King David (c. 1000 BCE) was the Biblical ruler of ancient Israel. The son of Jesse of the tribe of Judah, David initially gained attention through the killing of Goliath. Although historians agree that David was probably a real person, there is little evidence of his life outside of the Bible.
Fast Facts: King David:
Known For: After Saul, David was the second king of the Israelite kingdom.
Born: c. 1000 BCE in Bethlehem, Israel
Parents: Jesse and Nitzevet (according to the Talmud; only Jesse is named in the Bible)
Died: Unknown (according to the Bible he was 70 years old at the time of his death)
Spouse(s): Michal, Ahinoam, Abigail, Maachah, Haggith, Abital, Eglah, Bathsheba
Children: Amnon, Chileab, Absalom, Adonijah, Shephatiah, Ithream, Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, Elishama, Eliada, Eliphalet, Tamar
1-1: King David Early Life
According to the Bible, when David was just a young shepherd he was called to play music for King Saul in order to cure his melancholy. David later gained fame as a youth after he killed the giant Philistine Goliath with his slingshot. Saul made David his armor-bearer and son-in-law, and Saul's son Jonathan became David's loyal friend. Saul then appointed David the head of his army, a move that made David one of the most beloved leaders in the land. David's growing popularity eventually became a cause of concern for Saul, who feared that David would crave more power and desire to depose him. Saul made plans to have David killed; however, his son Jonathan warned David of his father's plans and David was able to escape to safety, hiding out for some time in the wilderness. Later, David and Saul made peace with each other.