David: Beloved, the eighth and youngest son of Jesse, a citizen of Bethlehem.
His father seems to have been a man in humble life. His mother's name
is not recorded. Some think she was the Nahash of
(2 Samuel 17:25) As to
his personal appearance, we only know that he was red-haired, with
beautiful eyes and a fair face
(1 Samuel 16:12; 17:42) His early occupation
was that of tending his father's sheep on the uplands of Judah. From
what we know of his after history, doubtless he frequently beguiled
his time, when thus engaged, with his shepherd's flute, while he
drank in the many lessons taught him by the varied scenes spread
around him. His first recorded exploits were his encounters with the
wild beasts of the field. He mentions that with his own unaided hand
he slew a lion and also a bear, when they came out against his flock,
beating them to death in open conflict with his club
(1 Samuel 17:34,35)
While David, in the freshness of ruddy youth, was thus engaged with
his flocks, Samuel paid an unexpected visit to Bethlehem, having been
guided thither by divine direction
(1 Samuel 16:1-13) There he offered up
sacrifice, and called the elders of Israel and Jesse's family to the
sacrificial meal. Among all who appeared before him he failed to
discover the one he sought. David was sent for, and the prophet
immediately recognized him as the chosen of God, chosen to succeed
Saul, who was now departing from the ways of God, on the throne of
the kingdom. He accordingly, in anticipation, poured on his head the
anointing oil. David went back again to his shepherd life, but "the
Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward," and "the
Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul"
(1 Samuel 16:13,14) Not long after
this David was sent for to soothe with his harp the troubled spirit
of Saul, who suffered from a strange melancholy dejection. He played
before the king so skilfully that Saul was greatly cheered, and began
to entertain great affection for the young shepherd. After this he
went home to Bethlehem. But he soon again came into prominence. The
armies of the Philistines and of Israel were in battle array in the
valley of Elah, some 16 miles south-west of Bethlehem; and David
was sent by his father with provisions for his three brothers, who
were then fighting on the side of the king. On his arrival in the
camp of Israel, David (now about twenty years of age) was made aware
of the state of matters when the champion of the Philistines, Goliath
of Gath, came forth to defy Israel. David took his sling, and with a
well-trained aim threw a stone "out of the brook," which struck the
giant's forehead, so that he fell senseless to the ground. David then
ran and slew him, and cut off his head with his own sword
(1 Samuel 17:1)ff
The result was a great victory to the Israelites, who pursued the
Philistines to the gates of Gath and Ekron. David's popularity
consequent on this heroic exploit awakened Saul's jealousy
(1 Samuel 18:6-16) which he showed in various ways. He conceived a bitter
hatred toward him, and by various stratagems sought his death
(1 Samuel 18:1-30) The deep-laid plots of the enraged king, who could
not fail to observe that David "prospered exceedingly," all proved
futile, and only endeared the young hero the more to the people, and
very specially to Jonathan, Saul's son, between whom and David a
life-long warm friendship was formed. A fugitive. To escape from the
vengeance of Saul, David fled to Ramah
(1 Samuel 19:12-18) to Samuel,
who received him, and he dwelt among the sons of the prophets, who
were there under Samuel's training. It is supposed by some that the
sixth, seventh, and eleventh Psalms were composed by him at this
time. This place was only 3 miles from the residence of Saul, who
soon discovered whither the fugitive had gone, and tried
ineffectually to bring him back. Jonathan made a fruitless effort to
bring his father to a better state of mind toward David
(1 Samuel 20:1-34) who, being made aware of the fact, saw no hope of safety
but in flight to a distance. We accordingly find him first at Nob
(1 Samuel 21:1-9) and then at Gath, the chief city of the Philistines.
The king of the Philistines would not admit him into his service, as
he expected that he would, and David accordingly now betook himself
to the stronghold of Adullam
(1 Samuel 22:1-4; 1 Chronicles 12:8-18) Here in a
short time 400 men gathered around him and acknowledged him as
their leader. It was at this time that David, amid the harassment and
perils of his position, cried, "Oh that one would give me drink of
the water of the well of Bethlehem;" when three of his heroes broke
through the lines of the Philistines and brought him the water for
which he longed
(2 Samuel 23:13-17) but which he would not drink. In
his rage at the failure of all his efforts to seize David, Saul gave
orders for the massacre of the entire priestly family at Nob,
"persons who wore a linen ephod", to the number of eighty-five
persons, who were put to death by Doeg the Edomite. The sad tidings
of the massacre were brought to David by Abiathar, a son of
Ahimelech, the only one who escaped. Comp.
(Psalms 52:1)ff Hearing
that Keilah, a town on the western frontier, was harassed by the
Philistines, David with his men relieved it
(1 Samuel 23:1-14) and
then, for fear of Saul, he fled to the strongholds in the "hill
country" of Judah. Comp.
(Psalms 31:1)ff While encamped there, in
the forest in the district of Ziph, he was visited by Jonathan, who
spoke to him words of encouragement
(1 Samuel 23:16-18) The two now
parted never to meet again. Saul continued his pursuit of David, who
narrowly escaped from him at this time, and fled to the crags and
ravines of Engedi, on the western shore of the Dead Sea
(1 Samuel 23:29) Here Saul, who still pursued him with his army, narrowly
escaped, through the generous forbearance of David, and was greatly
affected by what David had done for him. He returned home from
pursuing him, and David betook himself to Maon, where, with his
600 men, he maintained himself by contributions gathered from
the district. Here occurred the incident connected with Nabal and his
wife Abigail
(1 Samuel 25:1)ff whom David married after Nabal's
death. Saul again went forth
(1 Samuel 26:1)ff in pursuit of David,
who had hid himself "in the hill Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon,"
in the wilderness of Ziph, and was a second time spared through his
forbearance. He returned home, professing shame and penitence for the
way in which he had treated David, and predicting his elevation to
the throne. Fighting against Israel. Harassed by the necessity of
moving from place to place through fear of Saul, David once more
sought refuge among the Philistines
(1 Samuel 27:1)ff He was welcomed
by the king, who assigned him Ziklag as his residence. Here David
lived among his followers for some time as an independent chief
engaged in frequent war with the Amalekites and other tribes on the
south of Judah. Achish summoned David with his men to join his army
against Saul; but the lords of the Philistines were suspicious of
David's loyalty, and therefore he was sent back to Ziklag, which he
found to his dismay may had been pillaged and burnt during his brief
absence. David pursued after the raiders, the Amalekites, and
completely routed them. On his return to Ziklag tidings reached him
of Saul's death
(2 Samuel 1:1)ff An Amalekite brought Saul's crown
and bracelet and laid them at his feet. David and his men rent their
clothes and mourned for Saul, who had been defeated in battle near
Mount Gilboa. David composed a beautiful elegy, the most beautiful of
all extant Hebrew odes, a "lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan
his son"
(2 Samuel 1:18-27) It bore the title of "The Bow," and was to
be taught to the children, that the memory of Saul and Jonathan might
be preserved among them. "Behold, it is written in the book of
Jasher" (q.v.). David king over Judah. David and his men now set out
for Hebron under divine direction
(2 Samuel 2:1-4) There they were
cordially welcomed, and he was at once anointed as king. He was now
about thirty years of age. But his title to the throne was not
undisputed. Abner took Ish-bosheth, Saul's only remaining son, over
the Jordan to Mahanaim, and there crowned him as king. Then began a
civil war in Israel. The first encounter between the two opposing
armies, led on the one side by Abner, and on the other by Joab, took
place at the pool of Gibeon. It resulted in the defeat of Abner.
Other encounters, however, between Israel and Judah followed
(2 Samuel 3:1,5)
but still success was on the side of David. For the space of seven and
a half years David reigned in Hebron. Abner now sided with David, and
sought to promote his advancement; but was treacherously put to death
by Joab in revenge for his having slain his brother Asahel at Gibeon
(2 Samuel 3:22-39) This was greatly to David's regret. He mourned for
the death of Abner. Shortly after this Ish-bosheth was also
treacherously put to death by two Canaanites of Beeroth; and there
being now no rival, David was anointed king over all Israel
(2 Samuel 4:1-12)
David king over all Israel
(2 Samuel 5:1-5; 1 Chronicles 11:1-3) The elders of Israel
now repaired to Hebron and offered allegiance to David in name of all
the people, among whom the greatest enthusiasm prevailed. He was
anointed king over all Israel, and sought out a new seat of government,
more suitable than Hebron, as the capital of his empire. At this time
there was a Jebusite fortress, "the stronghold", on the hill of Zion,
called also Jebus. This David took from the Jebusites, and made it
Israel's capital, and established here his residence, and afterwards
built for himself a palace by the aid of Tyrian tradesmen. The
Philistines, who had for some time observed a kind of truce, now made
war against David; but were defeated in battle at a place afterwards
called, in remembrance of the victory, Baal-perazim. Again they invaded
the land, and were a second time routed by him. He thus delivered
Israel from their enemies. David now resolved to bring up the ark of
the covenant to his new capital
(2 Samuel 6:1)ff It was in the house of
Abinadab at Kirjath-jearim, about 7 miles from Jerusalem, where it had
been for many years, from the time when the Philistines had sent it
home
(1 Samuel 6:1-7:1)ff In consequence of the death of Uzzah
(for it was a divine ordinance that only the Levites should handle the
ark,)
(Numbers 4:1)ff who had put forth his hand to steady the ark when
the cart in which it was being conveyed shook by reason of the
roughness of the road, David stayed the procession, and conveyed the
ark into the house of Obed-edom, a Philistine from Gath. After three
months David brought the ark from the house of Obed-edom up to
Jerusalem. Comp.
(Psalms 24:1)ff Here it was placed in a new tent or
tabernacle which David erected for the purpose. About seventy years
had passed since it had stood in the tabernacle at Shiloh. The old
tabernacle was now at Gibeah, at which Zadok ministered. David now
(1 Chronicles 16:1)ff carefully set in order all the ritual of divine
worship at Jerusalem, along with Abiathar the high priest. A new
religious era began. The service of praise was for the first time
introduced into public worship. Zion became henceforth "God's holy
hill." David's wars. David now entered on a series of conquests which
greatly extended and strengthened his kingdom
(2 Samuel 8:1)ff In a few
years the whole territory from the Euphrates to the river of Egypt, and
from Gaza on the west to Thapsacus on the east, was under his sway
(2 Samuel 8:3-13; 10:1)ff David's fall. He had now reached the
height of his glory. He ruled over a vast empire, and his capital was
enriched with the spoils of many lands. But in the midst of all this
success he fell, and his character became stained with the sin of
adultery
(2 Samuel 11:2-27) It has been noted as characteristic of the
Bible that while his military triumphs are recorded in a few verses,
the sad story of his fall is given in detail, a story full of warning,
and therefore recorded. This crime, in the attempt to conceal it, led
to anoter. He was guilty of murder. Uriah, whom he had foully wronged,
an officer of the Gibborim, the corps of heros
(2 Samuel 23:39) was, by
his order, "set in the front of the hottest battle" at the siege of
Rabbah, in order that he might be put to death. Nathan the prophet
(2 Samuel 7:1-17; 12:1-23) was sent by God to bring home his crimes to the
conscience of the guilty monarch. He became a true penitent. He
bitterly bewailed his sins before God. The thirty-second and
fifty-first Psalms reveal the deep struggles of his soul, and his
spiritual recovery. Bathsheba became his wife after Uriah's death. Her
first-born son died, according to the word of the prophet. She gave
birth to a second son, whom David called Solomon (Peace), and who
ultimately succeeded him on the throne
(2 Samuel 12:24,25). After the
successful termination of all his wars, David formed the idea of
building a temple for the ark of God. This he was not permitted to
carry into execution, because he had been a man of war. God, however,
sent Nathan to him with a gracious message
(2 Samuel 7:1-16) On receiving
it he went into the sanctuary, the tent where the ark was, and sat
before the Lord, and poured out his heart in words of devout
thanksgiving
(2 Samuel 7:18-29). The building of the temple was reserved
for his son Solomon, who would be a man of peace
(1 Chronicles 22:9; 28:3) A
cloudy evening. Hitherto David's carrer had been one of great
prosperity and success. Now cloudy and dark days came. His eldest son
Amnon, whose mother was Ahinoam of Jezreel, was guilty of a great and
shameful crime
(2 Samuel 13:1)ff This was the beginning of the
disasters of his later years. After two years Absalom terribly avenged
the crime against Tamar, and put Amnon to death. This brought sore
trouble to David's heart. Absalom, afraid of the consequences of his
guilt, fled to Geshur beyond Jordan, where he remained for three years,
when he was brought back through the intrigue of Joab
(2 Samuel 14:1)ff
After this there fell upon the land the calamity of three years' famine
(2 Samuel 21:1-14) This was soon after followed by a pestilence, brought
upon the land as a punishment for David's sinful pride in numbering the
people
(2 Samuel 24:1)ff in which no fewer than 70,000 perished in the
space of three days. Rebellion of Absalom. The personal respect for
David was sadly lowered by the incident of Bathsheba. There was a
strong popular sentiment against the taking of the census, and the
outburst of the plague in connection with it deepened the feeling of
jealously that had begun to manifest itself among some of the tribes
against David. Absalom, taking full advantage of this state of things,
gradually gained over the people, and at length openly rebelled against
his father, and usurped the throne. Ahithophel was Absalom's chief
counsellor. The revolt began in Hebron, the capital of Judah. Absalom
was there proclaimed king. David was now in imminent danger, and he
left Jerusalem
(2 Samuel 15:13-20) and once more became a fugitive. It
was a momentous day in Israel. The incidents of it are recorded with a
fulness of detail greater than of any other day in Old Testament
history. David fled with his followers to Mahanarm, on the east of
Jordan. An unnatural civil war broke out. After a few weeks the rival
armies were mustered and organized. They met in hostile array at the
wood of Ephraim
(2 Samuel 18:1-8) Absalom's army was defeated, and
himself put to death by the hand of Joab
(2 Samuel 18:9-18). The tidings
of the death of his rebellious son filled the heart of David with the
most poignant grief. He "went up to the chamber over the gate, and
wept"
(2 Samuel 18:33) giving utterance to the heart-broken cry, "Would
God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!" Peace was now
restored, and David returned to Jerusalem and resumed the direction of
affairs. An unhappy dispute arose between the men of Judah and the men
of Israel
(2 Samuel 19:41-43) Sheba, a Benjamite, headed a revolt of the
men of Israel. He was pursued to Abelbeth-maachah, and was there put
to death, and so the revolt came to an end. The end. After the
suppression of the rebellion of Absalom and that of Sheba, ten
comparatively peaceful years of David's life passed away. During those
years he seems to have been principally engaged in accumulating
treasures of every kind for the great temple at Jerusalem, which it was
reserved to his successor to build
(1 Chronicles 22:1)ff
(1 Chronicles 28:1)ff
a house which was to be "exceeding magnifical, of fame and of glory
throughout all countries"
(1 Chronicles 22:5) The exciting and laborious life
he had spent, and the dangers and trials through which he had passed,
had left him an enfeebled man, prematurely old. It became apparent that
his life was now drawing to its close. A new palace conspiracy broke
out as to who should be his successor. Joab favoured Adonijah. The
chiefs of his party met at the "Fuller's spring," in the valley of
Kidron, to proclaim him king; but Nathan hastened on a decision on the
part of David in favour of Solomon, and so the aim of Adonijah's party
failed. Solomon was brought to Jerusalem, and was anointed king and
seated on his father's throne
(1 Kings 1:11-53) David's last words are a
grand utterance, revealing his unfailing faith in God, and his joyful
confidence in his gracious covenant promises
(2 Samuel 23:1-7) After a
reign of forty years and six months
(2 Samuel 5:5; 1 Chronicles 3:4) David died
(B.C. 1015) at the age of seventy years, "and was buried in the city of
David." His tomb is still pointed out on Mount Zion. Both in his
prophetical and in his regal character David was a type of the Messiah
(1 Samuel 16:13) The book of Psalms commonly bears the title of the
"Psalms of David," from the circumstance that he was the largest
contributor (about eighty psalms) to the collection.
"The greatness of David was felt when he was gone. He had lived in
harmony with both the priesthood and the prophets; a sure sign that
the spirit of his government had been throughly loyal to the higher
aims of the theocracy. The nation had not been oppressed by him, but
had been left in the free enjoyment of its ancient liberties. As far
as his power went he had striven to act justly to all
(2 Samuel 8:15)
His weak indulgence to his sons, and his own great sin besides, had
been bitterly atoned, and were forgotten at his death in the
remembrance of his long-tried worth. He had reigned thirty-three
years in Jerusalem and seven and a half at Hebron
(2 Samuel 5:5) Israel
at his accession had reached the lowest point of national depression;
its new-born unity rudely dissolved; its territory assailed by the
Philistines. But he had left it an imperial power, with dominions
like those of Egypt or Assyria. The sceptre of Solomon was already,
before his father's death, owned from the Mediterranean to the
Euphrates, and from the Orontes to the Red Sea.", Geikie's Hours
etc., iii.
