Our last article introduced another person of the Bible who is also mentioned in the Qur’an and who is known by Muslims: David, or Dawud. The lesson ended with the battle of young David against Goliath, the Philistine giant who defied the army of Israel for forty days. After David’s victory, the Israelite women sang to celebrate it, but their praises for David were more generous than those they sang to honor King Saul (Talut). Then the latter, who had already been rejected by God for his disobedience, was full of jealousy and believed that David would take his place on the throne of Israel. So he decided to kill his rival.
David as a Fugitive
At first Saul tried means of killing David that did not make it obvious that he wanted his death. But finally he began dealing openly with David as his enemy. Although he had committed no crime, David was forced to flee from the presence of the king and take refuge where he could, sometimes in caves in the desert of Judah, sometimes with neighboring people such as the Moabites or the Philistines. The brothers and other close friends of David came to join him. “In addition, every man who was desperate, in debt, or discontented rallied around him, and he became their leader. About 400 men were with him” (1 Samuel 22:2).
For his part, Saul pursued David everywhere. Each time he heard that David had been found in this or that place, he went with his soldiers to arrest him or kill him. He treated as enemies those who helped David in any way, even if they didn’t know that he no longer had the favor of the king. This was the case when Saul actually massacred 85 priests of God because, according to him, they helped David to escape (1 Samuel 22).
Jonathan, Saul’s son, was one of those who had the most to lose if David survived because David and not Jonathan was sure to succeed Saul as king. But Jonathan, although he was a brave soldier, a man respected by the people and capable of leading them, loved David in a selfless way. He knew that David had done nothing that merited his death, and he accepted God’s decision that David would be king of Israel. Instead of being jealous, he rejoiced for his friend and sought to protect him from the unjust attacks of his father.
During this difficult period of David’s life, he continued to put his faith in God. He wrote many of the Psalms (Zabur) in which he expressed his need for the protection of God, he praised the Almighty for his faithfulness, and he placed the judgment of his enemies in the hands of the Omniscient One.
Through these troubles, God certainly prepared David further to lead the people of Israel in a worthy way, but He also manifested the good aspects of David’s character.
David Refuses to Kill His Enemy
One day Saul was told:
“‘David is in the wilderness near En-Gedi.’ So Saul took 3,000 of Israel’s choice men and went to look for David and his men in front of the Rocks of the Wild Goats. When Saul came to the sheep pens along the road, a cave was there, and he went in to relieve himself. David and his men were staying in the back of the cave, so they said to him, ‘Look, this is the day the Lord told you about: “I will hand your enemy over to you so you can do to him whatever you desire.”’ Then David got up and secretly cut off the corner of Saul’s robe.
Afterward, David’s conscience bothered him because he had cut off the corner of Saul’s robe. He said to his men, ‘I swear before the Lord: I would never do such a thing to my lord, the Lord’s anointed. I will never lift my hand against him, since he is the Lord’s anointed.’ With these words David persuaded his men, and he did not let them rise up against Saul.
Then Saul left the cave and went on his way. After that, David got up, went out of the cave, and called to Saul, ‘My lord the king!’ When Saul looked behind him, David bowed to the ground in homage. David said to Saul, ‘Why do you listen to the words of people who say, “Look, David intends to harm you”? You can see with your own eyes that the Lord handed you over to me today in the cave. Someone advised me to kill you, but I took pity on you and said: I won’t lift my hand against my lord, since he is the Lord’s anointed. See, my father! Look at the corner of your robe in my hand, for I cut it off, but I didn’t kill you. Look and recognize that there is no evil or rebellion in me. I haven’t sinned against you even though you are hunting me down to take my life.
‘May the Lord judge between you and me, and may the Lord take vengeance on you for me, but my hand will never be against you. As the old proverb says, “Wickedness comes from wicked people.” My hand will never be against you. Who has the king of Israel come after? What are you chasing after? A dead dog? A flea? May the Lord be judge and decide between you and me. May He take notice and plead my case and deliver me from you.’
When David finished saying these things to him, Saul replied, ‘Is that your voice, David my son?’ Then Saul wept aloud and said to David, ‘You are more righteous than I, for you have done what is good to me though I have done what is evil to you. You yourself have told me today what good you did for me: when the Lord handed me over to you, you didn’t kill me. When a man finds his enemy, does he let him go unharmed? May the Lord repay you with good for what you’ve done for me today.
‘Now I know for certain you will be king, and the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand. Therefore swear to me by the Lord that you will not cut off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father’s family.’ So David swore to Saul. Then Saul went back home, and David and his men went up to the stronghold.” (1 Samuel 24)
David’s conduct corresponds well to the advice that was given to Christians in the New Testament. For example the apostle Paul wrote in Romans 12:17-21:
“Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Try to do what is honorable in everyone’s eyes. If possible, on your part, live at peace with everyone. Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for His wrath. For it is written: Vengeance belongs to Me; I will repay, says the Lord. But if your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink. For in so doing you will be heaping fiery coals on his head. Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.”
David Ascends to the Throne
Unfortunately, even after David showed his respect for Saul and refused to take his life, Saul did not stop chasing David and seeking his death. David was forced to live in exile until the day that Saul was seriously injured in a battle against the Philistines. He told the one who carried his armor to take his sword and finish him off, but the armor-bearer did not dare do it. So Saul took his sword and threw himself on it. Three sons of Saul, including Jonathan, died during the same battle.
After these events, David consulted the Lord, who told him to go to the city of Hebron in the territory of the tribe of Judah. The people of Judah went to Hebron to consecrate David as king of Judah. On the other hand, in the rest of the tribes, Abner, formerly Saul’s general, endorsed Ish-Bosheth, another son of Saul, as king. After some years, Ish-Bosheth was assassinated by two of his own servants. So all the people of Israel gathered in Hebron, recognizing that God Himself, by the prophet Samuel, had designated David as king. Then they made an alliance with him and anointed him king.
Jerusalem Becomes the Capital of a Respected Kingdom
David and all the Israelites then went to besiege the city of Jerusalem, which was still under the control of a pagan people, the Jebusites. David and his men seized the fortress of Jerusalem, which afterward was called the City of David. The city became his capital.
In the years that followed, God was with David and strengthened him in his reign. He gave him victory in the wars with all the enemies around him: the Philistines, the Syrians, the Edomites, and the Ammonites. The Phoenicians, inhabitants of what is now called Lebanon, got along well with David and recognized that it was the Lord who had chosen him. Their king, Hiram, sent him materials and artisans for the construction of a royal palace. After years of war and insecurity, Israel knew peace and prosperity and completely occupied the country that God had promised the patriarch Abraham. David reigned in Israel with justice and impartiality toward all the people.
There is much more to say on the subject of the one whom the Jews consider to be the ideal king. So we will dedicate two more articles to this great man of God.