David (biblical king)
David is the second king of Israel in the Hebrew Bible, celebrated for defeating Goliath and traditionally credited with composing many psalms.
David and Goliath: A biblical story in which the young David kills the Philistine champion Goliath with a sling. The defeat of Goliath begins David’s public rise in the biblical narrative.
Samuel: A prophet and judge in the Hebrew Bible who anoints Israel’s first two kings. Samuel anoints David after rejecting Saul as king.
Books of Samuel: Two books of the Hebrew Bible narrating Israel’s transition from judgeship to monarchy. They provide the main narrative of David’s rise, reign, and family.
Davidic dynasty: The royal line descended from David, which the Hebrew Bible associates with rule over Judah. The promise of an enduring dynasty makes David’s family central to later hopes for legitimate rule.
Tel Dan Stele: A ninth-century BCE Aramaic inscription commonly understood to mention the “House of David.” The inscription is a major extra-biblical reference relevant to David’s historical legacy.
David and Jonathan: A biblical account of the close bond between David and Jonathan, son of King Saul. Their loyalty shapes David’s relationship with Saul’s household and succession.
Saul: The first king of Israel in the Hebrew Bible, whose reign precedes David’s. David’s rise unfolds amid Saul’s fear, hostility, and declining rule.
Hebrew Bible: The collection of Jewish scriptures, comprising the Torah, Prophets, and Writings. David’s life and kingship are presented across several books in this collection.
Jerusalem: An ancient city sacred to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, and the capital of modern Israel. David captures Jerusalem and establishes it as his royal capital.
Historical David: The reconstruction of David’s life and rule using archaeological evidence and critical study of ancient texts. It distinguishes historical questions about David from the biblical narrative’s theological portrait.