David
David was the shepherd boy from Bethlehem who became Israel's greatest king. 1 and 2 Samuel tell most of his story, 1 Kings and 1 Chronicles add his last days and more of his reign, and many psalms bear his name.
David was the youngest son of Jesse of Bethlehem. The prophet Samuel anointed him while he was still a shepherd. He played the harp for King Saul, and he killed the Philistine champion Goliath with a sling and a stone. Saul's son Jonathan became his closest friend, but Saul grew jealous and tried to kill him.
For years David hid from Saul in caves and deserts, yet twice he refused to harm him, because Saul was the LORD's anointed. After Saul died, David became king, first over Judah at Hebron and then over all Israel. He made Jerusalem his capital, brought the ark of God there, and received God's promise that his throne would last forever.
David also sinned greatly. He took Bathsheba and had her husband Uriah killed. When the prophet Nathan confronted him, he confessed, but trouble followed in his family, including his son Absalom's rebellion. David reigned 40 years. The Bible calls him a man after God's own heart (Acts 13:22), and the New Testament calls Jesus the Son of David (Matthew 1:1).
David's Story
Follow his life from the sheep fields of Bethlehem to the throne in Jerusalem. Read each event in Scripture, and see how it all fits together.
- Part 1 · 4 eventsThe ShepherdSamuel anoints the youngest son of Jesse. David plays for King Saul and faces Goliath.
- Part 2 · 5 eventsIn Saul's CourtJonathan becomes David's friend, while Saul grows jealous and tries to kill him.
- Part 3 · 13 eventsOn the RunDavid hides from Saul in caves and deserts, spares Saul's life twice, and mourns him when he dies.
- Part 4 · 2 eventsKing in HebronJudah anoints David king at Hebron, while Saul's house fights on.
- Part 5 · 8 eventsKing in JerusalemDavid rules all Israel from Jerusalem, brings up the ark, and receives God's promise.
- Part 6 · 8 eventsSin and SorrowDavid sins with Bathsheba and against Uriah. Trouble follows in his own family, and Absalom rebels.
- Part 7 · 4 eventsLast YearsThe census and the plague, preparations for the temple, and Solomon made king before David dies.
1 Samuel, 2 Samuel and 1 Kings tell David's life mostly in order, and 1 Chronicles retells much of his reign. A few passages near the end of 2 Samuel are not in time order, and the Bible gives few dates. Where the details differ, the event says so.
Quick Links
Jump straight to David's psalms and prayers, and to God's promise to him.
Key facts
Tap a reference to read the verses.
- Born
- Bethlehem, in Judah
- Family
- The youngest son of Jesse. His great-grandparents were Boaz and Ruth.
- 1 Samuel 17:12 says Jesse had eight sons, while 1 Chronicles 2:13-15 names seven, with David the seventh. Readers explain this in different ways.
- Tribe
- Judah
- Early work
- A shepherd who kept his father's sheep
- Looks
- Ruddy (reddish in color) and handsome
- The BSB says he had “beautiful eyes”; the KJV says “a beautiful countenance.”
- Anointed
- Three times: by Samuel, by the men of Judah, and by the elders of all Israel
- Reign
- 40 years: seven and a half in Hebron and 33 in Jerusalem. He became king at 30.
- Wives
- Michal, Ahinoam, Abigail, Bathsheba and others
- Sons named in his story
- Amnon, Absalom, Adonijah and Solomon, among many others
- Close friend
- Jonathan, King Saul's son
- Known as
- A man after God's own heart, and the sweet psalmist of Israel
- Psalms
- Many psalms have titles that name David
- Readers differ on how old these titles are, and on whether “of David” always means he wrote the psalm. In the KJV these titles are printed above verse 1 rather than as part of it.
- Died
- At a good old age, and was buried in the City of David, the fortress in Jerusalem
- His royal line
- The New Testament calls Jesus the Son of David