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The biblical King David of Israel was known for his many skills as a musician, a warrior,

a King, a poet and writer of psalms. In his 40 years as ruler, between approximately

1010 and 970 B.C.E., he united the people of Israel, led them to victory in battle,

conquered land and paved the way for his son, Solomon, to build the First Temple.

Almost all knowledge we have of him is from the Biblical books of

Prophets and Writings: Samuel I and II, Kings I and Chronicles I

David's Early Life

David was the eighth and youngest son of Jesse from the kingly tribe of Judah. He

began his life as a shepherd in Bethlehem. One day, the Lord directed

the prophet Samuel to "fill his horn with oil" and go to Jesse the Bethlehemite (from the

town of Bethlehem), “for I have provided for myself a king among his sons" (1 Samuel

16:1). When Samuel appeared before Jesse and his sons, the Lord pointed Samuel's

eyes to David, Jesse's youngest son. The prophet anointed the boy with oil, so that "the

spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward" (Samuel 16:13).

David simply returned to tending his sheep. This proclamation by the prophet Samuel

happened without the knowledge of the current king, Saul.

David the shepherd was known to be fearless and became a legend during one

memorable time of combat when the Israelites were being subjected to their domination

and bullying. David’s bothers were doing battle against the Philistines tribes and were at

a standoff at a ravine. The Philistine commander suggested staging a battle between

each camps top warrior but then he sent out the nine and a half foot tall Goliath who

shouted, “Choose one of your best men and let him come down against me!” For days

no Israelite wanted to confront him in battle. When David’s goes to the nearby battle

site to bring his older brothers’ food, he is shocked by how demoralized the troops have

become because of Goliath’s taunts. So young David decides to confront Goliath. He

refuses the offer of King Saul’s heavy armor, and instead places a single large, smooth

stone in his sling. He lets it fly strong and fast and it knocks down and kills the giant

with a single stone to his head.

After this act of bravery, Saul took David on as commander of his