David, King of Israel

The following article was obtained through Brittanica.com and written by J. Coert Rylaarsdam, Emeritus Professor of Old Testament Theology, University of Chicago. Emeritus Professor of Theology, Marquette University, Milwaukee. Author of Revelation in Jewish Wisdom Literature.

DAVID, (flourished c. 1000 BCE), second king of ancient Israel. He founded the Judaean dynasty and united all the tribes of Israel under a single monarch. His son Solomon expanded the empire that David built. David is an important figure in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

Background And Sources

The primary evidence for David’s career consists of several chapters in the books 1 and 2 Samuel in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament). The Psalms are also attributed to him, a tribute to his legendary skill as a poet and hymnodist. Material evidence for his reign, while a matter of intense debate among scholars, is scant. Some scholars claim to have discovered artifacts that corroborate the biblical account of David’s kingdom. Others assert that the archaeological record strongly suggests that David was not the grand ruler of a rising kingdom but merely a gifted tribal leader of a pastoral, rather than urban, society. 

A fragment from a stone stele mentioning the “House of David” (a reference to his political dynasty) was inscribed more than a century after the traditional date of his reign and is not accepted by all scholars. The following article is largely drawn from the biblical account of David’s reign.

Early Life

The youngest son of Jesse, David began his career as an aide at the court of Saul, Israel’s first king. He so distinguished himself as a warrior against the Philistines that his resultant popularity aroused Saul’s jealousy, and a plot was made to kill him. He fled into southern Judah and Philistia, on the coastal plain of Palestine, where, with great sagacity and foresight, he began to lay the foundations of his career.

As an outlaw with a price on his head, David led the life of a Robin Hood on the desert frontier of his tribal domain in Judah (in the south of the Levant). He became the leader and organizer of a group of other outlaws and refugees, who progressively ingratiated themselves with the local population by protecting them from other bandits or, in case they had been raided, by pursuing the raiders and restoring the possessions that had been taken. Those actions eventually ensured that he would be “invited” to become king as the true successor of Saul after the latter was slain in battle against the Philistines on Mount Gilboa.

Kingship

According to the biblical account, David was proclaimed king in Hebron. He struggled for a few years against the contending claim and forces of Ishbaal, Saul’s surviving son, who had also been crowned king, but the civil war ended with the murder of Ishbaal by his own courtiers and the anointing of David as king over all of Israel. He conquered the Jebusite-held town of Jerusalem, which he made the capital of the new united kingdom and to which he moved the sacred Ark of the Covenant, the supreme symbol of Israelite religion. He defeated the Philistines so thoroughly that they were never again a serious threat to the Israelites’ security, and he annexed the coastal region. He went on to establish an empire by becoming the overlord of many small kingdoms bordering on Israel, including Edom, Moab, and Ammon.

King David Bearing the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem

King David Bearing the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem, oil on wood, early 16th century.

© Fine Art Images/age fotostock

David’s great success as a warrior and empire builder was marred by interconnected family dissensions and political revolts. To tie together the various groups that constituted his kingdom, David took wives from them and created a harem. The resultant family was an extreme departure from the family in the consanguineal context, the traditional clan structure. David’s wives were mostly completely alien to one another, and his children were without the directing support of established social patterns that provided precedents for the resolution of conflict or for establishing the rights of succession.

The authors of the biblical accounts (in 1 and 2 Samuel) of David’s political career display a deep insight into the character of a man who could make an indelible personal impression in a specific situation. Along with that ability to exploit the immediate situation in the service of his momentary requirements, he possessed the knack of making his conduct in particular situations serve his persistent and long-range aims.

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Top Questions:

Where did David grow up?

According to the Bible, David grew up in the rugged Judean hills around the Israelite town of Bethlehem, a few miles south of what was then the Canaanite stronghold of Jerusalem. At the time, Israel was threatened by other peoples in the region, especially the Philistines, who occupied the Mediterranean coastal plain to the west.   

What was David's early life like?     

David was the youngest of eight sons of Jesse, a farmer and sheep breeder of the Israelite tribe of Judah. David likely spent much of his boyhood tending his family’s flock. One day he was summoned from the fields by the prophet Samuel, who anointed him king of Israel while Saul was still king.    

What did David do for a living?

As a youth, David distinguished himself as a musician and warrior. This gained him the attention of King Saul, for whom he played the harp and fought the Philistines. David’s popularity aroused the king’s jealousy. After Saul tried to kill him, David fled and became a leader of outlaws. When Saul died, David became king.

What did David achieve?

As Israel’s second king, David built a small empire. He conquered Jerusalem, which he made Israel’s political and religious centre. He defeated the Philistines so thoroughly that they never seriously threatened the Israelites’ security again, and he annexed the coastal region. He went on to become the overlord of many small kingdoms bordering Israel.

Portrait of King David

The Book of Jasher: The Rest of the Story

From Creation to Abraham

The Holy Books of the world share similar stories about how the Earth came into existence, a man and woman being created by a Superior Creator, wickedness overtaking the world and the Great Flood cleansing the Earth of its wicked inhabitants, mankind starting over with a family of eight... Many of the stories go into acceptable detail, according to the biblical scholars and theologians, yet there are other stories scattered throughout the first 10 chapters of Genesis that make only an honorable mention that leaves one wondering "what happened next?".

The Book of Jasher is basically a further detailed extension of the Bible, yet it has never been accepted as a canonical holy book by the majority of scholars, as well as the Vatican, and therefore has received little mention over the last 400 years. The official King James Bible of 1611 did not include the Book of Jasher, nor has it ever been added to the many Bible variables that followed suit after the King James version was published.

First published in November of 1751, the title page of the Book of Jasher says: "translated into English by Flaccus Albinus Alcuinus, of Britain, Abbot of Canterbury, who went on a pilgrimage into the Holy Land and Persia, where he discovered this volume in the city of Gazna." The book claims to be written by Jasher, son of Caleb, one of Moses 's lieutenants, who later judged Israel at Shiloh.

The Book of Jasher is mentioned in Joshua 10:12-13:"On the day the LORD gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua said to the LORD in the presence of Israel: "Sun, stand still over Gibeon, and you, moon, over the Valley of Aijalon." So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the nation avenged itself on its enemies, as it is written in the Book of Jashar. The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day."

Why the book of Jasher was not accepted or included in biblical scripture remains a mystery. The following stories that received an honorable mention in the Bible is further expounded upon in the Book of Jasher.

Cain and Abel

While the Bible relates the story of the first murder in no nonsense terms - Cain became jealous, killed his brother, God reprimanded and cursed him, end of story - Jasher details the argument between the brothers, the remorse Cain felt for his wicked deed and the Creator's specific harsh judgment on Cain.

"But thou didst this thing and didst slay thy brother for naught and because he spoke rightly to thee, and now, therefore, cursed be thou from the ground which opened its mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand, and wherein thou didst bury him."  ~ Jasher 1:31

The story of Cain is further expounded upon when Jasher 2:27-31, states that Lamech [5th descendant of Cain] killed Cain (son of Adam) and then Tubal-Cain (Lamech's son) by accident. Could this explain Genesis 4:23-24 as being a lament instead of a boast? Regardless, with the passing of the last pre-flood patriarch the curtain falls on the race of Cain and the descendants of Lamech... their story becoming a legend in time.

 

Enoch

In the Bible the story of Enoch is extremely brief. He was born, became the father of Methusaleh, walked with God for 300 years, then mysteriously disappeared [purportedly taken to heaven by the Creator himself]. The Book of Jasher further details the life and times of Enoch.

"And the soul of Enoch was wrapped up in the instruction of the Lord, in knowledge and in understanding; and he wisely retired from the sons of men, and secreted himself from them for many days. And it was at the expiration of many years, whilst he was serving the Lord, and praying before him in his house, that an angel of the Lord called to him from Heaven, and he said, Here am I. And he said, Rise, go forth from thy house and from the place where thou dost hide thyself, and appear to the sons of men, in order that thou mayest teach them the way in which they should go and the work which they must accomplish to enter in the ways of God. And Enoch rose up according to the word of the Lord, and went forth from his house, from his place and from the chamber in which he was concealed; and he went to the sons of men and taught them the ways of the Lord, and at that time assembled the sons of men and acquainted them with the instruction of the Lord." ~ Jasher 3:2-5

In Jasher's story, Enoch did many godly deeds, with a main goal of leading the people to trust in the Creator. He was a wise and righteous man. An entire chapter (3) is dedicated to the good deeds that Enoch performed on behalf of the Creator.

Nimrod

Like the story of Enoch, the tale of Nimrod is just as brief story in the Bible. Most scholars and theologians have speculated that Nimrod was the king of Babel and it was he who built the tower of Babel. The Book of Jasher confirms it. While Nimrod fades from the Bible, his story continues into Abraham's generation according to Jasher. 

"And it was in the third day that the king sent to Terah, saying, Send me thy son for a price as I spoke to thee; and shouldst thou not do this, I will send and slay all thou hast in thy house, so that thou shalt not even have a dog remaining. And Terah hastened, (as the thing was urgent from the king), and he took a child from one of his servants, which his handmaid had born to him that day, and Terah brought the child to the king and received value for him. And the Lord was with Terah in this matter, that Nimrod might not cause Abram's death, and the king took the child from Terah and with all his might dashed his head to the ground, for he thought it had been Abram; and this was concealed from him from that day, and it was forgotten by the king, as it was the will of Providence not to suffer Abram's death." ~ Jasher 8:32-34

Because Nimrod was determined to kill Abram (Abraham), according to Jasher, the future father of many nations left his homeland of Ur (Babel) - fearing the unholy king would discover he was still alive - and journeyed to the land of Noah and Shem where he dwelt with his ancestral kinsmen for three years. Abraham would later leave his kinsmen's land and traveled to Canaan as the Lord had commanded him. Another Nimrod connection makes it possible that Nimrod was Amraphel of Genesis. Jasher 11:6 says, "Nimrod dwelt in Babel, and he there renewed his reign over the rest of his subjects, and he reigned securely, and the subjects and princes called his name Amraphel, saying that at the tower his princes and men fell through his means." Genesis 14:1 & 9 identifies Amraphel as the King of Shinar.

Rikayon 

In Chapter 14, a mysterious character enters Jasher's story named Rikayon. He was considered a poor man but wise in spirit. He was determined to meet the king of Egypt, hoping his wisdom would impress the royal enough to put him on the kingdom's payroll, so to speak. 

"And when the king heard the words of Rikayon and his wisdom, Rikayon found grace in his sight, and he met with grace and kindness from all the servants of the king and from all the inhabitants of Egypt, on account of his wisdom and excellent speeches, and from that time they loved him exceedingly. And the king answered and said to Rikayon, Thy name shall no more be called Rikayon but Pharaoh shall be thy name, since thou didst exact a tax from the dead; and he called his name Pharaoh. And the king and his subjects loved Rikayon for his wisdom, and they consulted with all the inhabitants of Egypt to make him prefect under the king. And all the inhabitants of Egypt and its wise men did so, and it was made a law in Egypt. And they made Rikayon Pharaoh prefect under Oswiris king of Egypt, and Rikayon Pharaoh governed over Egypt, daily administering justice to the whole city, but Oswiris the king would judge the people of the land one day in the year, when he went out to make his appearance. And Rikayon Pharaoh cunningly usurped the government of Egypt, and he exacted a tax from all the inhabitants of Egypt. And all the inhabitants of Egypt greatly loved Rikayon Pharaoh, and they made a decree to call every king that should reign over them and their seed in Egypt, Pharaoh. Therefore all the kings that reigned in Egypt from that time forward were called Pharaoh unto this day." ~ Jasher 14:26-33

The Book of Jasher makes a slight departure from Abraham [in Bible literature] to inform readers about the first man who is called Pharaoh. This chapter of Jasher also points out that the Egyptians were technically the descendants of Ham (son of Noah) and it is obvious the knowledge of resurrection was passed down to them from their forefathers [who were Noah and Ham]. Another deviation from biblical literature in Jasher states that Abraham taught the Egyptians the knowledge of the stars and the Creator's plan for redemption which were written in the stars. While Nimrod started to change that which was taught before him by introducing idols, it was Abraham who brought the sacred knowledge of God back to Ur (formerly known as Babel). 

Other Characters

Mankind and the Animals: In Jasher 4:18 it says, "And their judges and rulers went to the daughters of men and took their wives by force from their husbands according to their choice, and the sons of men in those days took of the cattle of the earth, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and taught the mixture of the animals of one species with the other, in order therewith to provoke the Lord; and God saw the whole earth was corrupted its ways upon earth, all men and all animals." Could this explain the statement of God in Genesis 6:5 which says, "And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually."? Jasher also points out even the animals complied with mankind to provoke the Creator. Could this be a reason why only two of each species of animals were allowed to enter the ark? It is also interesting to note that Jasher 6:3-5 also provides an explanation of how all the animals were able to fit on Noah's ark. 

Noah's Wife: According to Jasher, Noah and Methuseleh preached for 120 years before the flood (5:8-9); but Jasher added more to the story by introducing a wife for Noah. In Jasher 5:15-16 Noah marries Enoch's daughter (from the lineage of Cain). "Noah went and took a wife, and he chose Naamah the daughter of Enoch, and she was five hundred and eighty years old. And Noah was four hundred and ninety years old, when he took Naamah for a wife." While most all historians agree that the lineage of Cain ended with Lamech (4x grandson of Cain and 5x grandson of Adam), does Jasher enlighten that the Creator never intended for Cain's lineage to end?

Melchizedek: In accordance with the book of Jasher, Shem (son of Noah) was inferred as being Melchizedek. Jasher 16:11 states, "And Adonizedek, King of Jerusalem, the same was Shem, went out with his men to meet Abram and his people, with bread and wine, and they remained together in the valley of Melech." According to Jasher, there can be only one man serving as Melchizedek at any given time until his death, then the title is passed down to the eldest son. The title of Melchizedek would have thus been handed down to Noah and in turn bequeathed to his son, Shem, carrying the title into the Post-Flood world. The mysterious identity of Melchizedek in the Genesis narrative have scholars agreeing that Melchizedek was Jesus, while a small minority of theologians believe Shem and Melchizedek were one in the same. 

Conclusion

Some scholars believe when we look at the canon of Jasher, in comparison to the other holy books of the Bible, it goes into much more detail than the scribes had intended to be known. Therefore, Jasher was counted among the extra-canonical books that did not make the cut into the Bible. Other historians argue the book of Jasher is not inspired by God [like the books of prophets]. And yet there are other theologians that believe the Book of Jasher was lost and has not survived to modern times; the modern book of Jasher is no more than a forgery. While scholars and theologians continue to disagree on the authenticity and clarity of the book of Jasher, the fact remains the book is referenced in the Bible three times (Joshua 10:13, 2 Samuel 1:18 and 2 Timothy 3:8) gives credit to its relevance. So, when it comes to the book of Jasher... Who's ? Right