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Who Was King David ?
King David of Israel and Judah is a mythic Biblical figure to most people. Few people realize, however, that his family is not extinct, and that today there are direct-descendants of King David living in southern California. Most families cannot trace their roots before the Common Era, but the House of David has kept the memory of the ancient king alive as a living legacy. King David was not just another king, he was a transitional figure whose leadership defined a nation for millenia.
Excavations at Tell el Hariri on the Euphrates river have revealed that the word "davidum" once served as a title for a military marshal. The possibility exists that the name of the ancient prince may not have actually been David, but regardless the identity of David survives. David was born in Bethlehem, which became the basis for later claims that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, as a fulfillment of the prophecies associated with the Davidic legacy. He was the youngest son of Jesse, and he was the only person in history to successfully establish an empire in Palestine, a land known throughout antiquity as a crossroads. Although the rule of his linear descendants was short-lived, the House of David ruled in Jerusalem for 400 years. When Nebuchadrezzar destroyed Jerusalem the House of David became a transcendant symbol of Israel's messianic hope for renewal. Israel ceased to exist as a physical domain, and began its existence as a pure ideal, attainable by all human beings of all the nations of the Earth. David began his career as an aide to King Saul. Whether he was brought to Saul's royal court for his gifts as a musician (the Psalms are attributed to King David), or because of his victory over Goliath, it was his skill as a warrior that caused his advancement. Generals are natural rivals to kings for the affection of the people, and David's success as a warrior (Continued on next page)
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