10 Vital Facts About King David

King David was a shepherd boy who became Israel’s second and most important king. He’s the most frequently mentioned personality in the Old Testament, and the second most frequently mentioned person in the entire Bible (only the Lord Jesus Christ is mentioned more).

He’s a main character in the Old Testament books: 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Chronicles, and 2 Chronicles. He’s also mentioned in several other books, and nearly half of the Psalms are attributed to him.

Today, David is most famous for being the teenager who defeated a giant with a slingshot. In fact, the famous narrative of “David and Goliath” is a prolific piece in literature, art, and culture.

Here are some things we know about King David:

1. David was from the tribe of Judah (1 Chronicles 5:2).
2. David was Ruth’s and Boaz’s great grandson (Ruth 4:13-22; 1 Chronicles 2:12-15).
3. David was the youngest of eight sons (1 Chronicles 2:13–14, 1 Samuel 16:10–11; 17:12-14).
4. David was from Bethlehem (Luke 2:4).
5. David was anointed King while Saul was on the throne (1 Samuel 16:13).
6. David was a shepherd (1 Samuel 16:11).
7. David was a musician (1 Samuel 10:1–6; 1 Samuel 16:14).
8. David was a great warrior (1 Samuel 18:5) and giant slayer (1 Samuel 17).
9. David was a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14). David is the only person referred to this way in the Bible.
10. David wrote about half the Book of Psalms.

Throughout the Old Testament narrative, we see David write several psalms to commemorate important moments, many of which were prophecies inspired of the Holy Spirit about the Lord Jesus Christ.