Adolescence
David is a distant ancestor of His supposed father Joseph (Righteous Joseph was betrothed to the Blessed Virgin Mary). Presumably, the future king was born around 1040 BC. The life of the holy King David tells about this.
Besides David, there were seven more sons in the family. He was younger than all of them. In his youth, he worked as a sheep shepherd on his father's farm. Already at that time, he began to feel the heroic strength in his body, and the talent of a singer in his soul. His peace was disturbed by lions, bears and other wild animals who tried to steal sheep. But the boy, without a weapon, with bare hands, chased the predator and took away the sheep, and if the beast showed aggression, the mighty boy could kill him without a weapon.
In his free time, the boy made himself a stringed instrument and composed songs to its accompaniment. Subsequently, instruments of this type were called psaltirion (or psalter), and the inspired songs that he composed throughout his life formed the basis of the Psalter, one of the main prayer books of Orthodox Christians.
King David (Gerrig van Honthorst, 1611)
Personal life
The biblical story says that David was smart, handsome, and also had a talent for oratory. As for amorous relationships, Saul’s daughter Michal was married to another young man. But nevertheless, the woman-loving David had many wives and concubines, which, in principle, was typical of the kings of that time.
But because of David’s amorousness, the king’s internal policy was not cloudless. The ruler of the united Israeli state angered God by darkening his life with a mortal sin - adultery. The fact is that the king, walking on the roof of his palace, was blinded by the beauty of bathing Bathsheba.
King David and his son Solomon
However, the woman who captivated his mind and feelings was married to the beneficent Uri the Hittite, who faithfully served David’s army. But, despite the beauty’s marriage, David ordered Bathsheba to be taken to the palace. After a while, the ruler’s beloved became pregnant, and David ordered the military commander in a letter to send Uriah to certain death.
Having learned about this treacherous act, the prophet Nathan cursed David, dooming his future to fratricidal conflicts and severe punishments. Thus, there was a lot of bitterness and sadness in David's life.
King David in old age
The king began to feel physically unwell, his body became covered with ulcers, and riots began in the palace. The leader's eldest son Amnon raped his half-sister Tamar and was killed by his brother Absalom.
Absalom himself went against his father, but his army was crushed to smithereens. Despite the betrayal, David loved his son and waited for his return home. According to legend, a young man died when his long hair got tangled in the branches of an oak tree. This tragedy darkened the life of David, who lamented:
“My son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Oh, who would let me die instead of you, Absalom, my son, my son!
David had to literally beg God's forgiveness on his knees. The Creator forgave the sinful king, giving him a healthy son Solomon, but reminded him that
“...they must pay four times for a sheep.”
After repentance, the autocrat’s life was not calm, for another son of David, Adonijah, the actual heir to the throne, tried to organize a conspiracy against his father and usurp power, because he learned that the crown was destined for Solomon.
How King Saul Angered God
Around 1029 BC Saul from the tribe of Benjamin, anointed by the prophet Samuel, became the head of the kingdom of Israel. But the ruler did not show proper obedience to the Will of God.
At the beginning of the war with the Philistines, he arbitrarily offered burnt offerings without waiting for Samuel to arrive. Later, he did not fulfill the will of God, transmitted through the prophet, - he did not completely destroy the defeated barbarian people of the Amalekites. From that moment on, Samuel declared to him that he had incurred the Wrath of God. After this, the reign lasted only a few years.
Read about other Old Testament prophets:
- Icon of the Holy Prophet Elijah
- Life of the Holy Prophet Isaiah
- Book of the Prophet Daniel
In addition, he fell ill with a mental illness - he began to fall into severe depression with bouts of irritability and anger.
God's New Chosen One
At the command of the Lord, the prophet Samuel came to Bethlehem, waited for the arrival of David and anointed him with oil as king. From that day on, the grace of God was upon the boy.
After some time, it became known about Saul's mental illness. His associates tried to find ways to alleviate his condition. Then they decided to invite a skilled musician and singer. The choice fell on David.
The youth, with his play, managed to temporarily alleviate the master’s condition, and the young man was elevated to the rank of the royal squire.
In Christianity
In the Christian religion, David appears as a prophet from whose family Jesus Christ came into the world. According to Orthodoxy, David became the author of the psalms included in the Psalter, which is considered an integral part of the Old Testament and Christian worship.
Orthodox icon of King David
It is believed that the icon of King David and prayers addressed to him help people acquire the best human virtues - meekness, mercy and chastity.
Duel with Goliath
At that time, another war began with the Philistine people. The ruler came out against them at the head of the army. The Philistines offered to compete and put up the monstrous giant Goliath. None of the Israeli soldiers found enough courage to go against him. Goliath became increasingly arrogant and swore loudly at the Israelites. This went on for forty days.
Interesting. Goliath's height was almost three meters.
All the sons of Jesse were in the Israeli army except David. His father sent him to bring food to his brothers. At that moment, he saw Goliath behaving brazenly and was inwardly outraged. The youth asked the king for permission to move against the enemy giant. The ruler agreed. At first the young man was dressed in military armor, but he took it off, put on his usual shepherd's clothes and took a sling.
When David went out to duel, the Lord put such accuracy and strength into his hands that Goliath was fatally struck by a stone thrown from a sling. The shocked Philistine warriors fled from the battlefield.
Righteous David the Psalmist
The beginning of the feud
The master was delighted with this news and promoted the psalmist to the rank of military commander. The army returned home victorious, and along the way the women greeted them with songs that rated David’s military exploits higher than Saul’s. The gentleman really did not like the content of the songs. From that time on, he began to harbor enmity against the psalmist in his soul. His attacks of mental illness began to return.
The task of calming Saul with music was very dangerous. During particularly severe attacks, the king threw a spear at the young man twice, but God kept him alive. Then David was made commander of a thousand soldiers. This was a cunning move by the ruler, who sent the young man into danger to war, hoping that he would die there.
Saul, if successful in the war, promised to marry his daughter Merov to him, but did not keep his promise when the warrior returned with victory.
The master proposed another daughter, Michal, and sent the governor to war again. He returned again victorious, and the marriage took place. This irritated Saul even more. Meanwhile, Jonathan, one of the master’s sons, developed friendly feelings towards David.
After that, the gentleman no longer hid his hatred. When the warrior returned from the war once again, the king again threw a spear at him, and then sent his soldiers to deal with him. He was surrounded in his home, but the Lord did not allow his death, and his wife helped him to escape.
Years of persecution
From that moment on, open persecution of the chosen one began. It was forbidden to take it in Israeli cities under penalty of death. Michal was given in marriage to someone else. God sent a message to the chosen one through the prophet Gad, and he took refuge in a mountainous area near Bethlehem. Other people, offended by the ruler, began to join him. Soon a small detachment of warriors gathered.
The king and his army continued to pursue him. It so happened that Saul entered the very cave in which David was hiding. The chosen one had the opportunity to kill his persecutor, but he only cut off the edge of his robe. When the master came out of the cave, David showed him a piece of cloth as proof that he had not taken advantage of the opportunity to kill. The young man asked for reconciliation and assured that there was no evil in his plans. At first this impressed the persecutor, and he temporarily left the saint alone.
The peaceful mood did not last long. After some time, he again moved at the head of the army against the anointed one.
And again a similar incident occurred - David managed to sneak into the tent where Saul was sleeping unnoticed and take his spear. Then he came out and showed the spear from afar. This nobility again impressed the persecutor, and he left.
Death
David died at the age of seventy, having managed to transfer the crown to his heir Solomon. The successor continued his father’s policy of strengthening the state, however, he condemned bloody wars.
The famous marble statue of David by Michelangelo
It is known that books were written in memory of King David, and in 1997 the television film “King David: The Ideal Ruler” was released. But the most famous cultural monument is the marble statue of David, skillfully made by the talented Michelangelo.
Reign of David
But the anointed one did not have complete confidence in the promises of his persecutor. He moved to the Philistine city of Ziklag. Another war had just begun between the Philistine and Israeli peoples. David was forced to fulfill his military duty and go with his detachment against his native people.
But, by the Providence of God, the Philistine commanders lost confidence in him and sent him back to Ziklag. By that time, the city had just been ravaged by the Amalekites. The commander caught up with them, punished them and brought the prisoners back.
Meanwhile, battles were raging between Israel and the Philistines. Saul was defeated, surrounded by Philistine archers and seriously wounded. Not wanting to fall into the hands of his hated enemy and in despair, he committed suicide. He ordered the Amalekite to kill him with the sword.
Important. This is one of three cases of suicide that take place in the Bible (the other two are the suicides of Judas and the hero Samson).
Jonathan also died in that war. The Amalekite went to David with joy, hoping to receive a reward. But the reaction of the anointed one was exactly the opposite - he grieved for his offender and ordered the execution of the messenger.
Monument to King David in Jerusalem
Foreign policy
David expanded his territorial possessions, taking lands from neighboring states. He conquered the historical region in western Jordan, defeated the Arameans in Syria, and annexed Idumea. In addition, the king discovered treasures of copper and entered into business cooperation with the Phoenicians, who were known as experienced traders.
Kingdom of Israel under David's reign
The Phoenicians bought cereals and livestock from David, paying by barter. In return, the king received wood and advanced technologies: David’s companions brought writing and the alphabet they invented to the state, which was later borrowed by the Jews.
New king
After the death of the persecutor, the anointed one became the ruler of one of the parts of the Israeli state. The rest of the territory was ruled by the son of the former lord Ishbosheth. This did not last long. Ishbosheth was betrayed and killed by his own bodyguards. They came to David expecting a reward. But he once again mourned the death of his rival and ordered the execution of the traitors.
After this, the anointed one was installed as ruler over all Israel. The capital of the new state was one of the fortresses, which was called Jerusalem. The Ark of the Covenant was moved here. The new king planned to build the Temple of God here, but through the prophet he received notification that this work would be entrusted to his successor.
The period of a just reign has begun.
