KING DAVIDKING DAVID
Real Name: David, son of Jesse
Identity/Class: Human (Post-Hyborian era through calendar Birth of Christ) (Judean)
Occupation: King of Israel and Judah;
former armor-bearer, shepherd
Group Membership: His army of followers
Affiliations: Abiathar, Abishai, Abner, Ahimelek, Asaph, Barzillai the Gileadite, Benaiah, Gad, God/Jehovah (Yahweh), Eleazar, Eliab, Ittai the Gittite, Jesse, Joab, Jonathan, Josheb-Basshebeth, Mephibosheth, Nathan, King Saul, Samuel, Shammah, Zadok, Ziba
Enemies: The Amalekites, the
Ammonites, the Arameans, the Edomites, the Geshurites, the Girzites,
Goliath (Philistine giant), King Hadadezer, Jorah, the Jebusites, the Moabites,
the Philistines, Uriah the Hittite
Known Relatives: Jesse (father), Eliab,
Abinadab, Shammah (Shimea), Nethanel, Raddai, Ozem
(brothers), Zeruiah, Abigail (sisters), Michal (first wife), Ahinoam of
Jezreel (second wife), Abigail (third wife), Maakah (fourth wife),
Haggith (fifth wife), Abital (sixth wife), Eglah (seventh wife),
Absalom, Adonijah, Amnon, Eliada, Eliphelet, Elishama, Elishua, Ibhar,
Ithream, Japhia, Kileab, Nathan, Nepheg, Shammua, Shephatiah, Shobab,
Solomon, an unnamed son (sons), Tamar (daughter), Joseph of
Nazareth (descendant), Mary (descendant by marriage), Jesus Christ
(descendant)
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: Jerusalem, Israel;
formerly Bethlehem, Judea
First Appearance: 1 Samuel in the Hebrew Bible
(perhaps written sometime around 600 BC);
(Marvel): Bible Tales for Young Folk I#1 (August, 1953)
Powers/Abilities: As a young man, David was an extremely courageous shepherd against superior foes, wielding weapons such a sling to devastating effect. He was also an accomplished harp player.
As he aged, he became an exceptional warrior with swords and javelins. At one time he wielded the sword of Goliath as his personal weapon. He also gained an immense knowledge of military tactics which helped him lead his army to victories for several decades.
Height: 5'9" (by approximation)
Weight: 153 lbs. (by approximation)
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Gray; originally brown (see comments)
History: (Bible Tales for Young Folk I#1/4 (fb) - BTS / 1 Samuel 16:11) - David was born the youngest son of Jesse.
(Amazing High Adventure I#5/2 (fb) - BTS) - It was
foretold by the prophet Samuel that David would someday become King of
the Israelites.
(Bible Tales for Young People I#4/3 (fb)) - While acting as a shepherd for his family's sheep, David was said to have fought off a lion and a bear in defense of the sheep, causing others to speak of David's strength.
(Amazing High Adventure I#5/2 (fb) - BTS) - At one
point, David killed a jackal by hitting it in between the eyes with his
sling.
(Bible Tales for Young Folk I#1/4 / 1 Samuel 16:4-13) - When Samuel came
to Bethlehem to seek he who would be king per God's orders, he looked over
the seven sons of Jesse and, finding none that met God's preferences,
Samuel asked Jesse if all of his children were present and Jesse
informed Samuel that his youngest, David, was tending to their sheep. A
messenger was then quickly sent for David, who was playing his harp
while watching over the sheep, and David followed the messenger back to
Samuel.
(Bible Tales for Young Folk I#1/4 / Bible Tales for
Young People I#4/3 / 1 Samuel 16:13-23) - Determined to be healthy and handsome, David was
chosen by Samuel under God's orders to become the future King, and
Samuel anointed David's head with a horn of oil, acknowledging that the
spirit of God would be upon David from that day forward. David then
watched as Samuel, his duty fulfilled, departed Bethlehem.
Some time later, when King Saul had become possessed by an evil spirit, his servants recalled David's skills on the harp and suggested David's skills might soothe Saul and remove the evil spirit. Jesse then sent David with food, wine and a kid to King Saul, who ordered David to play his harp in an effort to drive the evil spirit away. Doing as commanded, David played his harp and the evil spirit left King Saul, restoring Saul's peace of mind. As a reward, King Saul made David his armor-bearer.
(Amazing High Adventure I#5/2 (fb) - BTS) - At some
point, David was no longer King Saul's armor-bearer, and he began aiding
his brothers, who were fighting against the Philistines in Israel's war
against the Philistines.
(Amazing High Adventure I#5/2 / 1 Samuel 17:12-31) - Two years later,
circa 1000 A.D., when the Philistine giant Goliath began killing any
Israelites who challenged him, David brought supplies to the Israeli
camp near Goliath and witnessed Goliath's anger and attempts to provoke
potential challengers. Learning that Goliath had plagued the Israeli
camp for forty days, David remarked that someone should cut off
Goliath's head for defying the might of God, and one of the camp
soldiers immediately announced that they now had a champion in David.
At first uneasy at the idea, David began to consider killing Goliath
himself when his brothers jokingly suggested he do so.
That night, Joab woke David and revealed that King Saul had summoned
David to his tent after learning that David apparently volunteered to
fight Goliath. Lead over towards King Saul's tent, David was met by
Saul's captain of the guards, Abner, who asked what reward David sought
for slaying Goliath. David asked for no reward and announced his plans
to slay Goliath for the glory of God.
(Bible Tales for Young People I#4/3/Amazing High Adventure I#5/2 / 1 Samuel 17:32-37)
- Arriving inside King Saul's tent as several of Saul's aides came to
advise Saul on Israel's war against the Philistines, David
witnessed Saul's sadness and guilt over the war. When the giant
Goliath next emerged from the Philistine army, David finally
volunteered himself to
act as champion for the Israelites. King Saul argued against sending
David into battle against such as giant foe, remarking that only David
kept Saul at peace and that David would surely lose against so mighty a
foe. One of Saul's jealous aides, Jorah, convinced Saul to let David
battle Goliath by reminding Saul of the heroic acts David had committed
in his past. At the urging of Jorah, King Saul summoned David back and
reluctantly gave his blessing for David to battle Goliath.
(Amazing High Adventure I#5/2) - David was led away
from the tent by Abner, who suggested David get some rest before going
against Goliath. The next morning, Joab offered up his javelin to David
for use against Goliath, but David was soon summoned back to King Saul's
tent.
(Bible Tales for Young People I#4/3 / 1 Samuel 17:40) - Unaware
Jorah was plotting to take his place at Saul's side, David went to a
nearby brook and gathered five stones to use against Goliath
(Amazing High Adventure I#5/2 / 1 Samuel 17:38-39) - After gathering the
stones, David was welcomed by King Saul, who had David fitted in his
own armor, but David claimed he could not wear the ill-fitting armor of
the king and prayed to be allowed to use his own weapons.
(Bible Tales for Young People I#4/3 / Amazing High
Adventure I#5/2 / 1 Samuel 17:41-51) - David ventured forth to confront the giant Goliath.
Jorah laughed that David was only
taking a sling and stones against Goliath, but David assured Jorah that
God was with him.
Upon first glance at David, Goliath chuckled that
Saul had no better champion than a child, but he then grew insulted that
the Israelites would send a child at him. When Goliath drew his sword,
David used his sling to hurl a stone that hit Goliath right between the
eyes, knocking the giant unconscious. David then picked up Goliath's
sword and used it to behead the giant. Picking up the severed head,
David declared that Goliath's fate would await anyone who were enemies
of the chosen people of the Lord, terrifying the Philistines into
retreating.
(Amazing High Adventure I#5/2) - As the Philistines
retreated, the Israeli army gave chase and fought the Philistines while
David tended to the wounded. Once the Philistines had been driven back
to a coastal enclave, David accompanied the Israeli soldiers back to
camp, where King Saul had Abner summon David to his tent.
(1 Samuel 17:54) - David brought Goliath's head back to Jerusalem to put on display, but he kept Goliath's weapons for himself.
(Bible Tales for Young People I#4/3 / 1 Samuel 17:57-58) - Still brandishing Goliath's severed head, David returned to King Saul more favored than ever. David prayed in thanks for his Lord's assistance against Goliath.
(Amazing High Adventure I#5/2) - Curious if David was
destined to replace him as king, King Saul offered to make David
captain of his soldiers, but David asked only for a harp so that he
might sing of Israel's victories. Recalling how he was once soothed
by music, King Saul remarked that a boy had once played for him and
asked if David was that boy. Explaining that it had only been two years
since his time with Saul, David was given a harp and as time passed, he
sang many songs of Israel's victories.
(Monsters Unleashed II#1 (fb) - BTS) - David's defeat of Goliath proved that it did not matter how big a foe was.
(1 Samuel 18:1-30) - King Saul took David into his home, and David soon became best friends with Saul's son Jonathan. Saul began sending David out on missions to battle the Philistines, and David succeeded each time. After one victory, King Saul heard the women of Jerusalem singing "Saul has slain his thousands and David, his tens of thousands." This wounded Saul's pride, and his relationship with David soured. David resumed playing his lyre for Saul to keep away the evil spirit tormenting him. On two occasions, Saul took up his spear and tried to strike David, but David escaped harm each time. Finally, Saul gave David command over a thousand soldiers and sent him away. David eventually returned after another series of successful campaigns despite Saul's hope that David might perish in battle. Saul asked David to marry his daughter Merab, but David humbly refused, saying he was not worthy to be the king's son-in-law. However, Saul's other daughter Michal fell in love with David. Saul tried to arrange a marriage with her, but again David humbly noted he was too poor to marry royalty. In response, Saul informed David that if he brought him a dowry of 100 Philistine foreskins, he would be worthy of marrying Michal. Not only did David succeed in that suicidal task, but he returned with 200 Philistine foreskins! Saul permitted the marriage of David and Michal to continue.
(1 Samuel 19:1-24) - King Saul ordered Jonathan to kill David, but Jonathan protested that David had performed a great victory by killing Goliath. Jonathan swayed his father to swear an oath to leave David alone, and David again won a battle against the Philistines. Once again, as David was playing his lyre for Saul, Saul flew into a rage and tried to kill David. David fled for his life, and Michal helped cover his escape by leaving a dummy in his bed. David went to Samuel at Ramah and told him what Saul had done. Saul's men attempted to wrest David from Ramah, but the spirit of God was so strong there that not even Saul could bring himself to do violence.
(1 Samuel 20:1-42) - David finally left Ramah and met with Jonathan, asking him why Jonathan's father was trying to have him killed. Jonathan repeated the oath his father had sworn to never harm him, but David asked him to test his father by telling him David wanted permission to go to Bethlehem to perform an annual sacrifice. He told Jonathan that if Saul agreed then it would prove David was safe but if it made Saul angry, it would prove Saul wanted to harm him. Although Jonathan still doubted his father was trying to kill David, he promised he would do all in his power to protect his friend; David in turn promised to protect Jonathan and all of his descendants. Jonathan also arranged that he would let David know what he had learned in two days; if, while out firing his bow, Jonathan should say to his servant that the arrows were beyond him, it would mean the danger to David was real. Sure enough, in two days, Jonathan delivered his signal to David with the arrows, having seen for himself that David made his father so furious that Saul nearly killed Jonathan himself. David and Jonathan met together one last time to affirm their friendship as David went into exile.
(1 Samuel 21:1-15) - Journeying to Nob, David met Ahimelek the priest and received a meal of consecrated bread. As Saul's forces were pursuing him, David asked Ahimelek if he had a weapon. Ahimelek revealed that Goliath's sword was kept there and gave it back to him. David fled into Gath, one of the lands of the Philistines, but David's long history of warring against the Philistines made them instantly suspicious of him. David pretended to be insane so that King Achish would leave him alone.
(1 Samuel 22:1-23) - David convened with his brothers at the cave of Adullam. Word of David's exile brought additional followers until he had 400 men with him. They journeyed to Moab, and David placed his parents under the protection of the king of Moab. Soon, they were joined by the priest Abiathar, who informed David that King Saul had put Ahimelek and the other priests in Nob to death for having aided him. David promised Abiathar that he would protect him, as Saul wanted both of them dead.
(1 Samuel 23:1-29) - While still on the run from King Saul, David was inspired by God to lead his small army against Philistine forces who were fighting at Keilah. David again triumphed over the Philistines. Hearing of this, Saul journeyed to Keilah for a confrontation. Saul demanded the people of Keilah surrender David. Instead, David and his now 600-man army fled Keilah, eventually reaching the desert of Ziph. Jonathan located David and promised him that his father would not harm him, but the Ziphites informed Saul that David was hiding in their land. The Ziphites spied on David's forces on Saul's behalf. Saul's army nearly caught up to David's camp when a sudden attack by Philistines forced Saul to divert. David went on to En Gedi.
(1 Samuel 24:1-22) - When Saul renewed his pursuit of David into En Gedi, he paused for a moment to relieve himself inside a cave. David's men pointed out Saul to him and suggested this was David's opportunity to do with Saul as he wished. David snuck up behind Saul and cut off a corner from his robe. Returning to his men, David ordered them to not attack Saul then went to Saul and showed him the piece he had cut from his robe. David reminded Saul he would never harm him because he had been anointed by God. Saul was deeply moved and acknowledged that one day, David would succeed him as king. Saul and his armies went home.
(1 Samuel 25:1-44) - After Samuel's death, David sent some of his men to Carmel to ask for hospitality from Nabal, a land-owner there whose shepherds had been defended by David's army. However, Nabal refused to share anything with David's men. At this, David led an army of 400 armed men to Nabal's property. Seeing this, Nabal's wife Abigail went out with food and drink for David and his men. David was impressed with Abigail and told her if not for her actions, he would have killed every man on Nabal's property. Ten days later, Nabal was struck down by God and David rejoiced. David's marriage to Michal had been terminated by Saul, who had her remarried. David had since taken Ahinoam as his wife but now he made Abigail his second wife.
(1 Samuel 26:1-25) - Saul pursued David into the desert of Ziph again. This time, David crept into Saul's camp at night and stole Saul's spear and water jug. The next day, he greeted Abner and Saul and showed them what he had taken. Again, Saul repented of his actions and returned home.
(1 Chronicles 12:1-40) - David's followers grew to expand Benjamites, Gadites and the members of the tribe of Manasseh.
(1 Samuel 27:1-12, 28:1-3, 29:1-11) - David was certain that one day Saul would kill him so he returned to Gath and lived among the Philistines, making an alliance with King Achish. David led raids on behalf of King Achish but only targeted the Geshurites, the Girzites and the Amalekites, never his own people. David slew all the people of the villages that he raided so that no one would be able to inform on him to King Achish. King Achish made David his bodyguard. However, when David and his men were supposed to march into battle alongside the Philistines, the other Philistines complained to King Achish because of David's earlier battles against them. King Achish was forced to send David home.
(1 Samuel 30:1-31) - Returning to Ziklag, David and his men found the Amalekites had raided the town, taking much of the population as slaves, including both of David's wives. David asked Abiathar to use his ephod to determine whether he should pursue the raiding party. When Abiathar confirmed that if David pursued he would overtake the raiders, he set out. David and his men found an Egyptian wandering in the wild who had been abandoned by the Amalekites for becoming sick. The Egyptian agreed to guide David to the Amalekite camp. David and his men laid siege to the Amalekites, killing most of them and liberating all the people and goods they had stolen. Because the Amalekites had also plundered Judah, David returned some of what he recovered to his friends in Judah.
(2 Samuel 1:1-27) - While David had been battling the Amalekites, the Philistines triumphed over Saul. Jonathan was killed in the battle, and Saul took his own life when he saw all was lost. David met a man from Saul's camp and heard his account of what had happened. The witness claimed he had helped Saul complete his suicide then looted Saul's crown and bracelets. He presented them to David, thinking he would be rewarded for helping to eliminate David's enemy Saul. Instead, David ordered his men to put the man to death. Grieving, David wrote a lament to his friend Jonathan.
(2 Samuel 2:1-32) - David went up to Judah, where he was crowned king. David gave special honors to the men who ensured Saul was properly buried. However, Abner took Saul's surviving son Ish-Bosheth to Mahanaim and made him king. Battles between Abner and David's forces continued at Helkath Hazzurim.
(Bible Tales for Young People I#4/5 (fb) - BTS) - David had a son, the ambitious Adonijah.
(2 Samuel 3:1-39) - As the war continued, David's forces grew stronger while the remnants of Saul's army grew weaker. The war lasted seven years. David took four more wives: Maakah, Haggith, Abital and Eglah and his first six sons were born during those years. Finally, Ish-Bosheth insulted Abner, and Abner resolved to make peace with David.
Abner offered to make David king of all Israel. In return, David asked Abner to bring back his first wife, Michal. Abner seized Michal from her husband Paltiel and forcibly returned her to David. Abner then went to all the leaders in Israel to ensure they would support David's kingship. Unfortunately, David's subordinate Joab resented Abner for killing his brother Asahel. When Joab heard Abner was nearby, he confronted and assassinated him. David laid a curse on Joab then had Abner given a proper funeral.
(2 Samuel 4:1-12) - The death of Abner caused Ish-Bosheth's own sons to murder him and present his head to David, claiming that by doing so they had demonstrated the Lord's vengeance. David then informed the two men what he had done to the man who claimed to have killed Saul -- and ordered those two men be likewise put to death. Ish-Bosheth's head was buried in Abner's tomb.
(Amazing High Adventure I#5/2) - As King of the Israelites, David united the kingdoms of Israel.
(2 Samuel 5:1-25 / 1 Chronicles 11:1-9, 14:1-17) - With the death of Ish-Bosheth, the tribes of Israel all agreed David was their king and had him anointed. David then rode to Jerusalem, which had been conquered by the Jebusites. David retook the city, which then became known as the City of David. As he ruled over Israel, he had a palace built. The Philistines then rose up to battle him, but David bested their army.
(2 Samuel 23:8-39 / 1 Chronicles 11:10-47) - David's greatest warriors included Josheb-Basshebeth, Eleazar and Shammah. Once, when David wished for water, the three men broke through Philistine lines and captured water from a well at Bethlehem and brought it to David but he refused to drink the water, saying that drinking it would be like drinking the blood of the men who brought it. Other great warriors included Joab's brother Abishai and Beneaiah Son of Jehoiada.
(2 Samuel 6:1-23 / 1 Chronicles 13:1-14, 15:1-16:6) - David had the Ark of the Covenant (which had been kept in Judah) returned to Jerusalem. David alerted the people of Jerusalem to prepare themselves for the Ark's return. David leaped and danced with the procession bringing the Ark into the city. Seeing him dancing, Michal despised his behavior and chided him for dancing half-naked. David responded that he was chosen to be king by God, not by her father Saul, and he was not afraid to be undignified while celebrating. Michal was the only one of David's wives to bear him no children.
(1 Chronicles 16:7-43) - David had a psalm composed by Asaph to celebrate the return of the Ark to Jerusalem.
(2 Samuel 7:1-29 / 1 Chronicles 17:1-27) - David decided that he should build a great temple in Jerusalem as a home for the Ark of the Covenant. At first, the prophet Nathan agreed, but after a dream from God, Nathan told David that the task of building the temple was not for him but one of his descendants. David celebrated this revelation.
(Bible Tales for Young Folk I#1/9 - BTS/Psalms) - David wrote many of the Psalms.
(2 Samuel 8:1-18 / 1 Chronicles 18:1-17) - David continued to find success in battle against the Philistines, the Moabites, King Hadadezer of Zobah, the Arameans and the Edomites. He placed Joab in command of his army.
(2 Samuel 9:1-13) - David spoke to Ziba, who had been a servant in Saul's household, and asked him if there was anyone left in Saul's family to whom he could show kindness as a tribute to his fallen friend Jonathan. Ziba replied that Jonathan had a surviving son, Mephibosheth, who was lame in both feet. David had Mephibosheth brought to him and restored to him all the lands which his grandfather Saul had owned then promised Mephibosheth would always have a place at his table. David assigned Ziba to see to Mephibosheth's needs and to provide laborers for his lands.
(2 Samuel 10:1-19 / 1 Chronicles 19:1-19) - When the king of the Ammonites died, David sent some of his men to extend their sympathies to Hanun, the king's bereaved son, but the Ammonites accused David's men of being spies and humiliated them then cast them out. As the Ammonites realized they had made an enemy of David, they hired Arameans to defend them, but Joab led David's army to victory. The Arameans then made peace with Israel.
(2 Samuel 11:1-27 / 1 Chronicles 20:1-3) - As Joab's army continued to battle the Ammonites, David was in Jerusalem. While looking out from the roof of his palace one evening, David saw the woman Bathsheba bathing. David was instantly attracted to her and made inquiries about her, learning she was the wife of Uriah the Hittite, a soldier in David's own army. David had her brought to him and they made love. When Bathsheba revealed she was pregnant, David had Joab send Uriah the Hittite to him. After receiving a perfunctory report, David told Uriah to go home to his wife, but Uriah chose to sleep that night in the palace. When David asked why he had done that, Uriah explained that as a soldier whose comrades were living in tents, he could not revel at home with his wife. That night, David got Uriah drunk and tried to send him home to his wife, but again Uriah slept at the palace. Realizing he could not trick Uriah into thinking he was the father of Bathsheba's child, David wrote orders for Joab telling him to put Uriah into the forefront of the fighting then withdraw his forces, leaving Uriah alone. Uriah himself delivered these orders, which sealed his doom. Uriah died battling the Ammonites, and Bathsheba went into mourning. When the period of mourning was over, David married her. She gave birth to a son.
(2 Samuel 12:1-23) - Some time after, Nathan the prophet visited David and told him a story. In the story, a rich man had a large number of sheep and cattle. His neighbor, a poor man, had only one lamb which he loved. Then one day, the rich man was holding a party for a guest. He took the lamb from the poor man and prepared it as a meal for his guest. When David heard the story, he was incensed and said that any man who did that should die and pay for the lamb four times over, to which Nathan answered "You are the man!" Nathan explained that the story was an allegory for how David took Uriah's wife and sent him to his death. Nathan prophecized that someone from David's own household would bring calamity upon him. He promised that David would not die for his sins but the unnamed child Bathsheba bore would die. Immediately after this, David's son grew sick. David pleaded to God for seven days to spare his son's life but the child died (apparently never having been named).
(Bible Tales for Young Folk I#1/3 - BTS / 2 Samuel 12:24-25) - David and Bathsheba had another son, Solomon, who would later write Proverbs.
(2 Samuel 12:26-13:38) - David went out with his army to join Joab's forces as they conquered the Ammonites at Rabbah, but the calamity Nathan had prophecized was not far off. David's son Amnon fell in love with his half-sister Tamar. Amnon pretended to be sick and asked David to send Tamar to tend to him. David sent Tamar to him, but Amnon overpowered Tamar and raped her. Tamar's brother Absalom was enraged when he learned of this. Absalom waited two years until finally taking his revenge by getting Amnon drunk then ordering some of his servants to kill him. Absalom fled into exile, afraid of how David would punish him.
(2 Samuel 14:1-33) - David's attitude toward Absalom troubled Joab so he sent a woman to him who claimed that one of her sons had killed the other and now her neighbors wanted the living son to be put to death. When David said he would ensure the son's safety, the woman noted that his own son Absalom was in exile. David suspected she had been sent by Joab, which she then admitted. Summoning Joab, David asked him to send for Absalom. Absalom returned to Jerusalem and after two years of waiting, he was finally reconciled with his father David.
(2 Samuel 15:1-37) - However, in time, Absalom set out to Hebron and declared himself king, placing himself in opposition to his own father. Absalom had become so beloved by the Israelites that he would have a genuine opportunity in a civil war. David fled Jerusalem but told many of his servants to remain in Jerusalem when Absalom came.
(2 Samuel 16:1-23) - David encountered Ziba and learned Mephibosheth was now allied with Absalom. David promised to give Ziba everything that was Mephibosheth's. David was also confronted by Shimei, a member of Saul's extended family, who flung curses at David as he passed by. David stolidly accepted the abuse, noting that, as his own son now wanted him dead, perhaps this contempt was deserved.
(2 Samuel 17:1-18:33) - David continued to flee from Absalom, but their looming confrontation reached an unexpected end when Absalom rode his mule through a forest and his hair became tangled into an oak branch. Joab found Absalom hanging there, defenseless, and drove a javelin through Absalom's heart. When David heard of his son's death he cried "O my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you!"
(2 Samuel 19:1-43) - When Joab returned and found David in mourning, he told him that his actions were a humiliation to all the loyal men who were prepared to fight Absalom for him. He judged that David would have been happier if Absalom had lived while all of his own soldiers had died. Joab told David that if he did not cease mourning, his entire army would abandon him. David ended his mourning and returned to Jerusalem. Even Shimei and Mephibosheth apologized to David for their actions. Mephibosheth was now content for Ziba to have his lands. Because David had been defended by men from Judah, it created frictions between the two kingdoms as the men of Israel felt they should have been the ones to guard him.
(2 Samuel 20:1-26) - David and his men then had to re-secure the nation as bursts of fighting broke out from the tensions caused by Absalom's rebellion.
(2 Samuel 21:1-22 / 1 Chronicles 20:4-8) - During a three year famine, David was told by God that the famine had been caused by Saul for attacking the Gibeonites. David summoned the Gibeonites and asked how to make amends with them for Saul's actions. The Gibeonites asked that seven of Saul's male descendants be turned over so they could put them to death. David spared Mephibosheth but submitted seven other men, whom the Gibeonites killed. David then had Saul and Jonathan's remains retrieved and reburied in the tomb of Saul's father Kish at Zela in Benjamin. David's army also battled the Philistines again and faced four men who were the brothers of Goliath, but David's forces bested the Philistines each time.
(2 Samuel 22:1-51) - David wrote a song of praise to God.
(2 Samuel 24:1-25 / 1 Chronicles 21:1-30) - God told David to make a census of Israel and Judah. To do this, David ordered Joab to enlist every fighting man in the kingdom to find the number, but after Joab brought the result, David realized he was wrong to have forced conscription. Gad the prophet told David that God would let him choose his punishment: three years of famine, three years of being pursued by his enemies or three years of plague. David chose the plague, as it would be better to be in God's hands. David mourned as he saw people struck down by the plague so Gad sent him to build an altar and offer sacrifice to God. When this was done, the plague ended.
(1 Chronicles 22:1-26:32, 28:1-29:19) - David began making plans for the temple in Jerusalem, which he knew would be Solomon's to complete. He began transporting the building materials to the city and told Solomon about his own earlier desire to see the temple completed. David also assigned the roles each of the people would have in the temple (priests, musicians, gatekeepers, treasurers) when it was completed. When all the planning was done, David summoned his staff and told them they were to take Solomon's orders when it was time to build the temple. He then gifted Solomon with the plans to the temple. David received offerings for the temple then prayed a prayer of thanksgiving to God.
(1 Kings 1:1-4) - As David grew older, he suffered from cold. His attendants sent him a virgin woman, Abishag, to lie with him and keep him warm, although they did not have sexual relations. By the age of 70, his health was fading.
(Bible Tales for Young People I#4/5 / 1 Kings 1:5-2:12 / 1 Chronicles 29:21-30) - Having served
for years as King, the aged David knew the time had come to officially appoint his
successor. Summoning his sons from his bed, David appointed the wise
Solomon as the new King then passed away, knowing his son would make a
great King. After Solomon had been declared King, those loyal to
David's other son Adonijah attempted to make Solomon look bad by
suggesting two women fighting over a child have their matter judged by
Solomon to prove if Solomon was worthy of David's throne.
(2 Samuel 23:1-7) - In his final words, David thanked God for speaking through him and for the covenant he made with him.
(Life of Christ: The Christmas Story - BTS) - When
the angel Gabriel later appeared before the virgin Mary, he informed Mary
that she would bear a son named Jesus and that the Lord God would make
Jesus king as his ancestor David had been king. When Mary informed her
fiancée Joseph of Nazareth, descendant of David, of her pregnancy,
Joseph grew concerned and unsure what to do but he was soon met by
Gabriel as well, who announced himself by proclaiming Joseph the son of
David (see comments). After
Joseph's worries were calmed and he had married Mary, a Roman soldier
informed them that Caesar had ordered every person to return to the
home of their ancestors for a census and Joseph explained to Mary that
they would need to go to Bethlehem, where his ancestor King David was
from and which had become known as "the city of David."
(Bible Tales for Young Folk I#1/5 - BTS) - Joseph and Mary traveled to David's home town of Bethlehem in Judea.
(Life of Christ: The Christmas Story - BTS) -
Following Jesus' birth, an angel appeared before a group of shepherds
and proclaimed that he brought great news of the savior having been
born that day in the city of David.
(S.H.I.E.L.D. II#1 (fb) - BTS) - In Roma circa 1502
A.D., renowned artist Michelangelo was carving a stone statue of David
when his fellow artist Leonardo da Vinci visited and attempted to get
Michelangelo to join the Brotherhood of the Shield.
(Marvel Holiday Special 1992/5 - BTS) - In the modern era, while telling the story of Chakunah to a group of school children, Doc Samson began grossly exaggerating the story to fit the impatient and excitable children's questions. When one of the children asked about Goliath, Doc Samson claimed Captain America defeated Goliath but when another child questioned Samson, claiming he had been told that David had defeated Goliath with a stone, Doc Samson falsely claimed that David had defeated a Goliath clone instead in an attempt to cover his exaggerations.
(Iron Man III#25 - BTS) - Following the defeat of the
giant robot Ultimo at the hands of Iron Man, his fellow hero Warbird
remarked that the battle was like David vs. Goliath.
(Monsters Unleashed II#1 - BTS) - After gigantic monsters landed on Earth and began rampaging, monster hunter Elsa Bloodstone began preparing, thinking to herself how David had long ago proved that it didn't matter how big a foe was.
(Typhoid Fever: Iron Fist#1 - BTS) - When the schizophrenic Typhoid Mary began causing madness in others and subsequently captured the heroic Iron Fist, she began ranting on how everyone sought solace in fantasies and stories such as the story of David and Goliath.
(Death's Head IV#3 - BTS) - During a battle between the robotic Death's Head, young archer Hawkeye (Kate Bishop) and Dr. Evelyn Necker, Death's Head berated Hawkeye for using arrows against Dr. Necker's robot. Asking Death's Head if he had heard the story of David and Goliath and learning that Death's Head had no idea what the story was, Hawkeye suggested Death's Head watch and learn as she disrupted Necker's machinery with a well-placed arrow.
(Deadpool VIII#1 - BTS) - After the mercenary Deadpool was hired to kill the Monster King, he was met by the monster-hunting Elsa Bloodstone, who remarked on the sheer size of the Monster King, prompting Deadpool to comment that the fight could be one of those "David and Goliath things." When Bloodstone asked if the Monster King had already ripped Deadpool in half earlier, Deadpool responded that he never said it was a perfect David and Goliath thing.
(X-Force VI#17 - BTS) - In the resurrection report on
Quentin Quire written up by the mutants known as the Five, it was noted
that Quire remarked that perfection took time, like Michelangelo
chipping away at the statue of David, and that Quire had requested the Five
resurrect him in a way that would prevent his toenails for further
growing.
Comments: Adapted into Marvel Comics by an uncredited writer and Carl Burgos.
Appearances listed in italics are from the Christian Bible.
Bible Tales for Young Folk I#1 depicts David's hair
color as brown but #4 has his hair colored blonde. In Amazing High
Adventure I#5, David's hair was colored black.
Life of Christ: The Christmas Story refers to Joseph both as the son of David and the descendant of David...
There is considerable disagreement about how many of the Psalms were written by David. 73 of them identify him as the author but, as many are anonymous, at times they've been attributed to him. David was the Stan Lee of his era!
As you may have gleaned above, the book of Chronicles is largely a retelling of stories already covered in Samuel but with a few details thrown in here and there. It's the Biblical ancestor of Marvel Saga!
Some of the material near the end of 2 Samuel appears to be from somewhere else in David's timeline - scholars seem to think the last 4 chapters were added at a later point. In particular, the battles with Goliath's brothers in chapter 21 may very well have occurred much earlier in David's life.
This profile was completed 6/25/2021, but its publication was delayed as it was intended for the Appendix 20th anniversary 's celebratory event.
Profile by Prime Eternal and Proto-Man.
CLARIFICATIONS:
King David has no known connections to:
images: (without ads)
Amazing High Adventure I#5, p27, pan4 (King David, main image)
Bible Tales for Young People I#4, p18, pan4 (old man David, headshot)
Bible Tales for Young Folk I#1, p16, pan8 (young David, headshot)
Bible Tales for Young Folk I#1, p12, pan1 (young David with harp)
Bible Tales for Young People I#4, p15, pan1 (teenaged David, gathering stones for his sling)
Bible Tales for Young People I#4, p18, pan2 (old man David in bed)
Appearances:
Bible Tales for Young Folk I#1 (August,
1953) - "The Proverbs" story - uncredited writer, Don Rico (art), Stan
Lee (editor); "Children of the Bible: David the Shepherd" story -
uncredited writer, Carl Burgos (art), Stan Lee (editor); "The Nativity:
The Birth of Jesus" story - uncredited writer, Joe Sinnott (art), Stan
Lee (editor); "The Psalms of David: The 23rd Psalm" story - uncredited
writer, Don Rico (art), Stan Lee (editor)
Bible Tales for Young People I#4 (February, 1954) - "David &
Goliath" story - uncredited writer, Syd Shores (art), Stan Lee (editor)
Amazing High Adventure I#5 (December, 1986) - "David & Goliath"
story - Mike Baron (writer), Tomosina Cawthorn Artis (pencils), John
Beatty (inks), Carl Potts (editor, designer)
Marvel Holiday Special 1992 (January, 1993) - "Revisionist History"
story - Peter David (writer), John Hebert (pencils), Mike DeCarlo
(inks), Renee Witterstaetter (editor)
Life of Christ: The Christmas Story (February, 1993) - Louise Simonson
(writer), Mary Wilshire (pencils), Bill Anderson (inks), Glenn Herdling
(editor)
Iron Man III#25 (February, 2000) - Kurt Busiek (co-plotter), Roger
Stern (co-plotter, script), Sean Chen, Tom Lyle, Yancey Labat, Bernard
Chang (pencils), Bob Layton (pencils, inks), Rob Hunter, Mark
Pennington, Don Hillsman (inks), Bobbie Chase (editor)
S.H.I.E.L.D. II#1 (August, 2011) - Jonathan Hickman (writer), Dustin Weaver (art), Nick Lowe (editor)
Monsters Unleashed II#1 (March, 2017) - Cullen Bunn (writer), Steve
McNiven (pencils), Jay Leisten (inks), Mark Paniccia (editor)
Typhoid Fever: Iron Fist#1 (February, 2019) - Clay McLeod Chapman (writer), Paolo Villanelli (art), Devin Lewis (editor)
Death's Head II#3 (November, 2019) - Tini Howard (writer), Kei Zama (art), Sarah Brunstad (editor)
Deadpool VIII#1 (January, 2020) - Kelly Thompson (writer), Chris
Bachalo (pencils), Wayne Faucher, Tim Townsend, Al Vey, Jaime Mendoza,
Livesay, Victor Olazaba (inks), Jake Thomas (editor)
X-Force VI#17 (April, 2021) - Benjamin Percy (writer), Joshua Cassara (art), Mark Basso (editor)
First Posted: 09/02/2021
Last updated: 08/29/2021
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
Non-Marvel Copyright info
All other characters mentioned or pictured are ™ and
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