Name: King David
Date of Birth: 1035 BC e.
Age: 70 years old
Date of death: 965 BC e.
Activity: king of the people of Israel
Family status: was married
King David: biography
King David - the second leader of the Kingdom of Israel, who made Jerusalem the center spiritual pilgrimage. David was a God-fearing and wise ruler who, like all mortals, was prone to making mistakes: the monarch committed a crime for which he had to pay for a long time.
Origin of King David
King David was born around 1035 BC, on the west bank of the Jordan River, in Bethlehem. The historicity of David is a source of debate that continues to this day, because many stories about the life of the ruler are in the nature of legends and tales, however, some archaeological evidence proves the reality of the existence of the leader of the Israeli people.
The Copenhagen School, founded in 1990, has its own opinion on this matter. Adherents of biblical minimalism view the personality of King David and the reality of the existence of the so-called Kingdom of Israel as a single ideological concept created by the priests in Jerusalem.
Skeptics believed that David was as historical as the hero of the chivalric novels of the British epic - King Arthur. The biography of the descendant of Jesse, which is set out in the Holy Scriptures, says that he came from an ancient Jewish family (from which the Messiah Jesus Christ came) and was the youngest of his father’s eight sons.
Young David, working as a shepherd, showed himself to be a trustworthy and brave man: he could snatch his sheep from the clutches of a mighty bear or deal with bare hands with a fierce lion, since from birth he was endowed with heroic strength.
While the young man was working in the pasture, the founder of the united kingdom of Israel, Saul, sat on the throne, who became the leader of the people by the will of God, but soon seemed displeasing to the Creator. Therefore, the prophet Samuel, who repented of choosing by lot the “disobedient bearer of the crown,” began to look for a successor to his first anointed one.
His choice fell on David, who in those years delighted the monarch by playing a stringed musical instrument - the kinnor: flowing melodies calmed the anger of the king, who had a hot temper (according to legend, he was “outraged by an evil spirit”).
In his youth, young David, who arrived in the Israeli army to visit his brothers, was noted for his heroic deed: the future king defeated the unusually strong giant Goliath (in the Koran - Jalut). It is noteworthy that David’s opponent was armed to the teeth, while young man I only had a sling with me.
Saul, who believed in the young man’s ingenuity, promised to bless David’s marriage with his daughter Michal if he went on a campaign against the descendants of Kasluhim. The “heir to the throne” who returned from the battlefield brought a “gift” - a bag with two hundred male assets, because this was the demand of the cruel despot.
The valiant son of Jesse won laurels of honor, and his brilliant fight against the unbelieving Philistines aroused the envy of Saul, since the glory of David eclipsed all the honors of the current king. The zealous Saul began to be suspicious of the young man, and every day his contempt only intensified. Therefore, it is not surprising that the thought of killing his subject crept into Saul’s head.
It got to the point that the Israeli king, without hiding his enmity, put David in danger by throwing a spear at him during the celebration. But since Saul had too much alcoholic drinks, the gun flew past. But, nevertheless, the autocrat threatened to put the enemy in prison.
But it is worth noting that David revered the Creator and did not dare to raise his hand against God’s anointed Saul, but he had the opportunity when they found themselves alone in a cave. The young man quietly crept up to his opponent and cut off a piece of fabric from his cloak, thereby showing Saul that he was incapable of committing a crime and did not pose any danger.
This act did not relieve Saul of his paranoia, so David fled to Samuel in Ramah and arrived at a refuge where God's presence was strong. There David learned that reconciliation with Saul was impossible, and the king himself was filled with the Spirit of God. Consequently, the future ruler of the people spent many years in exile, trying to save his life and shelter his relatives from the wrath of the first anointed.
Saul angrily pursued the enemy, so David, along with numerous comrades, found support from his opponents - the Philistines. In the service of this people, David and his comrades (600 men) robbed the local Amalekites, and sent part of the stolen loot to King Achish.
David's companions, due to the objections of higher authorities, did not participate in the invasion of the Philistines, who went to conquer the lands of Israel and defeated the troops of the despot Saul. In the battle of Mount Gilboa, the soldiers killed the king's sons, and Saul himself asked his subject to wound his heart with a spear.
Beginning of reign
David was not happy at the news of the death of his pursuer, but, on the contrary, burst into bitter tears. Then he arrived at his homeland, Hebron, where he was proclaimed king of Judah by the descendants of Judah.
Consequently, Judah separated from Israel (Saul's only surviving son, Ishbosheth, became Saul's successor), resulting in a two-year internecine war.
Two armies opposed each other, and David’s comrades emerged victorious from this bloody battle, but, according to rumors, the outcome of the matter was decided by betrayal, for the two warring commanders were killed. David was eventually chosen by the elders to be king over all of Israel, later uniting the two states.
Domestic policy
Before becoming ruler, David, following a cruel custom, got rid of the descendants of King Saul. Then the commander went to war against the Jebusites, capturing the city of Jerusalem. Conquered Jerusalem became the capital of the principality and, concurrently, the sacred Jewish center, where the Ark of the Covenant was transferred, making main city concentration of national cult.
By the way, the Ark of the Covenant is the greatest shrine of the Jewish people, which is located in a tent guarded by priests. David initially wanted to build a temple for the altar, but was unable to do so because his hands were stained with the blood of his enemies. Therefore, his son Solomon began building the church.
David, who rejected human sacrifice, carried out a religious reform and became the author of exalted psalms. The services acquired a melodic character, for David did not forget his passion for playing a stringed instrument.
The king subordinated spiritual life to secular life, and the priests began to submit to the high priests. David was also noted as a brilliant commander: the defeated peoples paid tribute to the owner of the throne, so the monarch organized the treasury and established a detachment of state bodyguards.
It is known that David began to strengthen his state, following the Egyptian model, and the royal property was managed by officials. On top of that, David was engaged in a census, but by the will of the Lord he never completed what he started.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 after getting confused long hair in oak branches. 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.
Death
David died at the age of seventy, having managed to transfer the crown to his heir. 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 most famous monument culture is the marble statue of David, skillfully made by the talented.
In Christianity
In the Christian religion, David appears as a prophet from whose family he 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.
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.
David (c. 1035 - 965 BC) - one of the greatest personalities biblical history. He came from the tribe of Judah (he was the great-grandson of Boaz and the Moabite Ruth). He reigned for 40 years (c. 1005 - 965 BC): for seven years and six months he was king of Judah (with his capital in Hebron), then for 33 years he was king of the united kingdom of Israel and Judah (with his capital in Jerusalem). David was the best of all Jewish kings. He unshakably believed in the true God and tried to do His will. In all his troubles, he placed all his hope in God, and the Lord delivered him from all his enemies.
The life of the holy prophet and king David is described in the Bible: in 1 Book of Samuel, 2 Book of Kings and 1 Book of Chronicles.
Boaz- great-grandfather of King David, hero of the book of Ruth. Nephew of Elimelech, who married Ruth, widow of Elimelech's son.
Ruth- the famous biblical righteous woman, after whom the “Book of Ruth” is named. A Moabite by birth, she became so attached to her new relative by husband (a Jew from Bethlehem) that after the death of her husband she did not want to part with her mother-in-law Naomi (Naomi), accepted her religion and moved with her from Moab (where Naomi and her husband were temporarily removed from Israel on the occasion of the famine) to Bethlehem (Beit Lechem), where they settled. The righteousness and beauty of young Ruth were the reason that she became the wife of the noble Boaz. The product of this marriage was Obed, David's grandfather. Thus Ruth the Moabite, a Gentile, became the great-grandmother (foremother) of King David and became one of the ancestors of the Lord Jesus Christ.
This is how King David is described in the book of Ruth: “ And this is the family of Perez: Perez begat Hezrom; Hezrom begat Aram; Aram gave birth to Abminadab; Amminadab begat Nahshon; Nahshon begat Salmon; Salmon begat Boaz; Boaz begat Obed; Obed begat Jesse; Jesse gave birth to David"(Ruth.4:18-22).
Tribes of Israel(Gen.49:28) - tribes of the descendants of the twelve sons of Jacob, who formed, according to the Holy Scriptures, the Israeli people. In the Promised Land, each tribe received its own portion.
Tribe Veniaminovo(1 Samuel 9:25, Judges 5:14, etc.) - one of the tribes of Israel. Benjamin- the youngest son of the biblical patriarch Jacob and his beloved wife, Rachel. Born on the way to Bethlehem. Rachel fell ill after giving birth and died. ( The famous Tomb of Rachel in Bethlehem has existed since ancient times and is a place of pilgrimage. This place is holy for Jews, Muslims and Christians alike.). The tribe of Benjamin had its destiny in the Promised Land, between the tribes of Judah and Ephraim. Within this domain was the capital city of Judea, Jerusalem. It became part of the kingdom of Judah (1 Kings 12:17-23), which, as you know, consisted of two tribes: Judah and Benjamin. This tribe was distinguished by its extreme warlikeness and courage. From his entourage, according to biblical tradition, came the first Israeli King Saul. Apostle Paul also came from the tribe of Benjamin (Phil. 3:5).
Tribe of Judah- one of the tribes of Israel. He traces his ancestry back to Judas ( translated means praise or glory to God), the fourth son of the patriarch Jacob from Leah (Gen. 29:35). It is known that he hated Joseph, the son of his aunt Rachel (Jacob’s second wife), and advised his brothers to sell Joseph to passing merchants rather than kill him. Judah became the ancestor of the famous tribe of Judah, from which he came King David, founder royal dynasty. Joseph the Betrothed also came from the same tribe. At the time of the Exodus from Egypt, the tribe of Judah numbered 74,600 people (Numbers 1:27) and was the largest Israeli tribe. One of the Jewish states was subsequently named after Judah - Kingdom of Judah. The names of the Jewish people in Hebrew and other languages \u200b\u200bare derived from the same name ( Jews).
Youth of David
The holy king and prophet David was born 1000 years before the birth of Christ in the Jewish city of Bethlehem. He was the youngest of the eight sons of Jesse (from the tribe of Judah), an elder of the city of Bethlehem (Bethlehem).
As a teenager, David tended his father's flocks. This activity largely determined the mental makeup of the future anointed of God. He spent many months alone in the pastures. He had to fight the evil predators that attacked his herds. This developed in David courage and strength, which amazed those around him. Life, fraught with many dangers, taught the young man to rely on God in everything.
David had a musical and poetic gift. In his leisure hours he practiced singing and playing the psalter (harp-like musical instrument). He achieved such perfection that he was invited to the court of King Saul. David dispelled Saul's melancholy by singing and playing the harp.
King Saul(d. c. 1005 BC) - the first king and founder of the united kingdom of Israel (about 1029-1005 BC), the incarnation of a ruler placed in the kingdom by the will of God, but who became displeasing to Him. Came from the tribe of Benjamin. He was chosen and anointed king by the prophet Samuel ( before Saul there was no king over the Jews), later came into conflict with him, and the prophet left him, depriving him of his support.
King Saul
After this, Saul's melancholy began. When he openly renounced God, that is, violated his order, and God rejected him, internal changes immediately began in Saul: “ And the spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord began to torment him" (1 Samuel 16:14)
Saul retreated from God and began to serve pride and vanity in his reign. Feeling that he was rejected by God, Saul fell into a cruel melancholy, “an evil spirit angered him.” The king was attacked by melancholy and despondency from the action of the evil spirit, and when Saul heard David’s playing, he felt more joyful, and the evil spirit retreated from him.
David plays the psalter to King Saul
Even during the reign of King Saul ( when he fell away from God) prophet Samuel, at the direction of God, anointed the young man David ( when David was still an unknown meek and pious youth) to the kingdom. David's anointing was secret. With the anointing, the Spirit of God descended on David and rested on him from then on (1 Samuel 16:1-13).
David's Anointing
Prophet Samuel (Hebrew "heard by the Lord") - biblical prophet, the last and most famous of the Judges of Israel (XI century BC). Samuel lived during the most difficult and troubled time in the life of the Israelites, when moral condition the people have fallen to the extreme; the people had to endure a severe defeat from the Philistines. After the Jews conquered the land of Canaan, for several centuries they were ruled by so-called judges, who combined ecclesiastical, military and administrative powers. God himself sent the judges: “ For about four hundred and fifty years the Lord gave them judges" Samuel wisely ruled the people as chief judge until his old age and enjoyed great authority. Fearing that after the death of Samuel the previous lawlessness and anarchy would not return, the people, not trusting and rejecting God as their direct Ruler and King, began to ask him to install a human king over them. Then Samuel appointed Saul the son of Kish as their king. But Saul, by his actions, brought Samuel a lot of grief, because he retreated from God. An angry God said to Samuel: “ I regret that I made Saul king; for he has turned away from Me, and has not fulfilled My word” and ordered Samuel to anoint the new king. Samuel left Saul and never saw him again. He secretly anointed another king, David, as king. Samuel died at the age of 88 and was buried in Ramah, mourned by all the people. His life is described in the first chapters of the first book of Kings. Tradition ascribes to him the composition bible book Judges.
David and Goliath
At the age of 18, David became famous and earned the universal love of the people.
The Philistines attacked the land of Israel. The pagan people, famous for their belligerence, ravaged the Promised Land with frequent raids. The Philistines killed the Jews and took them captive. And so, near the city of Ephesus-Dammim, two armies met - the Israeli and the Philistine.
From the ranks of the Philistine army emerged a mighty giant named Goliath. He suggested that the Jews decide the outcome of the battle through single combat: “ “Choose a man from yourself,” he shouted, “and let him come out against me.” If he kills me, then we will be your slaves; if I defeat and kill him, then you will be our slaves and serve us».
King Saul promised the daredevil who would defeat Goliath to give his daughter as a wife. Despite the promised reward, no one wanted to fight him.
At this time, young David appeared in the Israeli camp. He came to visit his older brothers and bring them food from his father. Hearing Goliath revile the living God and the army of the Israelites, David was troubled in spirit. His heart, full of devoted faith in God, boiled with righteous anger at the words disgracing God’s chosen people. He approached Saul asking him to allow him to fight Goliath. Saul said to him: " You are still very young, but he is strong and has become accustomed to war from a young age." But David told Saul how God helped him fight lions and bears while tending the sheep. Then Saul, infected by David's courage and courage, allowed him to fight.
Goliath was an unusually strong warrior of enormous height - about 2.89 m. He was dressed in scale armor weighing approximately 57 kg and copper knee pads, on his head was a copper helmet, and in his hands was a copper shield. Goliath carried a heavy spear, the tip of which alone weighed 6.84 kg, and a large sword. David had no armor at all, and his only weapon was a sling ( a throwing bladed weapon, which is a rope or belt, one end of which is folded into a loop into which the slinger's hand is threaded). The Philistine giant considered it an insult that a young man, just a boy, came out to fight him. It seemed to everyone who watched what was happening that the result of the fight was a foregone conclusion, but physical strength does not always determine the outcome of the battle.
David and Goliath (Osmar Schindler, 1888)
David defeated Goliath without a weapon: a stone, accurately thrown from a sling by David, hit the giant’s forehead with such force that Goliath fell and did not get up.
David and Goliath (Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld)
David, like lightning, jumped up to the defeated enemy and cut off his head with his own sword.
David with the head of Goliath (Gustave Doré)
David's victory over Goliath began the offensive of the Israeli and Judah troops, who drove the Philistines out of their land (1 Sam. 17:52).
The victory over Goliath glorified David throughout the country. Saul, despite David's youth, appointed him military leader and married his youngest daughter Michal to him. And Saul's eldest son, Jonathan, became David's best friend.
Life at the Court of King Saul
David won many military victories, and soon his glory eclipsed the glory of Saul himself. Saul began to be jealous of David and gradually began to hate him. In addition, rumors began to reach Saul that the prophet Samuel had secretly anointed David as king. Offended pride, fear and suspicion drove Saul almost to madness: “ An evil spirit from God fell upon Saul, and he raged in his house».
Usually, David played the harp to drive away the evil spirit that was tormenting the king for his apostasy. One day, David, as in former times, came to Saul to play the harp for him, but Saul threw a spear at David, which he barely managed to dodge.
Saul throws a spear at David (Konstantin Hansen)
Soon Saul sent David on a dangerous campaign against the Philistines, hoping that he would die. But David returned with a victory, which further strengthened his glory.
Then Saul decided to send to David assassins. This became known to Saul's son, Jonathan. At the risk of incurring his father's wrath, he warned his sister Michal, David's wife, about the impending danger. Michal loved David and said to him: “ If you do not save your soul this night, then tomorrow you will be killed"(1 Samuel 19:11-16).
David fled through the window, and Michal put the doll to bed, covering it with David's clothes.
Michal lets David down from the window
Now Saul no longer hid his enmity. The incident with the spear that the king threw at David, and the threat of going to prison, from which only his wife Michal saved him, forced David to flee to Samuel in Ramah. At the last meeting, Jonathan confirmed to David that reconciliation with Saul was no longer possible (1 Samuel 19:20).
Flight from King Saul. In the service of the Philistines.
The Flight of David (Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld)
Saul's hatred of him caused David to flee; He wandered in the desert for a long time, hiding in caves, fleeing from Saul, who was pursuing him. In his many travels, David gets to know the life of his people closely, learns to be generous to his enemies, compassionate to ordinary people.
Soon, “all the oppressed and all the debtors, and all the saddened in soul, gathered to him, and he became ruler over them.” With his supporters (600 men), David fled to his recent enemies the Philistines (1 Samuel 27:1), seeking the protection of their king Achish, ruler of the city of Gath. Achish granted David the border city of Ziklag (in the Negev desert) (1 Samuel 27:6). So David became the leader of a band of robbers. David's troops robbed the natives (Amalekites), and sent part of the spoils to the Philistine king Achish (1 Sam. 27:9).
But when the Philistines gathered on a campaign against Israel, David cunningly refused to join the troops of the anti-Israel coalition (1 Samuel 28:4).
King in Hebron
Meanwhile, the Philistines inflicted a crushing defeat on the Israelites in Battle of Gilboa(1 Samuel 31:6).
The Israelites were defeated, and King Saul also died ( After being seriously wounded and losing the battle with the Philistines, Saul committed suicide) with his eldest son Jonathan, who was a friend of David and more than once saved him from his father’s persecution. David mourns them bitterly; he did not want Saul to die and repeatedly wanted to reconcile with him.
David receives news of Saul's death
After this, David, at the head of an armed detachment, arrived in Judean Hebron, where the tribe of Judah at a meeting anointed him to the royal throne in Judea, that is, the southern part of Israel. Then David was 30 years old.
The proclamation of David as king of Judah meant the actual separation from Israel, whose king was proclaimed one of the sons of Saul (2 Sam. 2:10). The two Jewish states entered into an internecine struggle, which lasted two years and ended with the victory of David (2 Samuel 3:1).
David - King of Israel
After the victory over Israel, the elders of Israel came to Hebron and chose David as king over all Israel (2 Samuel 5:3). Thus God fulfilled what he had promised him through the prophet Samuel.
David reigns over all Israel
God gave David blessing, wisdom and power to defeat all of Israel's enemies. David won many military victories and no one dared to attack Israel anymore.
For the first seven years of his reign, David lived in Hebron. During this time, the new capital of Israel was built - Jerusalem (i.e., the city of peace). In order to enhance its significance, David brought here the Ark of the Covenant, which was installed in the middle of the tabernacle built for him.
After this, the Lord promised David to establish his royal house, saying: “ I will be his father, and he will be my son: even if he sins. I will punish him with the rod of men and the blows of the sons of men, but I will not take My mercy from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I rejected before you. And your house and your kingdom will be established forever before Me, and your throne will stand forever.” These words of God were conveyed to David by the prophet Nathan. Hearing this, David stood before the Lord and began to pray: “Who am I, Lord, Lord, and what is my house, that You have magnified me so much!... You are great in everything, my Lord, Lord! For there is no one like You, and there is no God besides You... Even now. Lord God, establish forever the word that You have spoken about Your servant and about his house, and fulfill what You have spoken».
David loved God very much. After becoming a great king, he continued to compose songs inspired by the love of God and glorifying His name.
King David ruled justly and tried to keep the Lord's commandments with all his heart. For this, the Lord was always with him.
All the days of his life he built up the kingdom and in every possible way contributed to strengthening faith in the God of Heaven. The years of King David's reign became a time of prosperity and prosperity for the Jewish people.
David also intended to build a house for the Ark of God - Temple. But not David, but only his son will carry out the construction, for David, participating in wars, shed too much blood (1 Chronicles 22:8). Although David was not supposed to build the Temple, he began to prepare the construction, collected funds, developed drawings of all the buildings of the sacred building and made drawings of all the accessories of worship and provided them to his son Solomon Construction Materials and plans (2 Samuel 7; 1 Chronicles 17; 22; 28:1 - 29:21).
Like other rulers of the East, David had several wives and concubines, from whom David had many sons, among whom was the future king Solomon (2 Sam. 5:14).
David and Bathsheba
David loved the Lord and tried to be obedient to Him. But Satan always watched him, as he watches every person, and tried to instill evil in David.
At the height of his power, David fell into sin, which left a sad imprint on the entire future fate of David and all of Israel.
One evening he was walking along the roof of his palace and saw a beautiful woman bathing in the garden of a neighboring house. Forgetting about everything in the world, the king immediately became inflamed with passion for her and sent servants to find out who she was. The beauty turned out to be the wife of one of David’s commanders, Uriah the Hittite, who at that time was on a distant military campaign. Her name was Bathsheba.
David and Bathsheba (Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld)
Satan began to inspire evil thoughts in David, and David succumbed to his temptations. He seduced Bathsheba. Soon she became pregnant. David fell in love with Bathsheba so much that he decided to make her his wife, after first getting rid of Uriah. The king sent a letter to the commander of the army in which Uriah fought: “ Place Uriah where the fighting will be the heaviest and retreat from him so that he is struck and dies". The order was carried out and Uriah died, and King David took his widow as his wife. Bathsheba was forced to comply.
Bathsheba (Pozdnikova Ivetta)
David’s cruel act could not but bring upon him the wrath of the Lord: “And this work which David did was evil in the sight of the Lord.” After some time, the Lord sent the prophet Nathan to David, who denounced him.
Prophet Nathan denounces David
David repented and said: “ I have sinned before the Lord" After this repentance, Nathan announced to him the verdict of God: “ And the Lord has taken away your sin: you will not die. But since by this deed you have given the enemies of the Lord a reason to blaspheme Him, the son born to you will die." So David's sin was forgiven, but did not go unpunished.
The Crushing of David (Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld)
Bathsheba soon gave birth to a son, but a few days later the baby became seriously ill. David fervently prayed to God to spare the child’s life. He spent seven days in prayer, prostrating himself on the ground and not eating. However, on the eighth day the baby died.
A year later, Bathsheba gave birth to another son - Solomon(2 Samuel 11:2 - 12:25), who will become the third king of Israel.
David's sin was great, but his repentance was sincere and great. And God forgave him. During his repentance, King David wrote a repentant prayer-song (Psalm 50), which is an example of repentance and begins with these words: “Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your great mercy and according to the multitude of Your mercies, blot out my iniquities. Wash Me from my iniquity many times and cleanse me from my sin...”
Psalms of David
David had a poetic and musical gift, composing prayer songs addressed to God - psalms in which he praised the Almighty, who so wisely created the world. He thanked God for His mercies and prophesied about the times to come.
Throughout his life, David constantly communicated with the Lord in prayer. He never forgot to offer a prayer to the Almighty, despite his busyness as a ruler and military leader.
No songs purchased on globe such fame as the Psalms of David. As poetic works, many of them are very High Quality, - real pearls, for “the Spirit of the Lord spoke in him, and the words of God were on his tongue” (2 Sam. 23:1).
During the years of trials, delving into the ways of Providence with special reasoning, David poured out his deep sorrow before God and asked for His help. At the same time, often from depicting his own suffering, the persecuted psalmist in a prophetic spirit was transported in his hymns to the distant future and contemplated the suffering of Christ the Savior of the world. David's inspired narratives were subsequently collected into one book of Psalms or Psalms, which the saints of the New Testament Church called “the physician of souls.”
King David (Gerrig van Honthorst, 1611)
David wrote many sacred songs, or psalms, which he sang in prayer to God, playing the harp or other musical instruments. In these prayer songs, David cried out to God, repented of his sins before Him, sang the greatness of God and predicted the coming of Christ and the suffering that Christ would endure for us. Therefore, the Holy Church calls King David a psalmist and prophet.
The Psalms of David are often read and sung in the Church during divine services. The sacred book in which all these psalms, or songs, are found is called the psalter. Psalter - best book Old Testament. Many christian prayers composed of words from the psalms of this book.
David was not only a king and a singer, but also a prophet who prophesied about the Messiah - “the Son and Lord of David.” Christ refers to Ps. 109 in Matthew 22:43ff., and Peter, in his sermon on the day of Pentecost, refers to the testimony of the “forefather and prophet” David about the resurrection and ascension of Christ into heaven (Acts 2:25ff.; Ps. 15:2).
Decline of reign
The main problem of the last years of David's reign was the appointment of an heir to the throne. The Bible tells of court intrigues in the struggle of heirs for power.
Among the sons of David there was one named Absalom, handsome and dandy, “from the soles of his feet to the top of his head he had no shortage.” But under the prepossessing appearance of the royal son, there was hidden a cruel and insidious soul.
Absalom and Tamar
One day, David's eldest son Amnon raped his half-sister Tamar (2 Samuel 13:14). David was upset, but did not punish his son. Seeing such injustice, Absalom stood up for his sister’s honor and killed his older brother, but, fearing his father’s wrath, he fled to Gessur (2 Samuel 13:38), where he stayed for three years (970 - 967 BC). Then, when David's grief subsided, Absalom was forgiven and was able to return to Jerusalem.
However, Absalom planned to take the throne from his father and become king. To implement his plan, he tried to secure the support of the common people. By cunning, Absalom won supporters for himself. Gradually he gained many followers.
One day Absalom asked David for leave to go to the city of Hebron under the pretext that he wanted to make a sacrifice to God there, and he himself gathered his supporters in Hebron and rebelled against his father.
David, having learned that an army of rebels was marching on Jerusalem, led by his son, whom in his heart he loved more than his other children, was deeply saddened. He decided not to join the fight and, taking his family, people loyal to him and his army, left the capital.
Psalm 3
1 Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son.
2 Lord! how my enemies have multiplied! Many are rebelling against me
3 Many say to my soul, “He has no salvation in God.”
4 But You, O Lord, are a shield before me, my glory, and You lift up my head.
5 With my voice I cry to the Lord, and He hears me from His holy mountain.
6 I lie down, sleep and get up, for the Lord protects me.
7 I will not be afraid of the people who have taken up arms against me on all sides.
8 Arise, Lord! save me, my God! for You strike all my enemies on the cheek; you break the teeth of the wicked.
9 Salvation is from the Lord. Upon Your people is Your blessing.
The rebels occupied Jerusalem. Absalom ordered a pursuit of David. The armies of David and Absalom met in the forest of Ephraim, where a bloody battle took place and the rebels were defeated.
Even before the battle began, David ordered all his soldiers to spare Absalom. But Absalom did not know this, and when his army was defeated, he tried to escape. He rode on a mule. Driving under a branchy oak tree, Absalom got entangled with his long hair in its branches “and hung between heaven and earth, and the mule that was under him ran away.”
Death of Absalom
Absalom was found by one of David's soldiers and, contrary to the king's orders, he killed the traitor, and threw his body into a pit and stoned him. “And the victory of that day turned into mourning for all the people.” King David was plunged into deep sorrow. He mourned his dead son.
But David’s power was still shaky, since a new rebellion opened, led by Sheba (2 Samuel 20:2). However, David managed to pacify this rebellion, but he still could not find peace.
Adonijah (1 Kings 1:18), the next eldest son of David, declared his rights to the royal throne. Adonijah created his own detachment of bodyguards and tried to win over the army and some of the priests and Levites to his side. But he failed to attract either the prophet Nathan, the priest Zadok, or the royal guard. Adonijah's plot fails.
At the end of his reign, David took a census of the population. God considered this enterprise impudent and vain, became angry with David, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem were struck by a pestilence. David prayed to the Lord: “ So I sinned, I, the shepherd, acted lawlessly, and these sheep, what did they do? Let Thy hand turn upon me and upon my father's house" The Lord heeded David’s prayer, and the plague stopped.
Feeling the approach of death, at the insistence of the prophet Nathan and Bathsheba, David anointed his son Solomon as king, telling him: “ Here I am setting out on the journey of the whole earth, so be strong and be courageous. And you shall keep the covenant of the Lord your God, walk in His ways and keep His statutes and His commandments."(1 Kings 2:1; 1 Chronicles 23:1).
David died at the age of 70 after 40 years of reign and was buried in Jerusalem.(1 Kings 2:10-11), on Mount Zion, where, according to Christian tradition, the Last Supper took place.
The image of David has become over the centuries the ideal of a righteous king, the personification of the past greatness of the people and a symbol of hope for its revival in the future.
In the New Testament
The New Testament sees David as a prophet (Acts 2:30) and a hero of the faith (Heb. 11:32), a man after God's own heart and the forefather of Jesus, the “Son of David” (Acts 13:22ff; Matt. 1: 1.6; Matt.9:27; 15:22; Rom.1:3), who is also David’s Lord, Christ (Matthew 22:42-45). In this the promises made to David are fulfilled (Luke 1:32,33).
God made an agreement with David, according to which the dynasty of David would rule the people of Israel forever, and David's capital - Jerusalem - would forever be the holy city, the only abode of God himself (see Ps. 89:4-5, Ps. 89:29- 30, Psalm 89:34–38, Psalm 132:13–14, Psalm 132:17). According to legend, the Messiah was supposed to come from the line of David (through the male line), which came true, according to the New Testament. The Mother of God and the Savior Christ Himself came from the line of David..
Michelangelo's David
For many centuries, the personality of David and his exploits served as an inexhaustible source of inspiration for artistic creativity. A monumental sculpture by Michelangelo (1503, Accademia, Florence) and paintings by Rembrandt are dedicated to David.
The statue of David by the great Michelangelo is a masterpiece of the Renaissance. This sculpture was created between 1501 – 1504. The height of the statue is almost 5.2 meters. It was created from marble according to biblical motifs. Initially, the statue of David was supposed to be one of the statues to decorate the Florence Cathedral, and was supposed to depict one of biblical prophets. But the figure of a naked David, instead of the cathedral, became a decoration of the main square of Florence, and became a symbol of the protection of civil liberties of the Florentines, who created an independent republic in their city, surrounded on all sides by enemies who were trying to seize it.
The statue of David was installed in the square in 1504, and it occupied its place in the center of the main square of Florence until 1873, when it was erected on the square exact copy David, and the original was placed in the Academy Gallery.
This work by Michelangelo also brings a new representation of David, who was previously usually represented with the head of the already killed Goliath in his hands. In this case, David is depicted before the battle with Goliath, his face is serious, he looks forward with a gaze, his eyebrows are furrowed, he is ready to fight with an obviously stronger opponent. His whole figure is tense, the muscles on his body are tense and bulging, the bulge of the veins on his lowered back is especially noticeable. right hand, but at the same time, David’s body posture is quite relaxed. It is this contrast between the tense expression of the face and some parts of the body and the calm pose that attracts attention to this statue, it makes it possible to speculate about what is happening.
This Michelangelo sculpture is an interpretation ancient greek theme sculptural works, when a man was depicted naked and with a heroic appearance. During the Renaissance, typical ancient Greek classical forms began to change slightly, although the basis remained precisely classical, which can be seen in many sculptures of this time. This statue also became a symbol of masculinity, human beauty, becoming the most famous work of the Renaissance.
In Moscow, at the State Museum fine arts them. A.S. Pushkin, there is plaster cast"David".
Tomb of King David
King David's Tomb on Mount Zion
The tomb of King David is located on Mount Zion on the lower floor of a building built by the Crusaders directly below the room of the Last Supper.
The authenticity of the tomb has not been proven. Perhaps David was buried in the Kidron Valley, in the same place as all the rulers of Israel. The tomb is considered a holy place among Jews, Christians and Muslims.
Next to the tomb of King David there is a functioning synagogue named after him. In the 4th century, there was the Christian Church of St. David, which was destroyed by the Persians, and in 1524, the El-Daoud Mosque was built in its place, the minaret of which can still be seen today. The large stone sarcophagus is covered with a veil, on which are installed the crowns of the Torah scrolls, symbolizing the 22 kingdoms of Israel, and embroidered with the words from the First Book of Kings: “David, king of Israel, lives and exists.” Legend says that the treasures of the First Temple were hidden behind the tomb of King David. Many conquerors of Jerusalem (Persians, Crusaders, Mamluks) destroyed the grave in search of treasures.
Archaeological discoveries
IN scriptures King David appears before us as a contradictory personality: a wise commander, a subtle politician, a brave and cruel warrior, not a very good father and not a very faithful husband, the creator of beautiful lyrical works- Psalms, a sincere believer in God, but not without human vices.
Until recently, archaeologists and historians questioned the existence of King David, as historical figure- no evidence of his existence was found and the exploits and accomplishments of David seemed too implausible to them.
But in 1993, during excavations in northern Israel at a site called Tel Dan, a fragment of basalt was found embedded in a wall with words about the House of David. According to an ancient custom widespread in the east, many kings erected monuments to their greatness and achievements.
This inscription testified precisely to the victory of the Syrian king over the kings from the house of David, which serves as proof of the existence of David himself, since the mythical king could not have heirs.
Material prepared by Sergey Shulyak
Troparion, tone 2
The memory of thy prophet David, O Lord, is in celebration; therefore we pray to Thee: save our souls.
Kontakion, tone 4
Enlightened by the Spirit, the pure heart of the prophecy became the brightest friend: see that the real one exists far away: for this reason we honor you, prophet David, glorious.
Prayers to King David:
Remember, Lord, King David and his meekness forever, and with his holy prayers have mercy on us sinners. Amen.
O holy servant of God, King and Prophet David! Having fought a good fight on earth, you have received in Heaven the crown of righteousness, which the Lord has prepared for all who love Him. In the same way, looking at your holy image, we rejoice at the glorious end of your life and honor your holy memory. You, standing before the Throne of God, accept our prayers and bring them to the All-Merciful God, to forgive us every sin and help us against the wiles of the devil, so that you will be delivered from sorrows, illnesses, troubles and misfortunes and all evil, piously and righteously
King David is an Israeli and Jewish ruler of the 11th – 10th centuries BC, the second king of the Israeli people after Saul.
According to the Bible, he reigned for forty years. For religious people, this character is very important for two reasons:
- firstly, he personifies the ideal ruler (“a good and just king”);
- secondly, from his family must come a “messiah” - the savior of the human race.
According to Christian beliefs, the Messiah has long come under the name of Jesus Christ, but according to Judaism, he is only to come in the future.
Meanwhile, the historicity of King David (ca. 1035 - 965 BC), like many other biblical characters, is a controversial issue.
early years
David was the youngest son of Jesse, a resident of Bethlehem. Jesse had eight children in total. Young David was tall, handsome, handsome, physically strong, played musical instruments beautifully and had the gift of eloquence. His name translates to “beloved.”
Jesse owned a large herd, and David from a young age helped him on the farm - tending the cattle. He treated his work with zeal: while protecting the cattle, he protected them from attacks by lions and bears.
At this time, King Saul ruled the people of Israel. With his behavior he did not satisfy the Israeli public, and according to the Bible, also God. Therefore, “at the command of God,” the prophet Samuel went to David and anointed him as the future king.
At the court of Saul, the Anointed One appeared in Saul's palace, where he began his service. At first he was a court musician and played especially for the king. His brothers became military men at this time.
David came to visit his brothers. At that time, the king decided to fight the Philistines, and then the future successor decided to prove himself, since he had great strength. When the Philistine giant Goliath invited the Israelites to fight him, David came out to fight. He killed the giant with a sling, and Saul was finally convinced that such a person was worth taking into the palace for good.
Saul gave his daughter Michal as a wife to David. The people respected David for his strength and fearlessness, and he continued to perform military exploits, which is why his glory became greater than the glory of Saul himself. Then the king hated him, tried to kill him several times, and then arranged a disastrous test for him. David had to flee to Samuel, who hid him in a cave.
David then ran towards the Philistines with Goliath's sword. There he feigned madness to avoid arrest by the tsarist authorities. Saul pursued his rival for a long time, but he constantly eluded. And David had the opportunity to kill Saul several times, but he constantly refused.
David the Thief
Having settled with the Philistines, with the permission of their ruler Achish, he occupied the city of Ziklag in the Negev desert, which he turned into a den of robbers. Achish was the worst enemy of the Israelites, and having taken David into his service, he hopes that the new subject will commit robberies and raids on the Israeli tribes. But David plundered the southern nations of the Amalekites and even killed them so that the deception would not be revealed. He sent part of the loot to Akhus.
David is king
Soon the war was over and the Philistines were victorious. Saul and his son Jonathan were killed. Let us note that David was friends with the king’s son and Jonathan more than once covered and saved him from Saul. Then setting off with Achish on a campaign against Israel, David occupied the city of Hebron, the capital of Judah, and there the local leaders proclaimed him king.
So Judah separated from the kingdom of Israel, in which Saul’s son Ishbosheth became the new ruler. After another war, David captured Jerusalem and moved his capital there. The new king expanded and united his state quite successfully. David reigned from 1005 to 965 BC.
David's religious reforms
Having occupied Jerusalem, David turned it into the religious center of the Jews. However, the long life in the land of the Philistines led to the fact that the new religious tradition differed from the Orthodox Jewish rites of the time, which led the people to bewilderment.
- David placed the Ark of the Covenant on Mount Zion.
- Saul instituted music and dancing during worship services. Being a musician and poet, he himself wrote texts and music for rituals.
- Spiritual power was subordinated to secular power; priests were appointed judges and scribes in order to benefit the state, and had to hold divine services twice a day.
- He also intended to build a special house for the “ark” - the Temple, but this idea was completed only by his son Solomon, since David devoted a lot of time to military campaigns.
Thus, the Israeli religion acquired the first real temple in its history, which is also the only Jewish temple up to our time. Orthodox Jews initially suspected David of idolatry and human sacrifice, however, apparently, the king did not condescend to this and limited himself to purely aesthetic innovations.
And as a result of this, he is a major figure for the Christian teaching about the Messiah.
David, the son of Jesse, a wealthy man from the tribe of Judah, was born in Bethlehem. In his early youth, he was already distinguished by his courage in the king’s campaigns. Saula. He killed a Philistine hero in single combat Goliath, for which Saul made him commander of his bodyguards and received him to his table. He gave David his daughter Michal as a wife, and his son Jonathan became David's closest friend. But since Saul suspected David of being with Samuel and a group of priests, dissatisfied with the newly established royal power, formed a conspiracy against him, then David was forced to flee from his wrath.
David with the head of the slain Goliath. Artist O. Gentileschi, c. 1610
David tried to induce one of the 12 Israeli tribes - the tribe of Judah - to revolt, but the rebellion was suppressed, and David found refuge with the ancestral enemies of his people, Philistines. With their help, he raised the banner of rebellion against Saul and entered Philistine service. When Saul and his son Jonathan, David's friend, fell in battle with the Philistines, David returned to his homeland and was proclaimed king in Hebron, first only over the tribe of Judah, and then over all the rest.
According to the custom of all eastern despots, David began his reign by destroying the entire male generation of Saul; but his brilliant reign made all his cruel deeds forgotten. He conquered the city of the Jebusite people, on the site of which he founded the strong fortress of Zion. During the first 13 years, David waged successful wars with the Philistines, Moabites, Edomites, Ammonites, Syrians and other enemies of his people, so that his kingdom spread from the northern corner of the Red Sea and the border of Egypt to Damascus. He dedicated his spoils of battle to Jehovah and gave him praise and gratitude for his salvation from so many dangers and for the victories brought to him in inspired hymns.
David developed a strong organization for his state. The city of the Jebusites, named by him Jerusalem, he chose as his capital. He built himself a palace there, fortified the city and enlarged it by moving residents of neighboring tribes there. Then he moved to Jerusalem Ark of the Covenant and made it the center of national cult, the protection and administration of which he entrusted to the corporation of priests established by him and devoted to him. From the tribute paid to him by the conquered peoples, and from the income from the royal property, David formed a significant treasury and established, consisting mostly of foreigners, a detachment of the sovereign's bodyguards. From all the men capable of bearing arms, he organized an army, which he divided into 12 detachments of 24,000 people each. in everyone. The princes and judges of each tribe were appointed by him.
King David. Popular science film
But David's reign was still characterized by despotic arbitrariness, and he was strongly subject to the influence of his countless wives. As a result of this, many dissatisfied people appeared, led by his son Absalom, planning to overthrow his father from the throne. David had to flee to the left bank of the Jordan and, with arms in hand, regain his own kingdom. Shortly before David's death, a new uprising occurred due to the fact that he appointed as heir not the eldest of his surviving sons (Adonijah), but Solomon, the son of his beloved wife Bathsheba, whom he had previously taken from the military leader Uriah. Adonia's attempt to defend her rights failed.
David died around 965 BC. His reign, according to one of the most probable chronologies, dates back to 1005-965. David's services to the people of Israel were great. The priests, who owed their importance and power to him, praised him for his deep and firm faith in one God and called him “a man after God’s own heart.” But along with his undoubted qualities: courage, intelligence and prudence, he also showed many vices: he was selfish, cruel and vindictive. Even on his deathbed, he ordered Solomon to kill those people to whom he owed the throne or to whom he promised to spare them.
Included in Old Testament Psalms of David- a work of paramount importance for the study of both poetry and religion of the Jews. The story of David's life is contained in the Books of Kings (I, ch. 16 et seq.; II, ch. 1 - 12) and Chronicles (I, ch. 11 - 17).
David and the events of his life are a favorite theme in the works of many artists. David, as a prototype of Christ - in the form of a shepherd with a flock - and as a psalmist, is often depicted in ancient Christian mosaics and in other works of painting (the best are Guido Reni, Domenichino). Other events of his life, especially the battle with Goliath, anointing by Samuel, sin with Bathsheba, repentance, etc. also provided themes for paintings by famous artists.
David. David, anointed king when he was still a shepherd, became the most famous king of Israel and the ancestor of a long line of kings of Judah almost until the end of the political existence of the people.
David did not immediately ascend the throne, but had to spend his entire youth in various adventures, hiding from the bloodthirsty jealousy of the increasingly morally declining king.
During the first seven years of his reign, his residence was, and after the murder of Saul’s son, Ishbosheth (Ishbosheth), everyone recognized David as their king.
David came to the conviction that in order to establish royal power in the country, he needed a capital, which, not belonging to any tribe individually, could serve as a common capital for the entire people.
For this purpose, he outlined one strong fortress on the border between the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, which, despite all the efforts of the Israelites, defended its independence and previously belonged to the brave tribe.
This was Jerusalem, which, as can be seen from the latest discoveries, even before occupied an important position among other cities of the country, having a kind of hegemony over them.
This fortress was now about to fall before the power of the new king, and David founded his royal capital in it. The new capital, thanks to its magnificent position, began to quickly attract the Jewish population, soon flourished magnificently and richly, and Jerusalem became one of the most famous cities in the history of not only the Israeli people, but of all mankind.
With David, the rapid growth of the entire kingdom begins.
Thanks to the extraordinary energy of this brilliant king, the affairs of internal improvement, which had been upset at the end of the previous reign, were soon put in order, and then the whole line victorious wars, during which they were finally crushed worst enemies Israel - and also the Edomites, whose lands became the property of Israel.
Thanks to these victories and conquests, the kingdom of the Israeli people became a powerful monarchy, which for a time ruled all of Western Asia and in whose hands lay the fate of numerous peoples who reverently brought their tribute to the formidable king.
The Israelites entered into close friendly relations with the Phoenicians, and this friendship with a highly cultured people was very useful and beneficial to them in the development of their material culture.
At the same time, spiritual life began to develop rapidly, and the richest flowering of ancient Jewish spiritual and religious poetry dates back to this time, which found especially remarkable expression in the marvelous in its depth and fiery feelings of David himself and the singers close to him.
Towards the end of his reign, as a result of polygamy introduced by the king, various unrest began, which darkened the last years the life of the great king, and after severe turmoil, the throne passed to the son of his most beloved wife, but at the same time the main culprit of all his disasters, Bathsheba, precisely to young Solomon (about 1020 BC).
