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Goliath, who stood nearly 10 feet tall, told Israelite army to send a champion to fight him. David, armed with only a sling and five stones, volunteered. Confident that he upheld God’s honor, David shot his first stone into Goliath’s forehead, killing the giant.
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He later became a member of King Saul's court, where he formed a close friendship with Saul's son Jonathan.
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David was born in Bethlehem. His father was a shepherd named Jesse. David was the youngest of eight brothers and spent his early years tending his father's sheep.
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David's courage and skill in battle quickly made him a hero among the people of Israel.
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Saul became extremely jealous of David and tried to kill him. David fled to the area of Israel where the tribe of Judah lived.
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There he gathered an army of followers. After Saul was killed in battle against the Philistines, David became king of Judah. David ruled Judah for 71/2 years and then was named king of all Israel.
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During his reign, David established Israel as a major power in western Asia. David also greatly expanded Israel's territory through a series of wars against the Ammonites, Moabites, and other neighboring peoples.
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His sons plotted and struggled among themselves to determine who would succeed him. David's son Absalom rebelled against him and forced him to flee Jerusalem. David's troops eventually killed Absalom and regained control of the kingdom.
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David had committed adultery with a beautiful woman named Bathsheba. David also had Bathsheba's husband killed in battle so he could marry her. David died about 965 B.C. His son Solomon then became king.
