War-Torn David

A critical reassessment of the biblical accounts of King David reveals that the oldest portions of his narrative, dubbed the 'History of David’s Reign' (HDR), likely date to a later period than previously assumed and focus exclusively on Judah without mentioning Israel. This account portrays David as the youngest of eight sons, rising from obscurity as a mercenary soldier under a Philistine ruler before uniting southern clans and establishing his capital in Hebron—a strategic and ancient site. Later supplements describe his capture of Jerusalem, while the 'Court History' or Succession Narrative, which depicts David’s challenges as ruler over Israel, is shown to be a later composition built upon substantial revisions. The study undermines long-standing assumptions about the origins and chronology of these biblical texts by analyzing their structure and thematic development.

(Ed.). (2014). War-Torn David. David, King of Israel, and Caleb in Biblical Memory, 221–230. https://doi.org/10.1017/cbo9781107449749.015