History of David

David was born in 1040 BC into an obscure family in the town of Bethlehem, in the Hebrew the tribe of Judah. He was the great-grandson of Ruth and the youngest of eight sons of Jesse. As a child, David’s father wanted him to keep the family shee. During this time, David developed great skill in music and fighting, since it was his custom to kill any lion or bear that disturbed the flock. The shepherd years were interrupted suddenly when Samuel, the great judge and prophet of Israel, showed up in Bethlehem to offer a sacrifice. Samuel reviewed Jesse’s sons and then called for David, who was declared as a future king of Israel in the presence of his family. Even as David was fighting to recover Ziklag, Saul and the Israelites were defeated in a stunning loss at the Battle of Mount Gilboa. Both Saul and Jonathan were killed, and David mourned when he heard the news. The leaders of the southern Israelite tribe of Judah responded by anointing David as their king. He became king of Judah, 1010 BC, at the age of 30 and reigned for seven years and six months.

Yet it was not a time of peace. To the north, the remaining Israelite tribes select Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, as their king. A civil war broke out between the northern Kingdom of Israel and the southern Kingdom of Judah. This continued until two men, Rechab and Baanah, assassinated Ishbosheth on his bed. When they brought his head to David, expecting gifts, David accused them of murder and had them executed. Despite his flaws, David was known as “a man after God’s own heart”, the most devout of all Hebrew kings, and set the standard for a Judean king. The prophecy of a David fueled Messianic hopes among the Jews, that which were finally fulfilled in the coming of Jesus, the physical descendant and promised ‘Son of David.