Biblical Question

Who was King David?

Retrieved texts include 1 Chronicles 29:26, Ecclesiastes 1:1, 1 Samuel 18:18, 1 Samuel 17:12.

The texts do not directly address broader modern formulations; NO DIRECT REFERENCE IN SOURCE TEXTS and INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE apply beyond retrieved passages.

Related Questions
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Expanded Query
King David OR David of Israel OR David the Psalmist OR David ben Jesse OR son of Jesse: genealogy, lineage, anointing, reign, Psalms, kingdom of Israel, Davidic covenant, messianic typology
Answer

THEOLOGICAL ANALYSIS

1. QUESTION

Who was King David, according to the biblical texts provided?

2. PRIMARY TEXTUAL EVIDENCE

Genealogical Identity:

"Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Beth-lehem-judah, whose name was Jesse; and he had eight sons" — 1 Samuel 17:12 (KJV)

"I am the son of thy servant Jesse the Beth-lehemite." — 1 Samuel 17:58 (KJV)

"Thus David the son of Jesse reigned over all Israel." — 1 Chronicles 29:26 (KJV)

Kingship over Israel:

"And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah." — 2 Samuel 2:4 (KJV)

"And David perceived that the LORD had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel's sake." — 2 Samuel 5:12 (KJV)

"So David reigned over all Israel, and executed judgment and justice among all his people." — 1 Chronicles 18:14 (KJV)

"And the days that David reigned over Israel were forty years: seven years reigned he in Hebron, and thirty and three years reigned he in Jerusalem." — 1 Kings 2:11 (KJV)

Divine Calling and Character:

"David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said" — 2 Samuel 23:1 (KJV)

Father of Solomon:

"The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel" — Proverbs 1:1 (KJV)

"The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem." — Ecclesiastes 1:1 (KJV)

2. LINGUISTIC/HISTORICAL DATA

From the texts provided:

  • "Ephrathite of Beth-lehem-judah" (1 Samuel 17:12) identifies David's regional and tribal origin within Judah.
  • "Anointed of the God of Jacob" (2 Samuel 23:1) uses the Hebrew concept of mashiach (anointed one), indicating divine selection for kingship.
  • "Sweet psalmist of Israel" (2 Samuel 23:1) attributes poetic/musical composition to David.
  • The texts indicate a two-stage reign: first over Judah (Hebron), then over all Israel (Jerusalem).

3. SCHOLARLY POSITIONS

The texts provided do not contain scholarly commentary. Based solely on the textual evidence, David is presented as:

  1. A historical king of Israel
  2. Of Judahite/Bethlehemite origin
  3. Divinely anointed
  4. A dynastic founder (father of Solomon)

4. SOURCES

  • 1 Samuel 17:12, 17:58, 18:18 (KJV)
  • 2 Samuel 2:4, 5:12, 7:18, 23:1 (KJV)
  • 1 Kings 2:11, 12:16 (KJV)
  • 1 Chronicles 17:16, 18:14, 29:26 (KJV)
  • 2 Chronicles 10:16 (KJV)
  • Proverbs 1:1 (KJV)
  • Ecclesiastes 1:1 (KJV)

5. CONSENSUS INDICATOR

CLEAR — The textual evidence consistently and unambiguously identifies David as the son of Jesse of Bethlehem, divinely anointed king over Israel who reigned forty years, known as a psalmist, and father of King Solomon.

Sources
1 Chronicles 29:26 (KJV) — score 0.656
¶ Thus David the son of Jesse reigned over all Israel.
Ecclesiastes 1:1 (KJV) — score 0.601
The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
1 Samuel 18:18 (KJV) — score 0.597
And David said unto Saul, Who am I? and what is my life, or my father's family in Israel, that I should be son in law to the king?
1 Samuel 17:12 (KJV) — score 0.593
¶ Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Beth-lehem-judah, whose name was Jesse; and he had eight sons: and the man went among men for an old man in the days of Saul.
1 Kings 12:16 (KJV) — score 0.585
¶ So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David. So Israel departed unto their tents.
2 Chronicles 10:16 (KJV) — score 0.583
¶ And when all Israel saw that the king would not hearken unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? and we have none inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to your tents, O Israel: and now, David, see to thine own house. So all Israel went to their tents.
2 Samuel 7:18 (KJV) — score 0.578
¶ Then went king David in, and sat before the LORD, and he said, Who am I, O Lord GOD? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?
1 Kings 2:11 (KJV) — score 0.572
And the days that David reigned over Israel were forty years: seven years reigned he in Hebron, and thirty and three years reigned he in Jerusalem.
2 Samuel 23:1 (KJV) — score 0.570
Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said,
Proverbs 1:1 (KJV) — score 0.569
The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;
1 Chronicles 18:14 (KJV) — score 0.567
¶ So David reigned over all Israel, and executed judgment and justice among all his people.
2 Samuel 2:4 (KJV) — score 0.566
And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, That the men of Jabesh-gilead were they that buried Saul.
1 Samuel 17:58 (KJV) — score 0.563
And Saul said to him, Whose son art thou, thou young man? And David answered, I am the son of thy servant Jesse the Beth-lehemite.
2 Samuel 5:12 (KJV) — score 0.563
And David perceived that the LORD had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel's sake.
1 Chronicles 17:16 (KJV) — score 0.557
¶ And David the king came and sat before the LORD, and said, Who am I, O LORD God, and what is mine house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?
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