In 965 BC e. At the age of 70, King David of Israel completed his life. He was buried in Jerusalem on Mount Zion, exactly where, after many centuries, the Last Supper took place, preceding the suffering and cross torment of Jesus Christ. The image of this biblical character was the personification of the former greatness of the Jewish people and hope for their coming revival.
The young anointed of God
According to the Old Testament, the pious Bethlehemite Jesse and his wife the Moabite Ruth, who lived in the XI century BC. e., eight sons grew up, the youngest of whom was the future biblical king David. It is believed that he was born in 1035 BC. e.
Holy Scripture tells us that even in his early years, the boy was distinguished not only by beauty and strength, but by his amazing eloquence, as well as his ability to play a movie theater ─ an ancient string instrument.
The life, or, more simply, the biography of King David, begins with the fact that before the readers he appears as a young shepherd, spending days and nights with flocks of sheep on the hillsides surrounding his hometown of Bethlehem. The young man was distinguished by courage, protecting his wards from bears and lions.
In those years, the people of Israel were ruled by King Saul, who became the first anointed of God, but then rejected by Him for rebellion and pride. Therefore, the Lord sent the prophet Samuel to secretly anoint the reign of His new chosen one, which became the young shepherd ─ the youngest son of Bethlehem Jesse. From the moment the prophet fulfilled this great mission, the Spirit of God rested on the future king David, and he became the doer of His holy will.
Royal favor favored by hatred
By the will of the Most High, David gained grace in the eyes of King Saul, who remained in power for several years. This was served by two episodes described in the Old Testament. One of them is the young man’s wonderful game at the cinema, with which he managed to calm the spiritual torment of the king, and the other ─ his victory over the giant Goliath. The scripture says that, on the eve of a decisive battle with the Philistines in the Israelite camp, he accepted the challenge of a formidable hero and, having struck him with a stone released from a sling, he ensured victory for his people. This feat allowed David to enter the closest circle of the king and win the friendship of his son Jonathan.
But it so happened that the fame of a young warrior, who reached all corners of the country, provoked burning jealousy in Saul and became the reason that former goodwill was replaced by hatred. The king repeatedly tried to kill David, but he could not do it openly, fearing general indignation, and therefore resorted to various tricks and intrigues. When it became apparent that a bloody denouement was inevitable, the disgraced hero was forced to flee and wander in the desert for a long time, seeking there salvation from his pursuers. Over the years of wandering, he closely learned the life of the common people and learned compassion for people.
In the service of former enemies
However, his former glory was not forgotten, and gradually around the future king David began to gather all who became a victim of oppression and resentment. Over time, a large detachment was formed of them, at the head of which the disgraced anointed of God left the country and temporarily entered the service of his former enemies ─ the Philistines and their king Anhus.
Having found a patron in him, David and his supporters settled in the border town of Sekelage, from where they raided the settlements of the neighboring Amolectian tribes. Part of the loot was contracted by Anhus, and the rest was shared among the exiles. David was loyal to the king, but when he called on him to participate in a military campaign against the kingdom of Israel, he managed by cunning to evade the need to fight with his own people.
Reign of David in Judea
The ensuing war became fatal to the Israelis. At the Battle of Helvoy, the Philistines inflicted a crushing defeat on them, costing the life of King Saul. Being seriously wounded and foreseeing the inevitable capture, he committed suicide by piercing himself with his own sword. On the same day, his son Jonathan died, more than once saving David from the persecution of his father.
Despite the fact that David did not personally take part in the battle, he nevertheless took advantage of the victory of the Philistines, and arriving with his unit in the city of Hebron, located in the southern part of the kingdom of Israel, was officially anointed to reign. However, over the next seven years, the power of King David did not extend to the whole country, but only to its part, called Judea. She got this name due to the fact that there lived representatives of the tribe of Judah ─ one of the twelve sons of the Jewish forefather Jacob. In the rest of the territory, one of the surviving sons of Saul ruled.
At the head of all Israel
The division of the once united state led to an internecine struggle, as a result of which the Jews won. Immediately after the hostilities ended, Israeli elders arrived in Hebron and called on David to reign over the whole country. Thus, the Lord raised His anointed, over the Jewish people, marked by His behavior by the prophet Samuel. In those days, David was barely 30 years old.
Jerusalem construction
Becoming the king of Israel, David showed the world a model of wisdom and unwavering determination in the fight against enemies. They won many victories, and soon none of the neighboring rulers decided to attack him. During the first seven years of the reign, while the royal residence was located in Hebron, construction was underway on the new capital of the state ─ Jerusalem, whose name is translated from Hebrew as “City of Peace”.
A tabernacle was erected in the center of it, into which the greatest shrine of the Jewish people was transferred ─ the Ark of the Covenant ─ a portable chest containing the tablets of stone with the commandments received by Moses on Mount Sinai, as well as a vessel with Manna from Heaven and Aaron's staff. This further enhanced the status of the new capital.
The Great Psalmist
Through His prophet, the Lord announced to King David that from now on his house would reign forever, and from him in the future the Messiah would appear to the world. Note that the followers of Judaism are still awaiting the fulfillment of the prophecy, while Christians believe that it was fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ.
The Lord endowed His chosen one with many talents. In particular, He endowed him with the art of composing psalms ─ religious verses, which were then combined in a collection known as the “Psalter of King David,” and included in the number of sacred books of the Old Testament. His texts that go beyond Judaism are widely used during various Christian services. Especially popular are the 40th, 50th and 90th psalms of King David. But besides this, reading the full text is part of the order in which many Christian rites are performed. For example, it is customary to read the "Psalter" over the bodies of the deceased.
Unfulfilled dreams
Forty years of the reign of King David (that’s how much time he was in power) became a period of extraordinary prosperity of the entire Jewish people. Being a wise ruler, he did everything possible to equip the state and strengthened the faith in the Almighty among its inhabitants. For this, the Lord granted him all undertakings, with the exception of only one.
The fact is that after moving the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem and placing it in the camp tabernacle, David planned the construction of the grandiose Temple. However, with all the good will to His chosen one, the Lord did not allow him to do this, but blessed the great act of King David's son, Solomon, whose birth will be described below. Through the mouth of the prophet, he announced that, participating in wars, he was forced to shed a lot of blood, and to build the House of God was only with clean hands.
Thus, David was forced to cede the honor of building the Temple to his son, but in subsequent years he did everything possible to that end. He collected the necessary funds, developed the drawings of the buildings included in the temple complex, and also prepared sketches of the attributes of future services. He handed over all this to Solomon, greatly facilitating the fulfillment of the upcoming task.
Enemy Temptations
Despite the fact that the whole story of King David is a story about a true servant of God, who became the embodiment of innumerable benefactors, there was also an episode in his life that spoiled the overall picture and even partially tarnished his reputation. The enemy of the human race, as you know, often chooses the most righteous people as the object of their machinations. He did not miss the opportunity to prevent King David.
One evening, Satan brought him to the balcony, from which a view of the neighbor’s courtyard ─ the military commander Urii Khetteyanin, was revealed, just at the moment when his naked wife Versavia was splashing around in the pool. According to the custom of the East, the king had many wives and concubines, but he had never seen such a beauty.
Having riveted David's eyes on her, the enemy of the human race kindled an unbearable fire in his flesh (Satan is the master of these matters). Knowing that Versavia’s husband was not at home, since he was sent on a long campaign, the king ordered the servants to deliver a young woman to him, who, by the way, did not express the slightest indignation at such an obvious treachery, or, as it is fashionable to say, sexual harassment.
Falling into an even more serious sin
Indulging further insatiable voluptuary, she soon became pregnant from him and gave birth to a son. Unlike hundreds of other women who shared his bed with the king, Versavia captivated David's heart to such an extent that he decided to make her his official wife, but for this it was necessary to somehow get rid of her husband.
Sly and here did not miss a chance to intervene. At his instigation, the king sent the commander of the army in which Uriah fought a letter ordering him to be sent to the most dangerous place where he would face imminent death. He exactly fulfilled the king's command. Widowed, Versavia soon became the lawful wife of King David. Such an act provoked the wrath of the Lord God, and through the prophet Nathan, He convicted His anointed of a crime committed before Heaven and people.
Deep repentance
Realizing the whole depth of his guilt, the tsar brought the Lord the deepest repentance, which formed the basis of the famous 50th psalm, which is still uttered while reading the "Morning Prayer Rule" by all the Orthodox church people. After this exciting text, it is customary to offer prayers to King David for his intercession before the Throne of God for the forgiveness of one or another of our sins, burdening our conscience.
Having listened to such passionate repentant speeches, the Lord through the same prophet Nathan informed David that he was forgiven, but must bear the punishment, which would be the death of his son, born to him by Versavia before marriage. Soon the child really died, but a year later his beloved wife gave him a new one, which was the future great king of Israel, Solomon ─ the builder of the First Jerusalem Temple. That is why in prayers to King David, petitions are made not only for the remission of sins, but also for intercession before the Lord for the sending of worthy heirs.
End of life
The main concern in the last years of the reign of King David was the problems associated with the issue of succession to the throne. He had many sons. Without waiting for the death of their father, some of them began to wage a fierce struggle for power. Especially impudent and indomitable was the eldest son Absalom. The Bible tells us that under the external beauty and grace, an insidious and cruel soul was hidden in it. Gathering from his supporters a large detachment, he fought against his own father, and only the will of God prevented the realization of his cunning plans.
David's sadness, caused by the treachery of his eldest son, did not have time to dissipate, when Savey, following his age, raised a new rebellion, and when he was subdued, his third son, Adonius, raised his sword against his father. This struggle with his own sons poisoned the last years of the king’s life and undermined his spiritual strength. Sensing the approach of death, at the insistence of Versavia and the prophet Nathan, he declared his son Solomon the heir to the throne, anointing him to reign. King David passed away in 965 BC. e., and today his grave on Mount Zion is among the greatest shrines of the Jewish people.