50 Fun Facts About King David

David was the youngest of how many sons of Jesse?

Both 1 Samuel and 1 Chronicles identify him as the youngest of eight.

David's father Jesse came from which town?

Early Christians noted that it was the birthplace of both David and Jesus.

The Book of Ruth names David as the great-grandson of Ruth and which man?

Ruth was a Moabite, making David part-foreign by descent.

Which prophet was sent by God to anoint the young David as king?

Saul had forfeited God's favour by offering an unlawful sacrifice and sparing the Amalekites' property.

What was David's job before he entered Saul's service?

Tradition says he herded his father's sheep while his brothers were in school.

David first entered Saul's court to do what?

An evil spirit tormented Saul, and a servant recommended the skilful young musician.

Which giant Philistine warrior did David kill to become a hero?

He felled the champion with a sling stone and then beheaded him with the giant's own sword.

David refused Saul's armour and faced the Philistine giant with what weapon?

He had been sent by his father to bring provisions to his brothers in Saul's army.

How many smooth stones did David pick from the brook before the duel?

Church tradition later read the five stones as symbols of the five wounds of Christ.

The duel between David and the Philistine giant took place in which valley?

The Israelites then chased the Philistines "as far as Gath and the gates of Ekron".

According to the Masoretic Text, how tall was the Philistine giant?

That is about 9 feet 9 inches; the Dead Sea Scrolls and Septuagint give a more modest four cubits and a span.

Which son of Saul loved David and warned him of his father's plots?

David later said his friend's love was "sweeter than the love of a woman".

Which daughter of Saul became David's wife?

Saul first offered his elder daughter Merab, whom David declined.

Fleeing Saul, David received the slain giant's sword from the priest Ahimelech at which place?

From there he went to Gath, the giant's own city, to seek refuge with King Achish.

In which cave did David's family join him while he hid from Saul?

It became the base where his band of followers gathered.

In a cave at Ein Gedi, what did David secretly cut from Saul instead of killing him?

He used the scrap of cloth to prove he meant the king no harm, and the two were reconciled.

Sneaking into Saul's camp at night, David took the king's spear and what else?

He refused to "stretch out his hand against the Lord's anointed" despite Abishai's urging.

Which Philistine king of Gath gave David the town of Ziklag?

David raided desert tribes while letting Achish believe he was attacking Israelites.

Psalm 34 is linked to David escaping a king by doing what?

The king asked, "Am I so short of madmen that you have to bring this fellow here?"

Which wealthy man's widow, Abigail, became one of David's wives?

Nabal the Carmelite had refused David's men provisions before his sudden death.

After Saul died, in which city was David first anointed king over Judah?

Saul's son Ish-bosheth was made king in the north, and civil war followed until his murder.

Which of Saul's sons was anointed rival king of Israel in the north?

After his murder the elders of Israel came to David and made him king over all the tribes.

Which city did David conquer from the Jebusites and make his capital?

He then brought the Ark of the Covenant there, intending to build a temple.

What sacred object did David bring to his new capital?

He wanted to build a temple for it, but the prophet forbade him, promising a son would build it instead.

Why was David denied the chance to build the temple himself?

His son would build it instead; the task fell to the future king he chose as heir.

Which prophet promised that David's "throne shall be established forever"?

The same prophet later rebuked David over Uriah's death with a parable about a stolen lamb.

Which woman did David see bathing from his roof while his army besieged Rabbah?

She became pregnant, and David arranged her husband's death in battle.

Uriah the Hittite, the husband sent to die at the front, fought for which side?

David recalled him from the siege hoping he would sleep with his wife; when he would not, David sent him to the front.

The prophet rebuked David's adultery with a parable about a rich man stealing what?

David condemned the rich man before realising "you are the man".

What punishment did the prophet pronounce on David after the affair?

The child of the affair died and his son Absalom later rebelled.

Which of David's sons raped his half-sister Tamar?

David failed to punish his firstborn, so Tamar's full brother took revenge and killed him.

Which son of David rebelled and tried to seize his throne?

He was killed by Joab after his long hair caught in the branches of a tree.

How was the rebel son caught before Joab killed him?

David wept, "Would I had died instead of you, O my son, my son!"

Who commanded David's army and killed the rebel son against orders?

Joab also had to talk David out of "the extravagance of his grief" afterwards.

Which friend of David infiltrated the rebel court to sabotage its plans?

His counsel helped rout the rebel army at the Wood of Ephraim.

Which son did David choose as his successor?

His eldest surviving son Adonijah had already declared himself king; the revolt was put down.

Who was the mother of David's chosen heir?

She and the prophet went to the bedridden king to secure his earlier promise.

At what age did David die?

He reigned for 40 years and counselled his heir on his deathbed to walk in God's ways.

How many years did David reign?

Seven of them were in Hebron over Judah alone before he ruled all Israel.

Roughly what share of the psalter's songs carry the heading "A Psalm of David"?

The Book of Samuel calls him "the sweet psalmist of Israel".

Which two tribes escorted David back across the Jordan after the revolt?

He returned by way of Gilgal to his capital.

The Tel Dan stele, found in 1993, contains a phrase most scholars read as what?

It was erected by Hazael, a king of Damascus, to commemorate victories over two enemy kings.

Which holy book does the Quran say God gave to David?

Muslim tradition also celebrates his beautiful voice when reciting them.

According to the Talmud, David was born and died on which Jewish festival?

Shavuot, the Feast of Weeks, is also when the Book of Ruth, his ancestor's story, is read.

Which medieval emperor saw himself as a "new David"?

Court scholars enlarged the idea of the Christian ruler as a Davidic king.

Which royal dynasty of Ethiopia claimed direct descent from David?

The Georgian Bagratids made the same claim of biological descent.

Michelangelo's marble David was carved between 1501 and which year?

At 5.17 metres it was the first colossal marble statue since classical antiquity.

Michelangelo's David was moved indoors in 1873 to which Florence gallery?

A replica was installed at the original Piazza della Signoria site in 1910.

Which Baroque artist painted David holding the giant's severed head around 1610?

Bernini sculpted a twisting marble David in 1623–24, and Donatello cast a bronze one earlier.

Some scholars think the giant's original slayer in the text was which warrior?

2 Samuel 21:19 credits Elhanan, son of Jair, with killing Goliath the Gittite.