What does the Bible say about king david?

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The Bible presents King David as God’s chosen yet deeply flawed servant, through whom God displayed both righteous judgment and steadfast covenant grace, ultimately pointing to Christ the true King. In Acts 13:22, David is called a man after God’s heart because he would do God’s will, while Psalms 27, 18, and 144 show his trust in the Lord as his light, rock, and deliverer. Yet 2 Samuel 12 records God’s searching rebuke of David’s sin and David’s need for mercy. In 2 Samuel 7, God promises an enduring royal house, fulfilled finally in Jesus. David’s final years in 1 Kings 1-2 also show God’s sovereign preservation of the promised kingdom.

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Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible

  • Psalms 144:1

    > Blessed be Yahweh, my rock, Who teaches my hands to war, And my fingers to battle:

  • Acts 13:22

    When he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, to whom he also testified, 'I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after my heart, who will do all my will.'

  • 1 Kings 1:1-53

    [1] Now king David was old and stricken in years; and they covered him with clothes, but he got no heat. [2] Therefore his servants said to him, Let there be sought for my lord the king a young virgin: and let her stand before the king, and cherish him; and let her lie in your bosom, that my lord the king may keep warm. [3] So they sought for a beautiful young lady throughout all the borders of Israel, and found Abishag the Shunammite, and brought her to the king. [4] The young lady was very beautiful; and she cherished the king, and ministered to him; but the king didn't know her intimately. [5] Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him. [6] His father had not displeased him at any time in saying, Why have you done so? and he was also a very goodly man; and he was born after Absalom. [7] He conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest: and they following Adonijah helped him. [8] But Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet, and Shimei, and Rei, and the mighty men who belonged to David, were not with Adonijah. [9] Adonijah killed sheep and oxen and fatlings by the stone of Zoheleth, which is beside En Rogel; and he called all his brothers, the king's sons, and all the men of Judah, the king's servants: [10] but Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he didn't call. [11] Then Nathan spoke to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, Haven't you heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith reigns, and David our lord doesn't know it? [12] Now therefore come, please let me give you counsel, that you may save your own life, and the life of your son Solomon. [13] Go and get you in to king David, and tell him, Didn't you, my lord, king, swear to your handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne? why then does Adonijah reign? [14] Behold, while you yet talk there with the king, I also will come in after you, and confirm your words. [15] Bathsheba went in to the king into the chamber: and the king was very old; and Abishag the Shunammite was ministering to the king. [16] Bathsheba bowed, and did obeisance to the king. The king said, What would you? [17] She said to him, My lord, you swore by Yahweh your God to your handmaid, [saying], Assuredly Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne. [18] Now, behold, Adonijah reigns; and you, my lord the king, don't know it: [19] and he has slain oxen and fatlings and sheep in abundance, and has called all the sons of the king, and Abiathar the priest, and Joab the captain of the host; but he hasn't called Solomon your servant. [20] You, my lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are on you, that you should tell them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him. [21] Otherwise it will happen, when my lord the king shall sleep with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon shall be counted offenders. [22] Behold, while she yet talked with the king, Nathan the prophet came in. [23] They told the king, saying, Behold, Nathan the prophet. When he was come in before the king, he bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground. [24] Nathan said, My lord, king, have you said, Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne? [25] For he is gone down this day, and has slain oxen and fatlings and sheep in abundance, and has called all the king's sons, and the captains of the host, and Abiathar the priest; and, behold, they are eating and drinking before him, and say, [Long] live king Adonijah. [26] But he hasn't called me, even me your servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and your servant Solomon. [27] Is this thing done by my lord the king, and you haven't shown to your servants who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him? [28] Then king David answered, Call to me Bathsheba. She came into the king's presence, and stood before the king. [29] The king swore, and said, As Yahweh lives, who has redeemed my soul out of all adversity, [30] most assuredly as I swore to you by Yahweh, the God of Israel, saying, Assuredly Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne in my place; most assuredly so will I do this day. [31] Then Bathsheba bowed with her face to the earth, and did obeisance to the king, and said, Let my lord king David live forever. [32] King David said, Call to me Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada. They came before the king. [33] The king said to them, Take with you the servants of your lord, and cause Solomon my son to ride on my own mule, and bring him down to Gihon: [34] and let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there king over Israel; and blow you the trumpet, and say, [Long] live king Solomon. [35] Then you shall come up after him, and he shall come and sit on my throne; for he shall be king in my place; and I have appointed him to be prince over Israel and over Judah. [36] Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king, and said, Amen: Yahweh, the God of my lord the king, say so [too]. [37] As Yahweh has been with my lord the king, even so be he with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord king David. [38] So Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites, went down, and caused Solomon to ride on king David's mule, and brought him to Gihon. [39] Zadok the priest took the horn of oil out of the Tent, and anointed Solomon. They blew the trumpet; and all the people said, [Long] live king Solomon. [40] All the people came up after him, and the people piped with pipes, and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth shook with the sound of them. [41] Adonijah and all the guests who were with him heard it as they had made an end of eating. When Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, Why is this noise of the city being in an uproar? [42] While he yet spoke, behold, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came: and Adonijah said, Come in; for you are a worthy man, and bring good news. [43] Jonathan answered Adonijah, Most assuredly our lord king David has made Solomon king: [44] and the king has sent with him Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and they have caused him to ride on the king's mule; [45] and Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king in Gihon; and they are come up from there rejoicing, so that the city rang again. This is the noise that you have heard. [46] Also Solomon sits on the throne of the kingdom. [47] Moreover the king's servants came to bless our lord king David, saying, Your God make the name of Solomon better than your name, and make his throne greater than your throne: and the king bowed himself on the bed. [48] Also thus said the king, Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, who has given one to sit on my throne this day, my eyes even seeing it. [49] All the guests of Adonijah were afraid, and rose up, and went every man his way. [50] Adonijah feared because of Solomon; and he arose, and went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar. [51] It was told Solomon, saying, Behold, Adonijah fears king Solomon; for, behold, he has laid hold on the horns of the altar, saying, Let king Solomon swear to me first that he will not kill his servant with the sword. [52] Solomon said, If he shall show himself a worthy man, there shall not a hair of him fall to the earth; but if wickedness be found in him, he shall die. [53] So king Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the altar. He came and did obeisance to king Solomon; and Solomon said to him, Go to your house.

  • Romans 13:4

    for he is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do that which is evil, be afraid, for he doesn't bear the sword in vain; for he is a minister of God, an avenger for wrath to him who does evil.

  • Psalms 27:1-14

    [1] > Yahweh is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? Yahweh is the strength of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid? [2] When evil-doers came at me to eat up my flesh, Even my adversaries and my foes, they stumbled and fell. [3] Though a host should encamp against me, My heart shall not fear. Though war should rise against me, Even then I will be confident. [4] One thing I have asked of Yahweh, that I will seek after, That I may dwell in the house of Yahweh all the days of my life, To see Yahweh's beauty, And to inquire in his temple. [5] For in the day of trouble he will keep me secretly in his pavilion. In the covert of his tent he will hide me. He will lift me up on a rock. [6] Now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me. I will offer sacrifices of joy in his tent. I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to Yahweh. [7] Hear, Yahweh, when I cry with my voice. Have mercy also on me, and answer me. [8] When you said, "Seek my face," My heart said to you, "I will seek your face, Yahweh." [9] Don't hide your face from me. Don't put your servant away in anger. You have been my help. Don't abandon me, Neither forsake me, God of my salvation. [10] When my father and my mother forsake me, Then Yahweh will take me up. [11] Teach me your way, Yahweh. Lead me in a straight path, because of my enemies. [12] Don't deliver me over to the desire of my adversaries, For false witnesses have risen up against me, Such as breathe out cruelty. [13] I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of Yahweh in the land of the living. [14] Wait for Yahweh. Be strong, and let your heart take courage. Yes, wait for Yahweh.

  • 2 Samuel 12:1-31

    [1] Yahweh sent Nathan to David. He came to him, and said to him, "There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor. [2] The rich man had very many flocks and herds, [3] but the poor man had nothing, except one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and raised. It grew up together with him, and with his children. It ate of his own food, drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was to him like a daughter. [4] A traveler came to the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man who had come to him, but took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man who had come to him." [5] David's anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, "As Yahweh lives, the man who has done this is worthy to die! [6] He shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity!" [7] Nathan said to David, "You are the man. This is what Yahweh, the God of Israel, says: 'I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul. [8] I gave you your master's house, and your master's wives into your bosom, and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that would have been too little, I would have added to you many more such things. [9] Why have you despised the word of Yahweh, to do that which is evil in his sight? You have struck Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and have taken his wife to be your wife, and have slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon. [10] Now therefore the sword will never depart from your house, because you have despised me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.' [11] This is what Yahweh says: 'Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes, and give them to your neighbor, and he will lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. [12] For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.'" [13] David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against Yahweh." Nathan said to David, "Yahweh also has put away your sin. You will not die. [14] However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to Yahweh's enemies to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall surely die." [15] Nathan departed to his house. Yahweh struck the child that Uriah's wife bore to David, and it was very sick. [16] David therefore begged God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night on the earth. [17] The elders of his house arose, [and stood] beside him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them. [18] It happened on the seventh day, that the child died. The servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead; for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spoke to him, and he didn't listen to our voice: how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the child is dead! [19] But when David saw that his servants were whispering together, David perceived that the child was dead; and David said to his servants, Is the child dead? They said, He is dead. [20] Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his clothing; and he came into the house of Yahweh, and worshiped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he ate. [21] Then said his servants to him, What thing is this that you have done? you did fast and weep for the child, while it was alive; but when the child was dead, you did rise and eat bread. [22] He said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who knows whether Yahweh will not be gracious to me, that the child may live? [23] But now he is dead, why should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me. [24] David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in to her, and lay with her: and she bore a son, and he called his name Solomon. Yahweh loved him; [25] and he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet; and he named him Jedidiah, for Yahweh's sake. [26] Now Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the royal city. [27] Joab sent messengers to David, and said, I have fought against Rabbah; yes, I have taken the city of waters. [28] Now therefore gather the rest of the people together, and encamp against the city, and take it; lest I take the city, and it be called after my name. [29] David gathered all the people together, and went to Rabbah, and fought against it, and took it. [30] He took the crown of their king from off his head; and the weight of it was a talent of gold, and [in it were] precious stones; and it was set on David's head. He brought forth the spoil of the city, exceeding much. [31] He brought forth the people who were therein, and put them under saws, and under harrows of iron, and under axes of iron, and made them pass through the brick kiln: and thus did he to all the cities of the children of Ammon. David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.

  • Psalms 18:46

    Yahweh lives; and blessed be my rock. Exalted be the God of my salvation,

  • 2 Samuel 7:4-29

    [4] It happened the same night, that the word of Yahweh came to Nathan, saying, [5] Go and tell my servant David, Thus says Yahweh, Shall you build me a house for me to dwell in? [6] for I have not lived in a house since the day that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tent. [7] In all places in which I have walked with all the children of Israel, spoke I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to be shepherd of my people Israel, saying, Why have you not built me a house of cedar? [8] Now therefore thus shall you tell my servant David, Thus says Yahweh of Hosts, I took you from the sheep pen, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people, over Israel; [9] and I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make you a great name, like the name of the great ones who are in the earth. [10] I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in their own place, and be moved no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as at the first, [11] and [as] from the day that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel; and I will cause you to rest from all your enemies. Moreover Yahweh tells you that Yahweh will make you a house. [12] When your days are fulfilled, and you shall sleep with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who shall proceed out of your bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. [13] He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. [14] I will be his father, and he shall be my son: if he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men; [15] but my loving kindness shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before you. [16] Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure for ever before you: your throne shall be established forever. [17] According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak to David. [18] Then David the king went in, and sat before Yahweh; and he said, Who am I, Lord Yahweh, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? [19] This was yet a small thing in your eyes, Lord Yahweh; but you have spoken also of your servant's house for a great while to come; and this [too] after the manner of men, Lord Yahweh! [20] What can David say more to you? for you know your servant, Lord Yahweh. [21] For your word's sake, and according to your own heart, have you worked all this greatness, to make your servant know it. [22] Therefore you are great, Yahweh God: for there is none like you, neither is there any God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears. [23] What one nation in the earth is like your people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem to himself for a people, and to make him a name, and to do great things for you, and awesome things for your land, before your people, whom you redeem to you out of Egypt, [from] the nations and their gods? [24] You did establish to yourself your people Israel to be a people to you forever; and you, Yahweh, became their God. [25] Now, Yahweh God, the word that you have spoken concerning your servant, and concerning his house, confirm you it forever, and do as you have spoken. [26] Let your name be magnified forever, saying, Yahweh of hosts is God over Israel; and the house of your servant David shall be established before you. [27] For you, Yahweh of Hosts, the God of Israel, have revealed to your servant, saying, I will build you a house: therefore has your servant found in his heart to pray this prayer to you. [28] Now, O Lord Yahweh, you are God, and your words are truth, and you have promised this good thing to your servant: [29] now therefore let it please you to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever before you; for you, Lord Yahweh, have spoken it: and with your blessing let the house of your servant be blessed forever.

  • 1 Kings 2:1-46

    [1] Now the days of David drew near that he should die; and he charged Solomon his son, saying, [2] I am going the way of all the earth: be you strong therefore, and show yourself a man; [3] and keep the charge of Yahweh your God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, [and] his commandments, and his ordinances, and his testimonies, according to that which is written in the law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do, and wherever you turn yourself. [4] That Yahweh may establish his word which he spoke concerning me, saying, If your children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail you (said he) a man on the throne of Israel. [5] Moreover you know also what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, even what he did to the two captains of the hosts of Israel, to Abner the son of Ner, and to Amasa the son of Jether, whom he killed, and shed the blood of war in peace, and put the blood of war on his sash that was about his loins, and in his shoes that were on his feet. [6] Do therefore according to your wisdom, and don't let his gray head go down to Sheol in peace. [7] But show kindness to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be of those who eat at your table; for so they came to me when I fled from Absalom your brother. [8] Behold, there is with you Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjamite, of Bahurim, who cursed me with a grievous curse in the day when I went to Mahanaim; but he came down to meet me at the Jordan, and I swore to him by Yahweh, saying, I will not put you to death with the sword. [9] Now therefore don't hold him guiltless, for you are a wise man; and you will know what you ought to do to him, and you shall bring his gray head down to Sheol with blood. [10] David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David. [11] The days that David reigned over Israel were forty years; seven years reigned he in Hebron, and thirty-three years reigned he in Jerusalem. [12] Solomon sat on the throne of David his father; and his kingdom was established greatly. [13] Then Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon. She said, Come you peaceably? He said, Peaceably. [14] He said moreover, I have somewhat to tell you. She said, Say on. [15] He said, You know that the kingdom was mine, and that all Israel set their faces on me, that I should reign: however the kingdom is turned about, and is become my brother's; for it was his from Yahweh. [16] Now I ask one petition of you; don't deny me. She said to him, Say on. [17] He said, Please speak to Solomon the king (for he will not tell you 'no'), that he give me Abishag the Shunammite as wife. [18] Bathsheba said, Well; I will speak for you to the king. [19] Bathsheba therefore went to king Solomon, to speak to him for Adonijah. The king rose up to meet her, and bowed himself to her, and sat down on his throne, and caused a throne to be set for the king's mother; and she sat on his right hand. [20] Then she said, I ask one small petition of you; don't deny me. The king said to her, Ask on, my mother; for I will not deny you. [21] She said, Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah your brother as wife. [22] King Solomon answered his mother, Why do you ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? ask for him the kingdom also; for he is my elder brother; even for him, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah. [23] Then king Solomon swore by Yahweh, saying, God do so to me, and more also, if Adonijah has not spoken this word against his own life. [24] Now therefore as Yahweh lives, who has established me, and set me on the throne of David my father, and who has made me a house, as he promised, surely Adonijah shall be put to death this day. [25] King Solomon sent by Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he fell on him, so that he died. [26] To Abiathar the priest said the king, Get you to Anathoth, to your own fields; for you are worthy of death: but I will not at this time put you to death, because you bear the ark of the Lord Yahweh before David my father, and because you were afflicted in all in which my father was afflicted. [27] So Solomon thrust out Abiathar from being priest to Yahweh, that he might fulfill the word of Yahweh, which he spoke concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh. [28] The news came to Joab; for Joab had turned after Adonijah, though he didn't turn after Absalom. Joab fled to the Tent of Yahweh, and caught hold on the horns of the altar. [29] It was told king Solomon, Joab is fled to the Tent of Yahweh, and, behold, he is by the altar. Then Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, Go, fall on him. [30] Benaiah came to the Tent of Yahweh, and said to him, Thus says the king, Come forth. He said, No; but I will die here. Benaiah brought the king word again, saying, Thus said Joab, and thus he answered me. [31] The king said to him, Do as he has said, and fall on him, and bury him; that you may take away the blood, which Joab shed without cause, from me and from my father's house. [32] Yahweh will return his blood on his own head, because he fell on two men more righteous and better than he, and killed them with the sword, and my father David didn't know it, [to wit], Abner the son of Ner, captain of the host of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, captain of the host of Judah. [33] So shall their blood return on the head of Joab, and on the head of his seed forever: but to David, and to his seed, and to his house, and to his throne, shall there be peace for ever from Yahweh. [34] Then Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went up, and fell on him, and killed him; and he was buried in his own house in the wilderness. [35] The king put Benaiah the son of Jehoiada in his room over the host; and Zadok the priest did the king put in the room of Abiathar. [36] The king sent and called for Shimei, and said to him, Build yourself a house in Jerusalem, and dwell there, and don't go forth from there any where. [37] For on the day you go out, and pass over the brook Kidron, know you for certain that you shall surely die: your blood shall be on your own head. [38] Shimei said to the king, The saying is good: as my lord the king has said, so will your servant do. Shimei lived in Jerusalem many days. [39] It happened at the end of three years, that two of the servants of Shimei ran away to Achish, son of Maacah, king of Gath. They told Shimei, saying, Behold, your servants are in Gath. [40] Shimei arose, and saddled his donkey, and went to Gath to Achish, to seek his servants; and Shimei went, and brought his servants from Gath. [41] It was told Solomon that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath, and was come again. [42] The king sent and called for Shimei, and said to him, Didn't I adjure you by Yahweh, and protest to you, saying, Know for certain, that on the day you go out, and walk abroad any where, you shall surely die? and you said to me, The saying that I have heard is good. [43] Why then have you not kept the oath of Yahweh, and the commandment that I have charged you with? [44] The king said moreover to Shimei, You know all the wickedness which your heart is privy to, that you did to David my father: therefore Yahweh shall return your wickedness on your own head. [45] But king Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before Yahweh forever. [46] So the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he went out, and fell on him, so that he died. The kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon.

  • John 14:26

    But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and will remind you of all that I said to you.

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