King David of Ancient Israel
Long before Christ was born, the ancient kingdom of Israel was ruled by a king called David
King David reigned for many years in Israel from his capital, Jerusalem. The City of David remains to this day and remains of the old buildings can be seen.
The Golden Age of Israel
David, the son of Jesse and descendant of Ruth, became king of Israel after the death of the rebellious Saul, and thus began the golden age of Israel. This powerful king wisely governed the tribes of Israel, forging them into a united nation. God blessed this man to be a valiant soldier, a great military strategist, an able administrator, a diplomat, a composer, a musician and king.
He extended Israel’s lands in the north (1 Chron. 18:3, 14), triumphing over Israel’s enemies the Canaanites and the Philistines. Prosperity followed, which is confirmed today by archaeology.
“The reign of David marks — politically speaking — Israel’s golden age. A power vacuum in both Egypt and Mesopotamia made it possible for the tribes that had entered Canaan under Joshua a few centuries earlier to become a mighty nation... David was king of an area extending from the Red Sea to the Euphrates” (The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Eerdmans, 1982. Vol. II, p. 915).
David was originally based in Hebron in southern Judah, but when all 13 tribes of Israel accepted his rulership he needed a central location from which to govern. An ideal place was on the northern border of Judah, the city of Jebus, also called Jerusalem (City of Peace), but the Jebusites (Canaanites) held the city (1 Chron. 11:4).
The city was built on a hill and seemed inpenetrable. But David found a way to enter the city, via a water shaft. He said that whoever could enter the city would become the commander of his army, and Joab the son of Zeruiah went up the shaft and thus David conquered the city, and called it the City of David (1 Chron. 11:6-7).
On Mount Moriah, next to the city, he moved the Ark of the Covenant, and there his son Solomon later built the first temple.
Read More : http://www.kingdavid.org/kingd1.html
King David of Ancient Israel
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