# Who was King David in the Bible?

David was the youngest son of Jesse of Bethlehem, a shepherd whom God chose to be king. He killed Goliath, ran from King Saul for years, and became Israel’s greatest king, ruling from Jerusalem. He committed adultery with Bathsheba and had her husband killed, then repented. God promised that his throne would last forever, and the New Testament calls Jesus the Son of David.

- When: He reigned about 1010 to 970 BC, by the usual count.
- Read: 1 Samuel 16 to 1 Kings 2. Start with [1 Samuel 16](https://www.lumin.faith/read/1-samuel/16).

Source: https://www.lumin.faith/bible-people/david. Scripture quotations are from the Lumin Translation.

## David’s life, in order

1. **Anointed in Bethlehem** ([1 Samuel 16:1-13](https://www.lumin.faith/read/1-samuel/16#1-13)). Samuel passes over Jesse’s older sons and anoints the youngest, who was out with the sheep. God sees into the heart. Map: [Bethlehem](https://www.lumin.faith/bible-map#bethlehem).
2. **David and Goliath** ([1 Samuel 17:32-50](https://www.lumin.faith/read/1-samuel/17#32-50)). The shepherd boy faces the Philistine champion with a sling and five stones, in the name of the Lord.
3. **On the run from Saul** ([1 Samuel 24:1-22](https://www.lumin.faith/read/1-samuel/24#1-22)). Saul turns jealous and tries to kill him. In a cave at En Gedi David could kill Saul, and spares him. Map: [The wilderness of Judea](https://www.lumin.faith/bible-map#wilderness-of-judea).
4. **King at Hebron** ([2 Samuel 5:1-5](https://www.lumin.faith/read/2-samuel/5#1-5)). After Saul dies, Judah crowns David at Hebron. Later all Israel does. Map: [Hebron](https://www.lumin.faith/bible-map#hebron).
5. **Jerusalem** ([2 Samuel 6:12-19](https://www.lumin.faith/read/2-samuel/6#12-19)). David takes Jerusalem and makes it his city. He brings the ark there, dancing. Map: [Jerusalem](https://www.lumin.faith/bible-map#jerusalem).
6. **A house forever** ([2 Samuel 7:8-16](https://www.lumin.faith/read/2-samuel/7#8-16)). God promises that David’s family will rule forever.
7. **Bathsheba** ([2 Samuel 12:1-13](https://www.lumin.faith/read/2-samuel/12#1-13)). David sleeps with Bathsheba and has her husband Uriah killed. The prophet Nathan confronts him, and David confesses.
8. **Absalom** ([2 Samuel 18:31-33](https://www.lumin.faith/read/2-samuel/18#31-33)). His son Absalom takes the throne and is killed. David weeps: “If only I had died instead of you, Absalom.”
9. **His death** ([1 Kings 2:1-12](https://www.lumin.faith/read/1-kings/2#1-12)). David makes Solomon king and dies after 40 years on the throne.

## Key verses

> But Yahweh said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at how tall he is, for I have rejected him. Yahweh does not see the way a human being sees. People see what meets the eye, but Yahweh sees into the heart.” ([1 Samuel 16:7](https://www.lumin.faith/read/1-samuel/16#7))

> Yahweh is my shepherd; I lack nothing. ([Psalm 23:1](https://www.lumin.faith/read/psalm/23#1))

> God, create a clean heart for me, and renew a steadfast spirit inside me. ([Psalm 51:10](https://www.lumin.faith/read/psalm/51#10))

## What the Bible says, and what tradition adds

### How tall was Goliath?

**Readers disagree.** Most Bibles follow the Hebrew text: six cubits and a span, about 9 feet 9 inches. The Dead Sea Scroll of Samuel and the old Greek read four cubits and a span, about 6 feet 9 inches. Either way he towered over the men around him. See [1 Samuel 17:4](https://www.lumin.faith/read/1-samuel/17#4).

### Did David write all the Psalms?

**Readers disagree.** No. About 73 psalms carry David’s name in their Hebrew headings. Others name Asaph, the sons of Korah, Solomon and Moses, and many name no one. The heading can mean by David, for David, or about David.

### Why is David called a man after God’s own heart?

**In the Bible.** Samuel says it before David is chosen, and Paul repeats it. It points to God’s choice of him and David’s turning back to God, not a spotless life. See [1 Samuel 13:14](https://www.lumin.faith/read/1-samuel/13#14).

## Related people

- [Ruth](https://www.lumin.faith/bible-people/ruth): A widow from Moab who would not leave Naomi. David’s great-grandmother.
- [Elijah](https://www.lumin.faith/bible-people/elijah): Prophet of fire on Mount Carmel. Taken up in a whirlwind.
- [Joseph of Nazareth](https://www.lumin.faith/bible-people/joseph-of-nazareth): Married Mary. Raised Jesus as his own. Never says a word.