Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 05.djvu/933

DAVID. 809 DAVID. x.-xxix. Of these two sources the first alone can lay claim to historical value. The second, in so far as it is not based ou the other (sec t'liROXI- CLES), must be used with great caution, and its statements are as a general thing to bo discarded as unhistorical or untrustworthy; while tlic pic- ture that it gives of the King, difl'ering consider- ably from that found in the books of Samuel, is an idealized David, such as lie had become by the third century B.C. in the mind of a pious Jew. Coming to the narrative in Samuel and Kin ;s, great difficulties confront the critic, due largely to the composite character of the historical docu- ments and in part to the corrupt state of the text. The existence of 'doublets.' i.e. two accounts of the same event, in the story of David is believed suf- ficient to show that in the Book of Samuel dif- ferent documents have been pieced together. Thus we have two accounts of David's introduc- tion to Saul (I. Sam. xvi. 10-2.'3 and xvii. 1- xviii. 5); of the slaying of Goliath (I. Sam. xvii. 1-xviii. 5 and II. Sam. xxi. 19) : of SauFs throwing a spear at David (I. Sam. xviii. 10-11 and xix. 9-10) ; and more of the same sort. All these doublets, however, are limited to the First Book of Samuel, and from the ninth chapter of the Second Book of Samuel to the end of the twentietli chapter we have a continuous narra- tive, which is lirought to a close in the first two chapters of I. Kings. Chapters xxi. to xxiv. of the Second Book of Samuel again represent an addi- tion of a composite character like the first eight chapters of the First Book of Samuel, and in ad- dition to these we have a number of editorial additions and interpolations, of which the two principal ones are II. Sam. viii. 1-15 and I. kings ii. 1-12. Of these authorities, the most authentic, according to the critical view, is the long, continuous narrative of the Second Book of Samuel. But even the author of this, while he had trustworthy documents at his disposal, was not a contemporary of David. The date of the other sections is made to vary from a period as old as II. Sam. ix.-xx. down to the days of Josiah (B.C. 639-608). But in even the oldest there is already manifest a tendency to idealize David, which, weak at first, becomes more pronounced as the popular hero recedes into the liaekground of historj' and jiecomes a favorite subject for ro- mance, legend, poetical embellishment, and event- ually the type of the ideal king and religious poet. In consequence, it is not easy to pick out the genuinely historical incidents in David's career and piece them together into a continuous narrative. Thus the story of David's encounter with the giant Goliath is believed to be a piece of romance (I. Sam. xvii.-xviii.) and the genuine account of Goliath's death to be found in II. Sam. xxi. 19, where we learn that Elhanan was the slayer. Similarly, the stories of David and Jonathan's friendship are romantic, though based on historical facts. On the other hand, there is no i-eason to question that he acquired musical skill, which, together with his personal charm and the indications that he gave of becom- ing valorous in war, attracted Saul to him and led to his entering into close relations with the ■melancholy' King. He becomes Saul's armor- bearer, and among the personal services that he renders is to be reckoned his soothing the King by achievem9nts in minstrelsy. His success in the wars against the Philistines increases his popularity with King and people, and he becomes the son-in-law of the King by marrying Michal. Soon after, liowcvcr, a momentous cliange en- sues. Saul, sul)ject lo fits of brooding, becomes jealous of David's popularity and entertains sus- idcion of the latter's fidelity. The story of his actually hurling a javelin at David may be a romantic touch, but it is certain that Saul's jealousy eventually led to David's banishment from the Court. David now becomes a freebooter and gathers a retinue of brave but reckless war- riors al)out liim. With them lie leads the life of a Bedouin chief, attacking defenseless landowners and liiring his services in attacks upon Amalek- ites, Philistines, and others. The exact course of his wanderings during this period can no longer be followed. After first trying his fortunes at Xob, he is obliged to seek refuge from Saul at Adullam. We find him next in the wild and des- ert country south of .Judea, and he jiasses at times as far east as the Dead Sea, but after tak- ing up his abode for a time at Kngedi. Saul's pursuit drives him to Gath, where ho ofTers liis services to Aehish, King of the Philistines, in an expedition against Amalekites, Gezrites, and other desert tribes. In reward for his services he obtains the town of Ziklag as a possession. Aehish prepares an attack upon the Israelites and calls upon David to join him. The latter consents, but yielding to the protests of his chief men, who feared treachery on David's part, Acliish compels David to depart. Upon readiing Ziklag he finds that the Amalekites had raided the town during his absence. In his pursuit he surprises the Amalekites and routs them. At this moment the tidings reach David of the death of Saul and his three eldest sons at Gilboa in an encounter with the Philistines. The opportunity had now come for David's return to his native country. He secures the favor of the inhabitants of ?Iebron and the surrounding district and is anointed King in Hebron, while still retaining Ziklag. He makes an attempt at first to obtain control of the northern section, which passes into the hands of Ishbaal, Saul's youngest son, who, however, was entirely in the hands of Abner, the powerful general. Ishbaal foolishly alienates Abner's interest by reproaching liim for taking one of Saul's concubines to himself, an act which may have indicated Abner's intention to seize the throne for himself. Abner enters into secret communication with David, but during a visit to him is murdered by .Joab. the general of David. Soon afterwards Ishbaal is murdered, and David. being recognized as the natural leader of .all Israel, is solemnly anointed King of the whole people at Hebron by an assembly of tlio elders of the tribes. He is said to have been thirty- seven years old at this time. Seven years, ac- cording to the bililieal account, had passed since the death of Saul. The accounts of David's reign are quite fragmentary except for occur- rences in his immediate family. We learn of successive wars against ^foabitcs, .Ammonites, Edomites. and Philistines, and while the accounts of his exploits are port rayed perhaps in ton vivid colors, there is no doubt that he succeeded in firmly establishing the independence of Israel and in laying the foundations for future exten- sions. Among other things, he captures .Jehus, which becomes known henceforth under its old name, Jerusalem, makes it the capital of the country, and symbolizes this by removing the