DAVID'S SIGNIFICANCE IN JEWISH NATION

Why is David regarded as so significant in the history of the Jewish nation?

Why is David regarded as so significant in the history of the Jewish nation?

David was the first monarch in Jerusalem whose reign was subsequently considered as a golden era. He is known both as a great combatant and as the "sweet singer of Israel", the source of poems and pieces of music, some of which are assembled in the book of Psalms.

The designated day of David's enthronement is roughly 1000 BC. The context of his life is a time of transition within the annals of Israel. Because of the lawlessness of this time span there was a growing yearn to have a monarch, who could give powerful leadership and convey victory over foes.

David's life can be divided into three major phases: the first when Saul was alive; the second when he was king in Judah (c. 1008-1001 BCE); the third when he reigned all over the Holy Land of Israel. A warrior monarch, he did well in uniting the tribes of Israel and conceived a kingdom that dominated surrounding people and attained power and wealth. The Psalms were supposed to have been written by him. The account of his life seems in I Samuel 16ff, II Samuel, I monarchs 1-2, and I Chronicles 10ff.

David is an important King in Judaism. Historically, David's reign represented the formation of a coherent Jewish kingdom - centralised in Jerusalem. David is a significant member within the context of Jewish messianism. In the Hebrew Bible, it is written that a human descendant of David will occupy the throne of a restored kingdom and escort a messianic age.

The biblical King David of Israel was renowned for his diverse skills as both a warrior and a powerful orator. In his 40 years of leadership, between 1010 and 970 B.C.E., he united the people of Israel, led them to triumph in battle, conquered the land and paved the way for his son, Solomon, to construct the Holy Temple. Nearly all information of him is drawn from the publications of the Prophets and Writings: Samuel I and II, monarchs I and Chronicles I.

David was the eighth and the youngest child of Jesse from the kingly tribe of Judah. He was the direct descendent of Ruth the Moabite. David started his life as a shepherd in Bethlehem. One day, the prophet Samuel called him out of the field and anointed him without the information of the current monarch, Saul. His first interaction with Saul came when the monarch was looking for somebody to play melodies for him, and the king's assistant summoned the skilled David to play for him. Saul was satisfied with David and kept him in his service as an instrumentalist.

The first time David publicly brandished his bravery was as an inexperienced young man equipped with only a stick and a couple of pebbles, he confronted the nine-foot, bronze armored Philistine monster, Goliath of ...