‘Who Is David and Who Is – the Son of Jesse?’ The Interpretation of the Figure of King David in the Development of Old Testament Theology

Research suggests that the figure of King David in the Old Testament may have been based on a real historical warrior from Ziklag, a Philistine city, who conquered Hebron and laid the foundation for the statehood of Judah. By analyzing inconsistencies in the 'David cycle' (1 Sam 14 – 1 Kings 2), the study proposes that while legends about David likely originated from different sources, they may have been rooted in the actions of a single historical figure. This challenges traditional views that attribute these narratives to purely mythological or legendary origins.

Komarnytskyy, V. (2025). ‘Who Is David and Who Is – the Son of Jesse?’ The Interpretation of the Figure of King David in the Development of Old Testament Theology. The Biblical Annals. https://doi.org/10.31743/ba.17464