David

5 definitions found

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  David
       n 1: patron saint of Wales (circa 520-600) [syn: {Saint David}, {St.
            David}]
       2: French neoclassical painter who actively supported the
          French Revolution (1748-1825) [syn: {Jacques Louis David}]
       3: (Old Testament) the 2nd king of the Israelites; as a young


          shepherd he fought Goliath (a giant Philistine warrior)
          and killed him by hitting him in the head with a stone
          flung from a sling; he united Israel with Jerusalem as its
          capital; many of the Psalms are attributed to David (circa
          1000-962 BC)

From Virtual Entity of Relevant Acronyms (Version 1.9, June 2002) [vera]:

  DAVID
       Digital Audio Video Interactive Decoder (Digital audio)
       
       

From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [easton]:

  David
     beloved, the eighth and youngest son of Jesse, a citizen of
     Bethlehem. His father seems to have been a man in humble life.
     His mother's name is not recorded. Some think she was the Nahash
     of 2 Sam. 17:25. As to his personal appearance, we only know
     that he was red-haired, with beautiful eyes and a fair face (1
     Sam. 16:12; 17:42).
     
       His early occupation was that of tending his father's sheep on
     the uplands of Judah. From what we know of his after history,
     doubtless he frequently beguiled his time, when thus engaged,
     with his shepherd's flute, while he drank in the many lessons
     taught him by the varied scenes spread around him. His first
     recorded exploits were his encounters with the wild beasts of
     the field. He mentions that with his own unaided hand he slew a
     lion and also a bear, when they came out against his flock,
     beating them to death in open conflict with his club (1 Sam.
     17:34, 35).
     
       While David, in the freshness of ruddy youth, was thus engaged
     with his flocks, Samuel paid an unexpected visit to Bethlehem,
     having been guided thither by divine direction (1 Sam. 16:1-13).
     There he offered up sacrifice, and called the elders of Israel
     and Jesse's family to the sacrificial meal. Among all who
     appeared before him he failed to discover the one he sought.
     David was sent for, and the prophet immediately recognized him
     as the chosen of God, chosen to succeed Saul, who was now
     departing from the ways of God, on the throne of the kingdom. He
     accordingly, in anticipation, poured on his head the anointing
     oil. David went back again to his shepherd life, but "the Spirit
     of the Lord came upon David from that day forward," and "the
     Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul" (1 Sam. 16:13, 14).
     
       Not long after this David was sent for to soothe with his harp
     the troubled spirit of Saul, who suffered from a strange
     melancholy dejection. He played before the king so skilfully
     that Saul was greatly cheered, and began to entertain great
     affection for the young shepherd. After this he went home to
     Bethlehem. But he soon again came into prominence. The armies of
     the Philistines and of Israel were in battle array in the valley
     of Elah, some 16 miles south-west of Bethlehem; and David was
     sent by his father with provisions for his three brothers, who
     were then fighting on the side of the king. On his arrival in
     the camp of Israel, David (now about twenty years of age) was
     made aware of the state of matters when the champion of the
     Philistines, Goliath of Gath, came forth to defy Israel. David
     took his sling, and with a well-trained aim threw a stone "out
     of the brook," which struck the giant's forehead, so that he
     fell senseless to the ground. David then ran and slew him, and
     cut off his head with his own sword (1 Sam. 17). The result was
     a great victory to the Israelites, who pursued the Philistines
     to the gates of Gath and Ekron.
     
       David's popularity consequent on this heroic exploit awakened
     Saul's jealousy (1 Sam. 18:6-16), which he showed in various
     ways. He conceived a bitter hatred toward him, and by various
     stratagems sought his death (1 Sam. 18-30). The deep-laid plots
     of the enraged king, who could not fail to observe that David
     "prospered exceedingly," all proved futile, and only endeared
     the young hero the more to the people, and very specially to
     Jonathan, Saul's son, between whom and David a life-long warm
     friendship was formed.
     
       A fugitive. To escape from the vengeance of Saul, David fled
     to Ramah (1 Sam. 19:12-18) to Samuel, who received him, and he
     dwelt among the sons of the prophets, who were there under
     Samuel's training. It is supposed by some that the sixth,
     seventh, and eleventh Psalms were composed by him at this time.
     This place was only 3 miles from the residence of Saul, who soon
     discovered whither the fugitive had gone, and tried
     ineffectually to bring him back. Jonathan made a fruitless
     effort to bring his father to a better state of mind toward
     David (1 Sam. 20), who, being made aware of the fact, saw no
     hope of safety but in flight to a distance. We accordingly find
     him first at Nob (21:1-9) and then at Gath, the chief city of
     the Philistines. The king of the Philistines would not admit him
     into his service, as he expected that he would, and David
     accordingly now betook himself to the stronghold of Adullam
     (22:1-4; 1 Chr. 12:8-18). Here in a short time 400 men gathered
     around him and acknowledged him as their leader. It was at this
     time that David, amid the harassment and perils of his position,
     cried, "Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well
     of Bethlehem;" when three of his heroes broke through the lines
     of the Philistines and brought him the water for which he longed
     (2 Sam. 23:13-17), but which he would not drink.
     
       In his rage at the failure of all his efforts to seize David,
     Saul gave orders for the massacre of the entire priestly family
     at Nob, "persons who wore a linen ephod", to the number of
     eighty-five persons, who were put to death by Doeg the Edomite.
     The sad tidings of the massacre were brought to David by
     Abiathar, a son of Ahimelech, the only one who escaped. Comp.
     Ps. 52.
     
       Hearing that Keilah, a town on the western frontier, was
     harassed by the Philistines, David with his men relieved it (1
     Sam. 23:1-14); and then, for fear of Saul, he fled to the
     strongholds in the "hill country" of Judah. Comp. Ps. 31. While
     encamped there, in the forest in the district of Ziph, he was
     visited by Jonathan, who spoke to him words of encouragement
     (23:16-18). The two now parted never to meet again. Saul
     continued his pursuit of David, who narrowly escaped from him at
     this time, and fled to the crags and ravines of Engedi, on the
     western shore of the Dead Sea (1 Sam. 23:29). Here Saul, who
     still pursued him with his army, narrowly escaped, through the
     generous forbearance of David, and was greatly affected by what
     David had done for him. He returned home from pursuing him, and
     David betook himself to Maon, where, with his 600 men, he
     maintained himself by contributions gathered from the district.
     Here occurred the incident connected with Nabal and his wife
     Abigail (1 Sam. 25), whom David married after Nabal's death.
     
       Saul again went forth (1 Sam. 26) in pursuit of David, who had
     hid himself "in the hill Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon," in
     the wilderness of Ziph, and was a second time spared through his
     forbearance. He returned home, professing shame and penitence
     for the way in which he had treated David, and predicting his
     elevation to the throne.
     
       Fighting against Israel. Harassed by the necessity of moving
     from place to place through fear of Saul, David once more sought
     refuge among the Philistines (1 Sam. 27). He was welcomed by the
     king, who assigned him Ziklag as his residence. Here David lived
     among his followers for some time as an independent chief
     engaged in frequent war with the Amalekites and other tribes on
     the south of Judah.
     
       Achish summoned David with his men to join his army against
     Saul; but the lords of the Philistines were suspicious of
     David's loyalty, and therefore he was sent back to Ziklag, which
     he found to his dismay may had been pillaged and burnt during
     his brief absence. David pursued after the raiders, the
     Amalekites, and completely routed them. On his return to Ziklag
     tidings reached him of Saul's death (2 Sam. 1). An Amalekite
     brought Saul's crown and bracelet and laid them at his feet.
     David and his men rent their clothes and mourned for Saul, who
     had been defeated in battle near Mount Gilboa. David composed a
     beautiful elegy, the most beautiful of all extant Hebrew odes, a
     "lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son" (2 Sam.
     1:18-27). It bore the title of "The Bow," and was to be taught
     to the children, that the memory of Saul and Jonathan might be
     preserved among them. "Behold, it is written in the book of
     Jasher" (q.v.).
     
       David king over Judah. David and his men now set out for
     Hebron under divine direction (2 Sam. 2:1-4). There they were
     cordially welcomed, and he was at once anointed as king. He was
     now about thirty years of age.
     
       But his title to the throne was not undisputed. Abner took
     Ish-bosheth, Saul's only remaining son, over the Jordan to
     Mahanaim, and there crowned him as king. Then began a civil war
     in Israel. The first encounter between the two opposing armies,
     led on the one side by Abner, and on the other by Joab, took
     place at the pool of Gibeon. It resulted in the defeat of Abner.
     Other encounters, however, between Israel and Judah followed (2
     Sam. 3:1, 5), but still success was on the side of David. For
     the space of seven and a half years David reigned in Hebron.
     Abner now sided with David, and sought to promote his
     advancement; but was treacherously put to death by Joab in
     revenge for his having slain his brother Asahel at Gibeon
     (3:22-39). This was greatly to David's regret. He mourned for
     the death of Abner. Shortly after this Ish-bosheth was also
     treacherously put to death by two Canaanites of Beeroth; and
     there being now no rival, David was anointed king over all
     Israel (4:1-12).
     
       David king over all Israel (2 Sam. 5:1-5; 1 Chr. 11:1-3). The
     elders of Israel now repaired to Hebron and offered allegiance
     to David in name of all the people, among whom the greatest
     enthusiasm prevailed. He was anointed king over all Israel, and
     sought out a new seat of government, more suitable than Hebron,
     as the capital of his empire. At this time there was a Jebusite
     fortress, "the stronghold", on the hill of Zion, called also
     Jebus. This David took from the Jebusites, and made it Israel's
     capital, and established here his residence, and afterwards
     built for himself a palace by the aid of Tyrian tradesmen. The
     Philistines, who had for some time observed a kind of truce, now
     made war against David; but were defeated in battle at a place
     afterwards called, in remembrance of the victory, Baal-perazim.
     Again they invaded the land, and were a second time routed by
     him. He thus delivered Israel from their enemies.
     
       David now resolved to bring up the ark of the covenant to his
     new capital (2 Sam. 6). It was in the house of Abinadab at
     Kirjath-jearim, about 7 miles from Jerusalem, where it had been
     for many years, from the time when the Philistines had sent it
     home (1 Sam. 6; 7). In consequence of the death of Uzzah (for it
     was a divine ordinance that only the Levites should handle the
     ark, Num. 4), who had put forth his hand to steady the ark when
     the cart in which it was being conveyed shook by reason of the
     roughness of the road, David stayed the procession, and conveyed
     the ark into the house of Obed-edom, a Philistine from Gath.
     After three months David brought the ark from the house of
     Obed-edom up to Jerusalem. Comp. Ps. 24. Here it was placed in a
     new tent or tabernacle which David erected for the purpose.
     About seventy years had passed since it had stood in the
     tabernacle at Shiloh. The old tabernacle was now at Gibeah, at
     which Zadok ministered. David now (1 Chr. 16) carefully set in
     order all the ritual of divine worship at Jerusalem, along with
     Abiathar the high priest. A new religious era began. The service
     of praise was for the first time introduced into public worship.
     Zion became henceforth "God's holy hill."
     
       David's wars. David now entered on a series of conquests which
     greatly extended and strengthened his kingdom (2 Sam. 8). In a
     few years the whole territory from the Euphrates to the river of
     Egypt, and from Gaza on the west to Thapsacus on the east, was
     under his sway (2 Sam. 8:3-13; 10).
     
       David's fall. He had now reached the height of his glory. He
     ruled over a vast empire, and his capital was enriched with the
     spoils of many lands. But in the midst of all this success he
     fell, and his character became stained with the sin of adultery
     (2 Sam. 11:2-27). It has been noted as characteristic of the
     Bible that while his military triumphs are recorded in a few
     verses, the sad story of his fall is given in detail, a story
     full of warning, and therefore recorded. This crime, in the
     attempt to conceal it, led to anoter. He was guilty of murder.
     Uriah, whom he had foully wronged, an officer of the Gibborim,
     the corps of heros (23:39), was, by his order, "set in the front
     of the hottest battle" at the siege of Rabbah, in order that he
     might be put to death. Nathan the prophet (2 Sam. 7:1-17;
     12:1-23) was sent by God to bring home his crimes to the
     conscience of the guilty monarch. He became a true penitent. He
     bitterly bewailed his sins before God. The thirty-second and
     fifty-first Psalms reveal the deep struggles of his soul, and
     his spiritual recovery.
     
       Bathsheba became his wife after Uriah's death. Her first-born
     son died, according to the word of the prophet. She gave birth
     to a second son, whom David called Solomon, and who ultimately
     succeeded him on the throne (2 Sam. 12:24, 25).
     
       Peace. After the successful termination of all his wars, David
     formed the idea of building a temple for the ark of God. This he
     was not permitted to carry into execution, because he had been a
     man of war. God, however, sent Nathan to him with a gracious
     message (2 Sam. 7:1-16). On receiving it he went into the
     sanctuary, the tent where the ark was, and sat before the Lord,
     and poured out his heart in words of devout thanksgiving
     (18-29). The building of the temple was reserved for his son
     Solomon, who would be a man of peace (1 Chr. 22:9; 28:3).
     
       A cloudy evening. Hitherto David's carrer had been one of
     great prosperity and success. Now cloudy and dark days came. His
     eldest son Amnon, whose mother was Ahinoam of Jezreel, was
     guilty of a great and shameful crime (2 Sam. 13). This was the
     beginning of the disasters of his later years. After two years
     Absalom terribly avenged the crime against Tamar, and put Amnon
     to death. This brought sore trouble to David's heart. Absalom,
     afraid of the consequences of his guilt, fled to Geshur beyond
     Jordan, where he remained for three years, when he was brought
     back through the intrigue of Joab (2 Sam. 14).
     
       After this there fell upon the land the calamity of three
     years' famine (2 Sam. 21:1-14). This was soon after followed by
     a pestilence, brought upon the land as a punishment for David's
     sinful pride in numbering the people (2 Sam. 24), in which no
     fewer than 70,000 perished in the space of three days.
     
       Rebellion of Absalom. The personal respect for David was sadly
     lowered by the incident of Bathsheba. There was a strong popular
     sentiment against the taking of the census, and the outburst of
     the plague in connection with it deepened the feeling of
     jealously that had begun to manifest itself among some of the
     tribes against David. Absalom, taking full advantage of this
     state of things, gradually gained over the people, and at length
     openly rebelled against his father, and usurped the throne.
     Ahithophel was Absalom's chief counsellor. The revolt began in
     Hebron, the capital of Judah. Absalom was there proclaimed king.
     David was now in imminent danger, and he left Jerusalem (2 Sam.
     15:13-20), and once more became a fugitive. It was a momentous
     day in Israel. The incidents of it are recorded with a fulness
     of detail greater than of any other day in Old Testament
     history. David fled with his followers to Mahanarm, on the east
     of Jordan. An unnatural civil war broke out. After a few weeks
     the rival armies were mustered and organized. They met in
     hostile array at the wood of Ephraim (2 Sam. 18:1-8). Absalom's
     army was defeated, and himself put to death by the hand of Joab
     (9-18). The tidings of the death of his rebellious son filled
     the heart of David with the most poignant grief. He "went up to
     the chamber over the gate, and wept" (33), giving utterance to
     the heart-broken cry, "Would God I had died for thee, O Absalom,
     my son, my son!" Peace was now restored, and David returned to
     Jerusalem and resumed the direction of affairs. An unhappy
     dispute arose between the men of Judah and the men of Israel
     (19:41-43). Sheba, a Benjamite, headed a revolt of the men of
     Israel. He was pursued to Abelbeth-maachah, and was there put to
     death, and so the revolt came to an end.
     
       The end. After the suppression of the rebellion of Absalom and
     that of Sheba, ten comparatively peaceful years of David's life
     passed away. During those years he seems to have been
     principally engaged in accumulating treasures of every kind for
     the great temple at Jerusalem, which it was reserved to his
     successor to build (1 Chr. 22; 28; 29), a house which was to be
     "exceeding magnifical, of fame and of glory throughout all
     countries" (22:5). The exciting and laborious life he had spent,
     and the dangers and trials through which he had passed, had left
     him an enfeebled man, prematurely old. It became apparent that
     his life was now drawing to its close. A new palace conspiracy
     broke out as to who should be his successor. Joab favoured
     Adonijah. The chiefs of his party met at the "Fuller's spring,"
     in the valley of Kidron, to proclaim him king; but Nathan
     hastened on a decision on the part of David in favour of
     Solomon, and so the aim of Adonijah's party failed. Solomon was
     brought to Jerusalem, and was anointed king and seated on his
     father's throne (1 Kings 1:11-53). David's last words are a
     grand utterance, revealing his unfailing faith in God, and his
     joyful confidence in his gracious covenant promises (2 Sam.
     23:1-7).
     
       After a reign of forty years and six months (2 Sam. 5:5; 1
     Chr. 3:4) David died (B.C. 1015) at the age of seventy years,
     "and was buried in the city of David." His tomb is still pointed
     out on Mount Zion.
     
       Both in his prophetical and in his regal character David was a
     type of the Messiah (1 Sam. 16:13). The book of Psalms commonly
     bears the title of the "Psalms of David," from the circumstance
     that he was the largest contributor (about eighty psalms) to the
     collection. (See {PSALMS}.)
     
       "The greatness of David was felt when he was gone. He had
     lived in harmony with both the priesthood and the prophets; a
     sure sign that the spirit of his government had been throughly
     loyal to the higher aims of the theocracy. The nation had not
     been oppressed by him, but had been left in the free enjoyment
     of its ancient liberties. As far as his power went he had
     striven to act justly to all (2 Sam. 8:15). His weak indulgence
     to his sons, and his own great sin besides, had been bitterly
     atoned, and were forgotten at his death in the remembrance of
     his long-tried worth. He had reigned thirty-three years in
     Jerusalem and seven and a half at Hebron (2 Sam. 5:5). Israel at
     his accession had reached the lowest point of national
     depression; its new-born unity rudely dissolved; its territory
     assailed by the Philistines. But he had left it an imperial
     power, with dominions like those of Egypt or Assyria. The
     sceptre of Solomon was already, before his father's death, owned
     from the Mediterranean to the Euphrates, and from the Orontes to
     the Red Sea.", Geikie's Hours etc., iii.
     

From Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary (late 1800's) [hitchcock]:

  David, well-beloved, dear
  

From U.S. Gazetteer (1990) [gazetteer]:

  David, KY
    Zip code(s): 41616