David, King of Israel

King David of Israel Historical Figure Nationality: Judah Year of Birth: c. 1040 BC Year of Death: c. 970 BC Cause of Death: Blood circulatory complications Religion: Judaism Occupation: Monarch, Farmer, Shepherd, Soldier, Poet, Composer Parents: Jesse and Nitzevet Spouse: Michal, Bathsheba, several others Children: Solomon, Absalom, Adonijah, many others Relatives: Jesus (descendant) House: House of David Political Office(s): King of Israel-Judah Fictional Appearances: "Occupation Duty" POD: c. 1000 BCE Type of Appearance: Posthumous reference (as "Tabitas") Nationality: Evraioi, retroactively regarded as a Moabite Date of Death: c. 1020 BC Cause of Death: Killed in action

David (Hebrew, דָּוִיד) (c. 1040-970 BC) was the second king of the United Kingdom of Israel-Judah, according to tradition. Scholars usually place his life around the 11th and 10th centuries BC. The story of David's rise to the kingship, and his 40-year reign, is told in the Bible's Books of Samuel and Chronicles. The Qu'ran of Islam retells David's story with more brevity. Non-biblical sources for David's existence are minimal, but are considered reliable. David is credited with having written most of the Book of Psalms, but modern Biblical scholars discount claims of his authorship of all but a handful of these.

In wider popular culture, David is arguably best known for his duel with Goliath of the Philistines, which has become proverbial shorthand for the triumph of the underdog.

David in "Occupation Duty"

Tabitas of the Evraioi was the Moabite champion who responded to Lord Goliath's challenge. Goliath defeated Tabitas, and the Philistines conquered the Moabites. They continued to rule Moab more than 3000 years later, though Moab was forever making life difficult for its conquerors.

Literary Note

In OTL, David has never been considered a Moabite. The story's implication is that after the Philistines conquered the region, they called all its natives Moabites regardless of actual tribal affiliation.

See also

• Biblical Allusions in Turtledove's Work#King David, for additional minor references.

References

Royal offices (OTL)
Preceded by Saul as king of Israel-Judah Ishbaal/Ish-bosheth as disputed king of Israel alone	King of Israel-Judah 1010–970 BC (conventional dates)	Succeeded by Solomon