Why King David Is Still Adored

Nadene Goldfoot

King David accomplished the political and spiritual unification of ancient Israel, established a regional empire, and founded Jerusalem as the nation's capital.  Our ancestors were part of the Empire of Israel, because of David. 

David(1000 -960 BCE)  is described in the Bible as a red-cheeked, bright-eyed, handsome, and youthful shepherd from Bethlehem who became a musician, a giant-slayer, and the second King of Israel. I've read that he had reddish hair.   The youngest of seven or eight sons of Jesse from the tribe of Judah living in Bethlehem.  Background: Spent his early life tending his family's sheep in the rugged hills around Bethlehem.  

Musician: A skilled harpist whose music could soothe King Saul's troubled spirit.  
King Saul did not live in or rule from Bethlehem, but the city was the source of his greatest political threat and the home of his most famous servant. As a Benjaminite from Gibeah, Saul's connections to Bethlehem—a city in Judah—were defined entirely by his complex relationships with the prophet Samuel and David.  After God rejected Saul for disobedience, the prophet Samuel traveled secretly to Bethlehem to anoint a new king from the house of Jesse. Samuel explicitly feared that if Saul discovered the purpose of his trip to Bethlehem, Saul would have him executed for treason. This event established Bethlehem as the birthplace of the rival Davidic dynasty. When Saul was tormented by an "evil spirit," his servants sought out a skilled musician to soothe him. They identified David, described as the son of Jesse the Bethlehemite. For a long period, David divided his time between Saul's royal court in Gibeah and his family home in Bethlehem, routinely traveling back and forth to look after his father’s sheep.

Spiritual heart: Known as "a man after God's own heart," deeply devoted to Yahweh, and the author of many of the Psalms (Tehillim). 1st book in the Haagio-grapha of Bible, contains 150 p. Talmud says only 147;   written by David (180 to Asaph) which are written in 1st person singular, opening words of "Hallelujah', "Give thanks," and "A song of Degrees.", songs concerning events in the lives of individuals like David, including effusions of sorrow and joy.  This anthology of lyric-poems of high artistic standard and suffused with a deep religious feeling have assured its popularity among many people: Jews and Christians, perhaps others, and have found their incorporation into liturgies of both religions.  #3, A psalm by David, as he fled from Absalom his son,  Hashem, how numerous are my tormentors!  The GREAT rise up against me!  The GREAT say of my soul, "There is no salvation for him from G-d, Selah!  But you, Hashem, are a shield for me, for my soul, and the One who raises my head.  With my voice I call out to Hashem, and He answers me from His holy mountain, Selah.  I lay down and slept, yet I awoke, for Hashem supports me.  I fear not the myriads of people deployed against me all around.  Rise up, Hashem;  save me, my G-d, for you struck all of my enemies on the cheek.  You broke the teeth of the wicked.  Salvation is Hashem's, upon Your people is Your blessing, Selah.  [In Psalm 3, selah (סֶלָה) is an ancient Hebrew term—appearing three times in verses 2, 4, and 8—that most scholars and translations view as a musical or liturgical pause meant for reflection. I think we need to hear this Psalm right now, as the GREAT are all of Europe and their followers.  
Contributed to Scripture: He is traditionally credited with writing a large portion of the biblical Psalms. 



Complex flaws: David exhibited human weakness, including committing adultery with Bathsheba and orchestrating the death of her husband Uriah. One thing about the Torah and other writings;  nothing bad about people have been left out.  The writings tell all.  

Major Accomplishments

Defeated Goliath: As a young shepherd, he killed the Philistine champion Goliath with a sling and stone.
 Warrior and hero: Gained fame by killing lions and bears while shepherding, and defeating the Philistine giant Goliath with a sling and a stone.

                                        Talking to all                                       of them at the                                     threshing floor 



































Unified the Kingdom: He brought the twelve tribes of Israel and Judah together under a single monarchy, reigning for roughly 40 years (c. 1010–970 BC). 


Conquered Jerusalem: He captured the fortress of Jerusalem from the Jebusites and turned it into the political and religious center of the kingdom, ("City of David"). King David captured the Jebusite stronghold of Jerusalem (then called Jebus) around 1004 BC by sending his commander Joab through an underground water shaft connected to the Gihon Spring,   The Jebusites felt safe behind massive walls and mocked David, claiming their fortress was so strong that even the blind and the lame could keep his army out.   David offered a reward and told his men that anyone who wanted to defeat the Jebusites had to climb up through the city's hidden water tunnel or shaft.  : Joab led an elite unit up through the dark underground water passage, emerged inside the city, opened the gates, and let the rest of the Israelite army in to take control.



Brought the Ark of the Covenant: He moved the sacred Ark to Jerusalem to anchor the nation's spiritual life. 



The First Attempt: David gathered 30,000 men and placed the Ark on a new oxcart instead of having Levites carry it with poles as required by Torah law.
The Death of Uzzah: When the oxen stumbled at the threshing floor of Nakon, a man named Uzzah reached out to steady the Ark and was struck dead by God for touching it. 
At Obed-Edom’s House: Fearing God, David left the Ark at the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite for three months, bringing immense blessing to Obed-Edom's household.
The Second Attempt: Realizing the proper procedure, David had consecrated Levites carry the Ark on poles. 
Dancing in Jerusalem: David wore a simple linen ephod (priestly garment) and danced with all his might before the Lord as they entered the city. 
Michal’s Disapproval: David’s wife, Michal (Saul's daughter), watched from a window and despised his passionate dancing, leading to a rift between them.
Placement: David placed the Ark inside a special tent he had pitched for it in Jerusalem, offered sacrifices, and distributed food to the people.



Expanded Military Borders: He decisively defeated regional threats—including the Philistines, Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, and Syrians—building a dominant local empire. 



Prepared for the Temple: Though barred from building the Temple himself, he gathered massive material resources and commissioned his son and successor, Solomon, to construct it.  David contributed 100,000 talents of gold and 1,000,000 talents of silver from his personal treasures and national spoils, alongside additional offerings from the leaders of Israel.
Bronze and Iron: Quantities of bronze and iron were weighed out in such abundance that they were described as "beyond weighing" to be used for the temple gates, fixtures, and structural couplings.
Timbers: David secured massive quantities of cedar logs from the regions of Tyre and Sidon, delivered through agreements with regional leaders. 
Stone and Finished Masonry: He commanded the gathering of dressed stones, fine ashlar blocks, and onyx and turquoise stones for setting, ensuring that the heavy quarrying work was already underway before Solomon took the throne.
Resource:
AI
The Stone Edition of the Torah, etc.
The New Standard Jewish Encyclopedia

The GLORIOUS KINGDOM OF JUDAH

Nadene Goldfoot                                              

          From one kingdom of Israel came two:  Israel and Judah, which was the largest of the tribes.  

Judah was the southerly of the two kingdoms into which Israel was divided in 933BCE after the death  of Solomon, into Israel remaining in the North from the tribe of Judah, most of their neighbor, Benjamin, and also the absorbed tribe of Simeon which was isolated.

Judah had no connection to the sea because of the fighting Philistines so didn't have a trade-route, and it occupied no more than 1/3 of the original area of the Northern Kingdom.  Therefore, it was poor and unimportant as compared with Israel.   

On the other hand, it wasn't involved with international rivalries, and its existence was more tranquil.  Partly owing to the presence in its territory of Jerusalem and its Temple, it preserved Mosaic monotheism in a purer form.  Until toward its last days, Judah's dynastic history  was more settled, the monarchy generally passing peacefully from father to son in the Davidic house, except for the usurpation of Athalia (843-37BCE), Queen of Judah from 842-836 BCE, daughter of Ahab and Jezebel.  On the death of her son, Ahaziah, who reigned only one year, she exterminated the entire royal family except for her grandson, Joash, who was saved by his aunt Jehosheba.)  Why?  

                                            

She wanted all the power and introduced the Baal cult into Judah. Baal included sacrificing people.   After she ruled for 6 years, a revolt broke out in favor of Joash, and Athaliah was put to death.  He was king (836-797 BCE), but hidden in the Temple when a child for years.  Jehoiada, the high priest in Jerusalem,    crowned Joash king, and destroyed the Baal cult, put Athaliah to death, worked as regent until Joash was 21.  The county was invaded by Hazael of Aram  who they paid off with a large indemnity.  Joash later was killed by conspirators.  Jehoiada died at age 130, buried in the royal tomb.  

After all the Israelites went through, what made them tend to adopt the deities of the local inhabitants, notwithstanding the vehement protests of the prophets?  The conflict is one of the themes of historical accounts of the Book of Kings.  They even did it later on with Christianity and the Islam.  Moses, then Joshua had spent 40 years changing the minds of 6 million people, the thought, into following something they believed came from out of their realm, the real one and only G-d.  And why not, it was such a logical way to live.  It did ask a lot from the Israelites, however, with.  

Judah had a period of political and commercial expansion under King Jehoshaphat of Judah, son of Asa, (875-851 BCE), in alliance with King Ahab (876-853 BCE) of Israel by marrying his son Jehoram to Athalia, daughter of Ahab of Israel.   It then ended badly.  Jehoshaphat had fought with Ahab against Aram (Syria)  and lost, and with Ahab's son Jehoram against King Mesha of Moab. 

Mesha wound up regaining the land he had lost and captured the land of Reuben and part of Gad.  He inscribed his victories on the MOABITE STONE.   Jehoshaphat tried to revive sea commerce, but his crafts were wrecked at Ezion-Geber (I Kings 22).  The Bible praises his piety.  

Hezekiah (720-692 BCE) and Josiah (637-608 BCE) were associated with period of religious revival.  

An Assyrian expansion, which had overwhelmed the Northern Kingdom of Israel,  was checked  before the walls of Jerusalem in 701 BCE.                         

Gedaliah was from a noble Jewish family, but appointed governor by the Babylonians.  He ruled over the population which remained in Judah after the destruction of the 1st Temple in 586 BCE.  he set up the seat of his administration at Mizpah but after that was murdered by the commander Ishmael ben Nethaniah and his followers who were apparently planning a revolt against Babylon in concert with the neighboring powers.  After the assassination, Gedaliah's supporters fled to Egypt.  (II Kins,25:25-26;  Jer.41) This destroyed any hope of holding a Jewish community together in Palestine after the Babylonian conquest.  

                          Babylonian Exile 

                                                 

Destruction of Jerusalem: The Babylonians breached the city, completely destroying Jerusalem, the royal palace, and Solomon's Temple in 586 BCE.

However,  the city of Jerusalem and state both lost the battle with the Babylonians in 586 BCE, when large numbers of the people were deported. This is considered THE END of JUDAH.   They tried to keep the state going under Gedaliah, a member of the former Royal House, but Gedaliah was assassinated in 582 BCE. 

The descendants of the exiles in Babylonia continued to cherish their national and religious ideals (By the rivers of Babylon...)  so steadfastly as to make possible the renewal of Jewish life after 539 BCE in the area of the former kingdom of Judah.  

                    The return to Judah from the exile

Cyrus the Great, the king of Persia, allowed the Jews to return to their homeland after conquering the Babylonian Empire. The Edict of Cyrus:  In 539 BCE, Cyrus the Great conquered Babylon. In 538 BCE, he issued an official decree (the Edict of Cyrus) that permitted the exiled Jewish people to travel back to Jerusalem and Judea. He also gave back the sacred gold and silver temple vessels that Nebuchadnezzar had stolen.

Judeans became known as "Jews" following the Babylonian exile in the 6th century BCE and throughout the Second Temple period (516 BCE–70 CE), as the term Yehudi (originally meaning a member of the Tribe or Kingdom of Judah) broadened from a geographic descriptor into a general term for the entire surviving Israelite people.

In contrast to its relative political obscurity, the intellectual and spiritual life of Judah was extraordinarily rich.  It was there that most of the canonical prophets carried on their activity, great parts of the Bible were composed and the essential traditions of Judaism were developed and preserved.  

The 70-Year Prophecy: The Hebrew Bible frequently cites a 70-year duration for the exile (as prophesied by Jeremiah). This is often calculated from the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in 586 BCE until the completion or dedication of the second Temple in 516 BCE (the 70 years of "indignation" on Jerusalem), or from initial deportations around 605/586 BCE to Cyrus the Great's decree and the first return in 538/536 BCE.
Actual Captivity Duration: If measured strictly from the final destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BCE to the Cyrus decree allowing the return in 538 BCE, the main captivity lasted about 48 years. 
Phased Return: The return under Persian rule did not happen all at once. It occurred in multiple waves starting under leaders like Sheshbazzar and Zerubbabel in the 530s BCE, continuing with Ezra in 458/457 BCE, and Nehemiah later on.
Samaria (Hebrew name: Shomron) capital of the northern kingdom of Israel founded in 880 BCE by King Omri who  bought it from a man named Shemer (I Kings 16-24).  Now the name applies to the entire northern region of the central highlands of what was named Palestine by the Romans, now called Samaria.  
Resource;
The Stone Edition, the Torah
The New Standard Jewish Encyclopedia