King · Prophet · Old Testament
The Story of David
Also: Daudi (Kiswahili, Gĩkũyũ)
Shepherd anointed king of Israel, a man after God's own heart, to whom God promised an everlasting dynasty.
Editorial text in English. Scripture is quoted from the version you choose; references stay the same in every version.
Introduction
David, the youngest son of Jesse of Bethlehem, was keeping sheep when Samuel anointed him, and the Spirit of the LORD came on him. 1 Samuel 16:11–13
He defeated Goliath, served Saul, and was then pursued by Saul for years. After Saul's death he became king over Judah and then over all Israel, with Jerusalem as his city. 1 Samuel 17:45–502 Samuel 2:42 Samuel 5:3–7
God promised David that his throne would be established forever. David sinned with Bathsheba and against Uriah, was confronted by Nathan, and repented; trouble followed in his own household. 2 Samuel 7:12–162 Samuel 11:1–272 Samuel 12:1–13
Many psalms are headed as David's. The New Testament calls Jesus the Son of David. Psalms 23:1Psalms 51:1Matthew 1:1
Life at a glance
- Family
- Youngest son of Jesse, of the tribe of Judah 1 Samuel 16:10–11Ruth 4:22
- Wives named
- Michal, Abigail, Bathsheba and others 1 Samuel 18:271 Samuel 25:422 Samuel 11:27
- Sons named
- Amnon, Absalom, Adonijah, Solomon and others 2 Samuel 3:2–52 Samuel 5:14
- Reign
- Forty years: seven and a half in Hebron, thirty-three in Jerusalem 2 Samuel 5:4–5
- Death
- Buried in the city of David 1 Kings 2:10–11
Only what Scripture records. Where the Bible is silent, nothing is filled in.
Follow the life of David
Events in the order Scripture presents them. Expand an event to read its passage here, or open the chapter in the reader.
Anointed by Samuel
The LORD sends Samuel to Jesse's sons; David, the youngest, is brought from the sheep and anointed.
David and Goliath
David, sent with food for his brothers, faces Goliath in the name of the LORD and kills him with a stone.
In Saul's court and Jonathan's friendship
1 Samuel 16:14–23 · 1 Samuel 18:1–30
David plays for Saul, wins victories and marries Michal; Jonathan makes a covenant with him while Saul grows jealous.
A fugitive from Saul
1 Samuel 19:9–18 · 1 Samuel 22:1–2 · 1 Samuel 24:1–22 · 1 Samuel 26:1–25
David flees from Saul, gathers men at Adullam, and twice spares Saul's life because he is the LORD's anointed.
Abigail
Abigail turns David from taking revenge on Nabal; after Nabal dies, David marries her.
King over Judah and Israel
2 Samuel 1:1–27 · 2 Samuel 2:1–4 · 2 Samuel 5:1–12
After lamenting Saul and Jonathan, David is anointed king over Judah at Hebron and later over all Israel; he takes Jerusalem.
The ark comes to Jerusalem
David brings the ark of God to Jerusalem with rejoicing and dances before the LORD.
More about this event
Parallel account: 1 Chronicles 15:1–29
God's covenant with David
David wants to build a house for the LORD; through Nathan, God promises to build David a house and establish his throne forever.
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Parallel account: 1 Chronicles 17:1–27
Later recollection of this event: Psalms 89:3–4
Kindness to Mephibosheth
For Jonathan's sake David restores Saul's land to Jonathan's son Mephibosheth and has him eat at his table.
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People: Jonathan
Bathsheba, Uriah and Nathan's rebuke
2 Samuel 11:1–27 · 2 Samuel 12:1–25
David takes Bathsheba and arranges the death of her husband Uriah. Nathan confronts him with a parable; David confesses, and the child dies.
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Supporting passage: Psalms 51:1–19 (The heading links this psalm to Nathan's visit.)
Absalom's rebellion
2 Samuel 15:1–37 · 2 Samuel 18:1–33
David's son Absalom seizes the kingdom; David flees Jerusalem. Absalom is killed in battle, and David mourns him.
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Supporting passage: 2 Samuel 19:1–8
The census and the threshing floor
David counts the fighting men against the LORD's will; after the plague he buys Araunah's threshing floor and builds an altar.
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Parallel account: 1 Chronicles 21:1–30
Solomon made king; David's last words and death
1 Kings 1:28–40 · 1 Kings 2:1–12
David has Solomon anointed king, charges him to walk in the LORD's ways, and dies after reigning forty years.
More about this event
Supporting passage: 2 Samuel 23:1–7
Parallel account: 1 Chronicles 29:26–28
People: Solomon
Mentioned across the Bible
Later passages that recall, mention or interpret David. These are not new events in the person’s lifetime.
Later recollections of these events
- Psalms 89:3–4 recalls “God's covenant with David”
Later recollection
- 1 Kings 11:4 — Solomon's heart was not wholly true as David's had been.
- Jeremiah 23:5 — A righteous Branch for David.
- Ezekiel 34:23–24 — My servant David will be their shepherd.
- Acts 13:22 — A man after my own heart.
- Hebrews 11:32
Direct reference
- Luke 1:32 — The throne of his father David.
- Revelation 22:16 — I am the root and the offspring of David.
Teaching or quotation mentioning them
- Matthew 12:3–4 — Jesus recalls David eating the consecrated bread.
- Matthew 22:41–45 — Jesus quotes Psalm 110 as spoken by David.
- Acts 2:25–36 — Peter quotes David in his Pentecost sermon.
- Romans 1:3
Genealogy
- Matthew 1:1 — Jesus Christ, the son of David.
Interpretive or typological connection (an interpretation, not a statement of the text)
- Isaiah 11:1 — A shoot from the stump of Jesse, read in the New Testament as fulfilled in Christ.
Family and relationships
- JesseFather1 Samuel 16:1Ruth 4:22
- JonathanCovenant friend1 Samuel 18:3
- SaulKing who pursued him; father-in-law1 Samuel 18:271 Samuel 23:14
- SamuelProphet who anointed him1 Samuel 16:13
- SolomonSon and successor2 Samuel 12:241 Kings 1:30
- BathshebaWife, mother of Solomon2 Samuel 11:272 Samuel 12:24
- Nathan the prophetProphet who brought God's promise and rebuke2 Samuel 7:4–52 Samuel 12:1
- RuthGreat-grandmotherRuth 4:17
- BathshebaConnected: Husband of David2 Samuel 11:27
- Joseph of NazarethConnected: Ancestor of DavidMatthew 1:20
- NathanConnected: Prophet to David of David2 Samuel 12:1
Books associated with David
- 1 Samuel Main narrative figure
- 2 Samuel Main narrative figure
- 1 Chronicles Main narrative figure
- 1 Kings Their story appears here 1 Kings 1:1
- Psalms Named as author in the text
Many psalms have headings naming David (often read as 'of David'). Others are headed as Asaph's, the sons of Korah's, Solomon's, Moses' or have no name, so David is not the author of the whole book. Psalms 3:1Psalms 23:1Psalms 51:1
A book named after someone is not necessarily written by them. Authorship traditions are shown as traditions.
Themes and study
Study prompts written by BibleKenya editors. They are not Scripture.
KingshipRepentanceCovenantWorship
- How does David speak of the LORD before facing Goliath (1 Samuel 17:45-47)?
- What does God promise in 2 Samuel 7:12-16?
- How does Psalm 51 express repentance?
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