Davids Rise to Power

David was the second King of both Judah and Israel evident from the biblical writings that he rose to power out of a humble background, after undergoing several challenges. The recent discovery portrays David as the historical character with one and some two other writings having David’s name and his dating in a period of one hundred years after the time estimated David had lived. Biblical researchers refer to the apologia essence in the life of David and the use of power during his central government evident in the book of first Samuel and near the beginning of second Samuel that defends David’s rise to power as a successor but not as an heir from Kingship inheritance1. David was a man of many talents including being a wise shepherd, mighty warrior, administrator, and a skilled musician.

It’s argued from the Bible that David was the last born among the eight sons of Jesse assigned low duties to herd the sheep in the field. The book of first Samuel 16: 17-19 explains David as a courageous man, a warrior, highly skilled with good looking to attract King Saul for his wide variety of skills in the music, and military at the same time. The ancient Near Eastern writings explain David as a ruler due to what his father had owned, for example, the land and the large livestock was a measure used to evaluate the wealthiest person in any society. The skill of music Davis possessed was a symbol of magical powers that were used to send away the evil spirits hence the musicians were highly valued in the royal courts indicating the origin of his wealthy.

These skills enabled David to become a future leader and learned the exercising of political powers under King Saul silently. David offered himself with just slain and a stone to challenge the armed Philistine giant Goliath during the war. The murder of King Saul paved all the ways for King David including the deaths of Abner and Jonathan. However, the Bible writings explain that David was not involved in the killings of Saul making David kill the one believed to have taken away the life of King Saul. Unfortunately, Ishbosheth Saul’s heir did not succeed since he reigned for just two years (2 Sam 2:10-11), creating the opportunities for David becoming the King of Judah and Israel5. Before the full ruling of King David, he assassinated Ishbosheth by chopping off his head after surrendering the Kingship crown to David.

The biblical writings also show David’s silence on the death of Abner under the hands of Joab –David’s commander and self- confident who went unpunished by David. He made the reformations in the Philistine threat and sealed it trough the intermarriages. It's argued that during King David’ leadership period he made the most powerful kingdom at that time despite his shepherd roles in his boyhood. David also made it as a military commander achieving the final possessions of controlling the trading routes in Israel nations. He came up with the new taxing system replacing the old one which the divisions, to sustain the payments of the labors and even the military forces. King David was highly recognized for his leadership skills as the army commander by controlling all the military soldiers, the local administrators and government by making all the people pay taxes to the state in all nations.

During his leadership and the exercise of power, David failed to nature his sons who ended up being spoilt and became rebellious to their father, David. The bad behavior of David’s son leads to their death. Absalom assassinated Amnon In the ceremony they had invited David to attend hence an indication of fighting the throne of King David politically. It’s argued that David sought for Absalom for over three years following the killing of Amnon, the oldest son of David. Therefore, David became so reluctant to his children hence being weak to even his friends where the sons of Zeruiah became misbehaving to the extent of Joab killing Absalom and Amasa the military commander8. The book of Chronicles and Psalms portray David as the perfect figure of a leader chosen by God despite the merciless killings during his exercise of power.

In conclusion, it’s evident that the rise of David to power was God’s plan to replace King Saul due to his failures to obey God. The historical King David is a symbol of the reigning dynasty of Judah and Israel who was the most powerful leader of the generations in the world. David rose to power gradually even after being anointed by Samuel and assured to be the next King of Judah and Israel. The Bible writings portray David as the shepherd in his boyhood time assigned dirty duties to herd the sheep in the field. The sins of King David: a new history. Naperville, Ill: Sourcebooks. Kirsch, Jonathan. King David: the real life of the man who ruled Israel.