for 600 shekels of gold. David called the place "the House of the Lord God" and designated the Rock as the place for the burnt offering of Israel .... I Chronicles 21,22
The Altar that sat on top of the Rock was made of wood plated with brass and was 30 feet square and 15 feet high. Today on this spot stands a structure known as the Dome of the Rock. Under this golden dome is a rock which was at one time was the Altar of the Temple.
King David brings the Ark to Jerusalem
"Now King David was told, "The Lord has blessed the household of Obed-Edom and everything he has, because of The Ark of God." So David went down and brought up The Ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with rejoicing.... They brought The Ark of The Lord and set it in its place inside the tent that David had pitched for it, and David sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings before The Lord." (2 Samuel 6:12,17)
King David wasted no time bringing the Ark to Jerusalem. And it is an occasion of great happiness. In ecstasy David dances wildly at this celebration. For this he is condemned by his wife Michal, the daughter of Saul, who had stuck with him through thick and thin and who even saved his life when King Saul wanted to kill him. But now Michal attacks David, ridiculing his behavior 2 Samuel 6:16-23 "How glorious was the king of Israel today, who was exposed today in the eyes of the maidservants of his servants, as one of the boors would be exposed!"
David responds in astonishment: "Before the Lord I will make merry. And I shall behave even more humbly than this, and I shall be lowly in my eyes; and of the maidservants of whom you have spoken, by them shall I will be held in honor." And Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death.
Although David brings up the Ark of the Covenant to Mount Moriah, he is not allowed by God to build the Temple. A number of reasons are given. One is that the Temple is a house of God and a house of peace and David has blood on his hands from subduing the enemies of Israel. However, he is promised that his son will build it.
DAVID'S PALACERestless one night, David is pacing the roof of his palace from where he has a view of the homes and gardens in the city below. And there he spies a beautiful woman bathing. She is the wife of one of his generals, Uriah, the Hittite, who is away at war. David sends for Bathsheba and spends the night with her. When she becomes pregnant, he commands that Uriah be placed on the front lines, where he dies in battle. David then marries Bathsheba At this point, the prophet Nathan pays a call on the king. (See 2 Samuel 12.) He says that he has come to inform the king of a great injustice in the land. A rich man with many sheep, stole the one beloved sheep of a poor man, and had it slaughtered for a feast. Furious at what he hears, King David, declares, "As God lives, the one who has done this deserves death." Responds the prophet, "You are that man!"
David is humbled. "I have sinned before God," he says. David's greatness shines in the humility of his admission and the repentance that follows. This is part of the reason that the ultimate redeemer of the Jewish people and the world will descend from David's line -- he will be "Messiah ben David."
Shortly thereafter, Bathsheba gives birth, but the child becomes deathly ill as the prophet Nathan had predicted. David goes into a period of prayer and fasting, but the child dies nevertheless. David realizes that this happened in response to his actions. He also knows that God has forgiven him. Before long Bathsheba is pregnant again. And this time, she bears a healthy child -- who is named Solomon, and who will be gifted by God with unusual wisdom .Now David has a number of sons by several wives, some of whom give him serious trouble. One, Amnon rapes his sister, Tamar. Another, Absalom, plots against David and tries to have him deposed
"David commanded to gather together the aliens who were in the land of Israel, and he set stonecutters to prepare dressed stones for building the house of God. David also provided great stores of iron for nails for the doors of the gates and for clamps, as well as bronze in quantities beyond weighing, and cedar timbers without number - for the Sidonians and Tyrians brought great quantities of cedar to David. For David said, "Solomon my son is young and inexperienced, and the house that is to be built for the LORD must be exceedingly magnificent, of fame and glory throughout all lands; I will therefore make preparation for it." So David provided materials in great quantity before his death.
Then he called for Solomon his son, and charged him to build a house for the LORD, the God of Israel. David said to Solomon, "My son, I had it in my heart to build a house to the name of the LORD my God. But the word of the LORD came to me, saying, You have shed much blood and have waged great wars; you shall not build a house to my name, because you have shed so much blood before me upon the earth. Behold, a son shall be born to you; he shall be a man of peace. I will give him peace from all his enemies round about; for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet to Israel in his days. He shall build a house for my name. He shall be my son, and I will be his father, and I will establish his royal throne in Israel for ever.' Now, my son, the LORD be with you, so that you may succeed in building the house of the LORD your God, as he has spoken concerning you. Only, may the LORD grant you discretion and understanding, that when he gives you charge over Israel you may keep the law of the LORD your God. Then you will prosper if you are careful to observe the statutes and the ordinances which the LORD commanded Moses for Israel. Be strong, and of good courage. Fear not; be not dismayed. With great pains I have provided for the house of the LORD a hundred thousand talents of gold, a million talents of silver, and bronze and iron beyond weighing, for there is so much of it; timber and stone too I have provided. To these you must add. You have an abundance of workmen: stonecutters, masons, carpenters, and all kinds of craftsmen without number, skilled in working gold, silver, bronze, and iron. Arise and be doing! The LORD be with you!"
David also commanded all the leaders of Israel to help Solomon his son, saying, "Is not the LORD your God with you? And has he not given you peace on every side? For he has delivered the inhabitants of the land into my hand - and the land is subdued before the LORD and his people. Now set your mind and heart to seek the LORD your God. Arise and build the sanctuary of the LORD God, so that the ark of the covenant of the LORD and the holy vessels of God may be brought into a house built for the name of the LORD."
"Then David rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of David. He had reigned forty years over Israel - seven years in Hebron and thirty-three in Jerusalem. So Solomon sat on the throne of his father David, and his rule was firmly established." (1 Kings 2:10-12) Bethlehem is also called the "city of David" (Luke 2:4, 11), because it was David's birthplace and early home (1 Sam. 17:12).
King David's Tomb in JerusalemBethlehem is also called the "city of David" (Luke 2:4, 11), because it was David's birthplace and early home (1 Sam. 17:12).
