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Do not fill this in! ===Narrative=== {{Anchor|childhood|Jesse|Bethlehem|Saul rejected}} [[File:Samuel e david.jpg|right|thumb|[[1 Samuel 16|Samuel anoints David]], [[Dura-Europos synagogue]], now in [[Syria]], 3rd century CE]] [[Yahweh|God]] is angered when [[Saul]], Israel's king, unlawfully offers a sacrifice<ref>{{Bibleverse|1 Sam|13:8β14|NRSV}}</ref> and later disobeys a divine command both to kill all of the [[Amalek]]ites and to destroy their confiscated property.<ref>{{Bibleverse|1 Sam|15:1β28|NRSV}}</ref> Consequently, God sends the prophet [[Samuel]] to anoint a shepherd, David, the youngest son of [[Jesse (biblical figure)|Jesse]] of [[Bethlehem]], to be king instead.<ref>{{Bibleverse|1 Sam|16:1β13|NRSV}}</ref> {{Anchor|At Saul's court}} After God sends an evil spirit to torment Saul, his servants recommend that he send for a man skilled in playing the [[kinnor|lyre]]. A servant proposes David, whom the servant describes as "skillful in playing, a man of valor, a warrior, prudent in speech, and a man of good presence; and the Lord is with him." David enters Saul's service as one of the royal armour-bearers and plays the lyre to soothe the king.<ref>{{Bibleverse|1 Sam|16:14-23|NRSV}}</ref> {{Anchor|David and Goliath}} War comes between Israel and the [[Philistines]], and the giant [[Goliath]] challenges the Israelites to send out a champion to face him in single combat.<ref>{{Bibleverse|1 Sam|17:1β11|NRSV}}</ref> David, sent by his father to bring provisions to his brothers serving in Saul's army, declares that he can defeat Goliath.<ref>{{Bibleverse|1 Sam|17:17β37|NRSV}}</ref> Refusing the king's offer of the royal armour,<ref>{{Bibleverse|1 Sam|17:38β39|NRSV}}</ref> he kills Goliath with his [[Sling (weapon)|sling]].<ref>{{Bibleverse|1 Sam|17:49β50|NRSV}}</ref> Saul inquires the name of the young hero's father.<ref>{{Bibleverse|1 Sam|17:55β56|NRSV}}</ref> Saul sets David over his army. All Israel loves David, but his popularity causes Saul to fear him ("What else can he wish but the kingdom?").<ref>{{Bibleverse|1 Sam|18:5β9|NRSV}}</ref> Saul plots his death, but Saul's son [[Jonathan (1 Samuel)|Jonathan]], one of those who [[David and Jonathan|loves David]], warns him of his father's schemes and David flees. He goes first to [[Nob (Bible)|Nob]], where he is fed by the priest [[Ahimelech]] and given Goliath's sword, and then to [[Gath (city)|Gath]], the Philistine city of Goliath, intending to seek refuge with King [[Achish]] there. Achish's servants or officials question his loyalty, and David sees that he is in danger there.<ref>{{Bibleverse|1|Samuel|21:10β11|NRSV}}</ref> He goes next to the cave of [[Adullam]], where his family joins him.<ref>{{bibleverse|1|Samuel|22:1|NKJV}}</ref> From there he goes to seek refuge with the king of [[Moab]], but the prophet [[Gad (prophet)|Gad]] advises him to leave and he goes to the [[Forest of Hereth]],<ref>{{bibleverse|1|Samuel|22:5|NKJV}}</ref> and then to [[Keilah]], where he is involved in a further battle with the Philistines. Saul plans to besiege Keilah so that he can capture David, so David leaves the city in order to protect its inhabitants.<ref>{{bibleverse|1|Samuel|23:1β13|NKJV}}</ref> From there he takes refuge in the mountainous [[Ziph (Judean Mountains)|Wilderness of Ziph]].<ref>{{bibleverse|1|Samuel|23:14|NKJV}}</ref> [[File:Jusepe Leonardo 001.jpeg|thumb|Saul threatening David, by [[JosΓ© Leonardo]]]] {{Anchor|David and Jonathan}} Jonathan meets with David again and confirms his loyalty to David as the future king. After the people of Ziph notify Saul that David is taking refuge in their territory, Saul seeks confirmation and plans to capture David in the Wilderness of Maon, but his attention is diverted by a renewed Philistine invasion and David is able to secure some respite at [[Ein Gedi]].<ref>{{bibleverse|1|Samuel|23:27β29|NKJV}}</ref> Returning from battle with the Philistines, Saul heads to Ein Gedi in pursuit of David and enters the cave where, as it happens, David and his supporters are hiding, "[[defecation|to attend to his needs]]". David realises he has an [[Window of opportunity|opportunity]] to kill Saul, but this is not his intention: he secretly cuts off a corner of Saul's robe, and when Saul has left the cave he comes out to pay homage to Saul as the king and to demonstrate, using the piece of robe, that he holds no malice towards Saul. The two are thus reconciled and Saul recognises David as his successor.<ref>{{bibleverse|1|Samuel|24:1β22|NKJV}}</ref> A similar passage occurs in 1 Samuel 26, when David is able to infiltrate Saul's camp on the hill of Hachilah and remove his spear and a jug of water from his side while he and his guards lie asleep. In this account, David is advised by [[Abishai (biblical figure)|Abishai]] that this is his opportunity to kill Saul, but David declines, saying he will not "stretch out [his] hand against the Lord's anointed".<ref>{{bibleverse|1|Samuel|26:11|NKJV}}</ref> In the morning, David once again demonstrates to Saul that, despite ample opportunity, he did not deign to harm him. Saul, despite having already reconciled with David, confesses that he has been wrong to pursue David, and blesses him.<ref>{{bibleverse|1|Samuel|26:25|NIV}}, NIV text</ref> In 1 Samuel 27:1β4, David begins to doubt Saul's sincerity, and reasons that the king will eventually make another attempt on his life. David appeals to king Achish of Gath to grant him and his family sanctuary. Achish agrees, and upon hearing that David has fled to Philistia, Saul ceases to pursue him,<ref>cf. {{bibleverse|1|Samuel|21:10β15|NKJV}}</ref> though no such pursuit seemed to be in progress at the time. Achish permits David to reside in [[Ziklag]], close to the border between Philistia and Judah. To further ingratiate himself to Achish and the Philistines, David and his men raid the [[Geshur]]ites, the Girzites and the [[Amalek]]ites, but lead the royal court to believe they are attacking the Israelites, the [[Jerahmeelite]]s and the [[Kenite]]s. While Achish comes to believe that David had become a loyal [[vassal]], the princes or lords of Gath remain unconvinced, and at their request, Achish instructs David to remain behind to guard the camp when the Philistines march against Saul.<ref>{{Bibleverse|1 Sam|29:1β11|NRSV}}</ref> David returns to Ziklag and saves his wives and the citizens from an Amalekite raid.<ref>{{Bibleverse|1|Samuel|30:1|NKJV}}</ref> Jonathan and Saul are killed in battle with the Philistines,<ref>{{Bibleverse|1 Sam|31:1β13|NRSV}}</ref> and after hearing of their deaths, David travels to Hebron, where he is anointed king over Judah.<ref>{{Bibleverse|2 Sam|2:1β4|NRSV}}</ref> In the north, Saul's son [[Ish-Bosheth]] is anointed king of Israel, and war ensues until Ish-Bosheth is murdered.<ref>{{Bibleverse|2 Sam|2:8β11|NRSV}}</ref> {{Anchor|Proclaimed king|Jerusalem and the Davidic covenant}} With the death of Saul's son, the elders of Israel come to [[Hebron]] and David is anointed king over all of Israel.<ref>{{Bibleverse|2 Sam|5:1β3|NRSV}}</ref> He conquers [[Jerusalem]], previously a [[Jebusite]] stronghold, and makes it his capital.<ref>{{Bibleverse|2 Sam|5:6β7|NRSV}}</ref> He brings the [[Ark of the Covenant]] to the city,<ref>{{Bibleverse|2 Sam|6:1β12|NRSV}}</ref> intending to build a temple for God, but the prophet [[Nathan (Prophet)|Nathan]] forbids it, prophesying that the temple would be built by one of David's sons.<ref>{{Bibleverse|2 Sam|7:1β13|NRSV}}</ref> Nathan also prophesies that God has made a covenant with the house of David stating, "your throne shall be established forever".<ref>{{Bibleverse|2 Sam|7:16|NRSV}}</ref> David wins additional victories over the Philistines, Moabites, [[Edomites]], Amalekites, [[Ammon]]ites and king [[Hadadezer ben Rehob|Hadadezer]] of [[Aram-Zobah]], after which they become tributaries. His fame increases as a result, earning the praise of figures like King [[Tou (biblical figure)|Toi]] of [[Hamath]], Hadadezer's rival.<ref>{{Bibleverse|2 Sam|8:1β14|NRSV}}</ref> [[File:EugΓ¨ne Siberdt - The Prophet Nathan rebukes King David.jpg|thumb|''The Prophet Nathan rebukes King David'', oil on canvas by [[EugΓ¨ne Siberdt]], 1866β1931 (Mayfair Gallery, London)]] {{Anchor|Bathsheba and Uriah the Hittite}} During a siege of the Ammonite capital of [[Rabbah]], David remains in Jerusalem. He spies a woman, [[Bathsheba]], bathing and summons her; she becomes pregnant.<ref name=RichardsRichards2002>{{cite book|author=Lawrence O. Richards|title=Bible Reader's Companion|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=S4D_IVZ1cCQC&pg=PA210|year=2002|publisher=David C Cook|isbn=978-0-7814-3879-7|pages=210β|access-date=2017-07-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191216035112/https://books.google.com/books?id=S4D_IVZ1cCQC&pg=PA210|archive-date=2019-12-16|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=Wilton2004>{{cite book|author=Carlos Wilton|title=Lectionary Preaching Workbook: For All Users of the Revised Common, the Roman Catholic, and the Episcopal Lectionaries. Series VIII|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GxyxOxf5DmcC&pg=PA189|date=June 2004|publisher=CSS Publishing|isbn=978-0-7880-2371-2|pages=189β}}</ref><ref name=Zucker2013>{{cite book|author=David J. Zucker|title=The Bible's Prophets: An Introduction for Christians and Jews|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nTtJAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA51|date= 2013 |publisher=Wipf and Stock Publishers|isbn=978-1-63087-102-4|pages=51β}}</ref> The text in the Bible does not explicitly state whether Bathsheba consented to sex.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://bible.oremus.org/?passage=2+Samuel+11:2-4&version=nrsv |title=2 Samuel 11:2β4 |access-date=2018-12-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181202024758/http://bible.oremus.org/?passage=2+Samuel+11:2-4&version=nrsv |archive-date=2018-12-02 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=Campbell2005>{{cite book |author=Antony F. Campbell|title=2 Samuel|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FgmyJVkci14C&pg=PA104 |year=2005|publisher=Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing|isbn=978-0-8028-2813-2|pages=104β}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Sara M. Koenig|title=Isn't This Bathsheba?: A Study in Characterization|date=2011 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=O4ZMAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA69|publisher=Wipf and Stock Publishers|isbn=978-1-60899-427-4 |pages=69β}}</ref><ref name=Campbell2004>{{cite book|author=Antony F. Campbell|title=Joshua to Chronicles: An Introduction|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vQEcTgQuP94C&pg=PA161|year=2004 |publisher=Westminster John Knox Press|isbn=978-0-664-25751-4|pages=161β |access-date=2017-08-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191216035108/https://books.google.com/books?id=vQEcTgQuP94C&pg=PA161 |archive-date=2019-12-16|url-status=live}}</ref> David calls her husband, [[Uriah the Hittite]], back from the battle to rest, hoping that he will go home to his wife and the child will be presumed to be his. Uriah does not visit his wife, however, so David conspires to have him killed in the heat of battle. David then marries the widowed Bathsheba.<ref>{{Bibleverse|2 Sam|11:14β17|NRSV}}</ref> In response, Nathan, after trapping the king in his guilt with a parable that actually described his sin in analogy, prophesies the punishment that will fall upon him, stating "the sword shall never depart from your house."{{efn|1=Some commentators believe this meant during David's lifetime.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/12-10.htm |title=2 Samuel 12:10 |website=Bible Hub |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170801181431/http://biblehub.com/2_samuel/12-10.htm |archive-date=2017-08-01 }}</ref> Others say it included his posterity.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/gills-exposition-of-the-bible/2-samuel-12-10.html |title=2 Samuel 12:10 |website=Salem Web Network |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729103412/http://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/gills-exposition-of-the-bible/2-samuel-12-10.html |archive-date=2017-07-29}}; {{Bibleverse|2 Sam|12:8β10|NRSV}}</ref> }} When David acknowledges that he has [[sin]]ned,<ref>{{bibleverse|2|Samuel|12:13|NRSV}}</ref> Nathan advises him that his sin is forgiven and he will not die,<ref>Adultery was a capital crime under [[Mosaic law]]: {{bibleverse||Leviticus|20:10|ESV}}</ref> but the child will.<ref>{{bibleverse|2|Samuel|12:14|NIV}}: NIV translation</ref> {{anchor|David's son Absalom rebels}} In fulfillment of Nathan's words, the child born of the union between David and Bathsheba dies, and another of David's sons, [[Absalom]], fueled by vengeance and lust for power, rebels.<ref>{{Bibleverse|2 Sam|15:1β12|NRSV}}</ref> Thanks to [[Hushai]], a friend of David who was ordered to infiltrate Absalom's court to successfully sabotage his plans, Absalom's forces are routed at the battle of the [[Wood of Ephraim]], and he is caught by his long hair in the branches of a tree where, contrary to David's order, he is killed by [[Joab]], the commander of David's army.<ref>{{Bibleverse|2 Sam|18:1β15|NRSV}}</ref> David laments the death of his favourite son: "O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!"<ref>{{Bibleverse|2 Sam|18:33|NRSV}}</ref> until Joab persuades him to recover from "the extravagance of his grief"<ref>{{cite web |work=Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges |url=http://biblehub.com/commentaries/cambridge/2_samuel/19.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170731122102/http://biblehub.com/commentaries/cambridge/2_samuel/19.htm |archive-date=2017-07-31 |url-status=live |title=2 Samuel 19 |access-date=12 August 2017}}</ref> and to fulfill his duty to his people.<ref>{{bibleverse|2|Samuel|19:1β8}}</ref> David returns to [[Gilgal]] and is escorted across the [[River Jordan]] and back to Jerusalem by the tribes of [[Tribe of Judah|Judah]] and [[Tribe of Benjamin|Benjamin]].<ref>{{Bibleverse|2|Samuel|19:15β17|NKJV}}</ref> {{Anchor|Death}} When David is old and bedridden, [[Adonijah]], his eldest surviving son and natural heir, declares himself king.<ref>{{Bibleref|1 Kings|1:1β5|NRSV}}</ref> Bathsheba and Nathan go to David and obtain his agreement to crown Bathsheba's son [[Solomon]] as king, according to David's earlier promise, and the revolt of Adonijah is put down.<ref>{{Bibleverse|1 Kings|1:11β31|NRSV}}</ref> David dies at the age of 70 after reigning for 40 years,<ref>{{Bibleverse|2 Sam|5:4|NRSV}}</ref> and on his deathbed counsels Solomon to walk in the ways of God and to take revenge on his enemies.<ref>{{Bibleverse|1 Kings|2:1β9|NRSV}}</ref> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. 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