The Biblical Saga Of King David

The biblical story of King David has been interpreted in many different ways, arising from the variety of methods used in and the intended objectives of the studies: Does the narrative contain insight into and information about the early history of the Judean monarchy, or is it merely a legendary tale about a distant past? Can we identify the story’s literary genre, it sociohistorical setting, and the intention of its author(s)? Is an appreciation for the wonderful literary qualities of the story compatible with a literary-critical investigation of the narrative’s compositional and text-critical history? Van Seters reviews past scholarship on the David story and in the course of doing so unravels the history of these questions and then presents an extended appraisal of the debate about the social and historical context of the biblical story. From this critical foundation, Van Seters proceeds to offering a detailed literary analysis of the story of David from his rise to power under Saul to his ultimate succession by Solomon.

The common view of King David is of a young boy full of courage, piety and humility who grew to be a goodly king. Not so, writes Gary Greenberg in this stunning history of the world's most beloved monarch. In actuality, David arranged the murder of Saul, the popular first king of Israel; had Saul's seven sons hanged; did not slay Goliath; and had an affair with Bathsheba, impregnated her, and arranged the murder of her husband. Finally, David allied himself with the Philistines, the enemies of Israel. In sum, he was deceitful, corrupt, a tyrant and a murderer. Drawing on the latest historical research, as well as detailed biblical analysis, this book represents a groundbreaking new look at one of our culture's most revered figures. Greenberg takes a fresh look at the biblical stories of David, unraveling the written skeins and hidden truths that weave through the biblical texts.

The Biblical Life of King David is the story of the greatest king Israel has ever known. It is titled as such because the only source used for this story is your Bible. Bible scriptures have been interwoven into the story to encourage group Bible study. However, the narrative reads like a novel. King David had a humble beginning as a shepherd boy. Yet God testified regarding the heart of David as having a heart like God (Acts 13:22). When reading this story, you will become very aware of why God testified this way about David. Just to clue you in on three possible reasons: King David was quick to repent when he knew he had made a mistake. Though King David was accused of having blood on his hands, he never killed a person off the battlefield. King David's judgements as king were righteous before God. I pray that you enjoy reading The Biblical Life of King David as much as I enjoyed the study and writing of this story.

David's story, writes McKenzie, "reads like a modern soap opera, with plenty of sex, violence, and struggles for power.""--BOOK JACKET.

At last David is king. He can defeat the Philistines. But can he resist a beautiful woman? In his third book walking through the life of David, Larry Lichtenwalter shows us the qualities David possesed as a leader. Each chapter gives the reader an abundance of theological insights and pulls an enormous amount of spiritual lessons from the exciting exploits of David, a man after God's own heart.

David, King of the Jews, possessed every flaw and failing a mortal is capable of, yet men and women adored him and God showered him with many more blessings than he did Abraham or Moses. His sexual appetite and prowess were matched only by his violence, both on the battlefield and in the bedroom. A charismatic leader, exalted as "a man after God's own heart," he was also capable of deep cunning, deceit, and betrayal. Now, in King David: The Real Life of the Man Who Ruled Israel, bestselling author Jonathan Kirsch reveals this commanding individual in all his glory and fallibility. In a taut, dramatic narrative, Kirsch brings new depth and psychological complexity to the familiar events of David's life--his slaying of the giant Goliath and his swift challenge to the weak rule of Saul, the first Jewish king; his tragic relationship with Saul's son Jonathan, David's cherished friend (and possibly lover); his celebrated reign in Jerusalem, where his dynasty would hold sway for generations. Yet for all his greatness, David was also a man in thrall to his passions--a voracious lover who secured the favors of his beautiful mistress Bathsheba by secretly arranging the death of her innocent husband; a merciless warrior who triumphed through cruelty; a troubled father who failed to protect his daughter from rape and whose beloved son Absalom rose against him in armed insurrection. Weaving together biblical texts with centuries of interpretation and commentary, Jonathan Kirsch brings King David to life in these pages with extraordinary freshness, intimacy, and vividness of detail. At the center of this inspiring narrative stands a hero of flesh and blood--not the cartoon giant-slayer of sermons and Sunday school stories or the immaculate ruler of legend and art but a magnetic, disturbingly familiar man--a man as vibrant and compelling today as he has been for millennia.