How King David was remembered

2024 Author: Seth Attwood | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 15:55

The son is responsible for the father, and how.

Talking recently with my son, I once again thought that you will stay in the future only in the form in which your own son will present you. That is, what your son tells about you will be true.

For example, the legendary Jewish king David (the one who threw a stone on Goliath's forehead) remained in the eyes of his descendants such an outstanding figure and handsome only thanks to his son Solomon.

And David himself, I must say, was still that pepper: dishonest, bloodthirsty and vile even by the standards of that hard-hitting biblical time.

After the victory over the giant Goliath, by the way, a Philistine, David betrayed his benefactor, the Jewish king Saul and fled to the enemies of the Jews - the Philistines. Thanks to their military support, he conquered first Judea, and then Israel itself, mowing with a bloody scythe a huge number of husbands, women and children of God's chosen people, including King Saul and his son, his close friend and heir to the kingdom of Israel - Jonathan.

Having become a king in the "puppet of the Philistines" format, he naturally threw his new benefactors as well, which he was later very proud of.

The love story with Solomon's mother, Bathsheba, also perfectly characterizes David. Seeing by chance this beautiful, but married woman, David gave the command to drag her to his bed, and despite the fact that her husband Uriah was one of his best soldiers and fought bravely at that time in the war, in front of the amazed and indignant people of Israel started to indulge in debauchery with her.

In order to prevent Uriah from getting in the way, David in plain text wrote to his commander a request to retreat during the battle and leave Uriah surrounded by enemies. At his command, everything happened, Uriah died. The people of Israel are completely nuts from such meanness.

There are many more unsightly things to tell about King David, but that is not the point.

It was his son Solomon who made David such an outstanding figure, handsome and successful, who raised the shield of David in the form of a six-pointed star (Mogendovid) to the rank of an eternal symbol of the Jewish state, glorified the "Song of David's Songs", and also built the Jerusalem Temple, in which, in addition to various religious purposes, another important goal was pursued - the glorification of the father. The temple kept David's weapons - arrows and a shield.

Solomon, as we know from a variety of sources, is considered the model of the ruler. And also a specialist in wisdom and justice. But the pinnacle of his wisdom was, of course, primarily the exaltation of his dad, which was certainly appreciated by his contemporaries, fathers of growing sons.

Here's a story about proper parenting. I wrote it down so as not to forget.

Read also: All of the Torah-I of great Israel is a lie!

Today we will read the “Second Book of Kingdoms” and learn about how the “great” David ascended the throne and how he ruled. (Fragment of the book "Biblical Pictures")

“The Second Book of Kingdoms” continues to acquaint us with the absolutely “sacred” facts of the biography of the second Jewish king - the former shepherd David, with his, no less “sacred” methods of ascending the throne and reigning.

The previous book ended with the fact that David, along with his gang, were in political emigration to the land of the Philistines. And while they were going about their business - robbery, King Saul fought.

As a result of the war, King Saul and his three sons, including David's love Jonathan, died in battle with the Philistines. David and his henchmen, on this occasion, tore their clothes, wept and fasted, right up to the evening.

The same one who brought the fatal news, along with the royal crown and bracelet, and boasted that he had killed Saul himself, David ordered to send after the lost king.

This is not the first time David has shown the value of the life of God's anointed one. I wonder where a simple shepherd has such views. Did you care about your future otherwise?

The country split into two camps - Judea and Israel. David ruled Judea, with the capital in Hebron, for 7 years. Israel was formally ruled, out of nowhere, by the fourth son of Saul - Ishbosheth, enthroned by the commander of the late king - Abner.

Abner and David were constantly at odds with each other. In one of the battles, Abner, unwillingly, killed Asael, one of the three brothers who devotedly served David when he was the chieftain of the gang. The other two, Joab and Abisha, became blood enemies of the Israelite military leader.

In Israel, in fact, Abner was the ruler. Feeling himself a sovereign master, he took for himself one of the concubines of the deceased Saul. This was probably out of the ordinary, since even the fearful Ishbosheth, overcoming his fear, expressed his displeasure with him in a very harsh form.

The insulted Abner vowed that he would take the kingdom from the house of Saul and give it to David. Fulfilling the threat, he sent ambassadors to David with a proposal for peace. And he did not forget about himself - he asked for a place, almost co-ruler …

David agreed, but on one condition - princess Michal, his first wife, would be returned to him. Ishbosheth had to take his sister away from her legal husband and send her to the extortionist.

Michal did not really need David, however, in the struggle for power, David used everyone and everything.

And Abner, having enlisted the support of the Israeli elders, came with a delegation to David. The deal was concluded, feasted on and Abner departed to deal with Ishbosheth. However, as you understand, he did not go far. Joab caught up with him and stabbed him to death, avenging his brother's death.

Hearing about this, David immediately declared himself innocent of the blood of Abner and heaped a bunch of curses on Joab's head.

As usual, they tore up their clothes, voted them, and also fasted until evening. And how was the murderer of the peaceful ambassador punished? But in no way. Joab remained at the head of David's army.

In this case, David's innocence is questionable. It is highly doubtful that the elimination of the first persons of a hostile state took place, at least without approval, or even on the direct order of the tsar.

In other words, David simply dealt with Abner, who was stuffing himself into his companions, with the hands of Joab, and then, still hypocritically wept over his coffin.

However, the people, for whom this whole performance with a mourning fast was calculated, simply adored such a noble and pious king. Deceit and hypocrisy remained behind the scenes.

On the way to the throne of the united kingdom stood alone Ishbosheth. Left alone, without a military leader, he was completely defenseless. He was dealt with by two leaders of his own army. And the head, hoping for a reward, was brought to David.

However, they miscalculated. For the fact that these two killed “an innocent man in his house, on his bed,” they were quartered and hanged. David's “noble” words and actions could be taken at face value, if the death of the lawful king Ishbosheth was not so beneficial to him.

The scene of the murder of King Ishbosheth is also quite remarkable. They killed him in a dream, during a siesta, that is, in broad daylight. The king had a gatekeeper from the guard who cleaned the wheat. It turns out that the tsar slept not in the tsar's mansion, but in some kind of barn, where the murderers entered, supposedly to take wheat.

They also killed the gatekeeper and fled, and then returned and cut off the king's head. Later, with a severed head, they went to David. And no one detained them. And why is it, you never know who to the king in the barn in broad daylight.

As a result, David began to rule the united state. He decided to move the capital to Jerusalem. It remains only to expel from it its native inhabitants - the Jebusites, who have lived there from time immemorial.

Jerusalem was taken, and for the mockery of the Jebusites over their army, they say, our weak lame and blind will chase you, David ordered to kill all the lame and blind. Offended hefty.

"Therefore, it is said: the blind and the lame will not enter the house of the Lord." (2 Kings 5: 8) Very merciful, and also testifies to love for one's neighbor.

The Philistines fought periodically with David. He defeated them in several battles, consulting, naturally, with Jehovah before each battle, and he prompted, from the rear, or from the front, to enter the enemy.

David decided to transport the ark with Jehovah sitting on it to the capital. However, he was not sure how he would react, especially since, during the move, one of the sons of the high priests died. Jehovah did not like that the boy touched the ark, holding it so that it would not fall.

Therefore, the cautious David decided to play it safe and expose the other to the possible wrath of God. He left the ark with a certain Aveddar. After three months, nothing happened to that, moreover, "The Lord blessed the house of Aveddar."

The ark was brought to Jerusalem. On this occasion, unprecedented celebrations were thrown. And the king himself “rode and danced before the Lord” that Michola even reprimanded the king - it is not appropriate for the king to gallop naked among the slaves and slaves.

However, “taken out of the flock of sheep” was ready to dance before the Lord and generally do whatever he wanted because Jehovah had appointed him “the leader of Israel”. "I am humbled, I rise."

David subdued the Philistines and the Moabites. Most of these peoples were exterminated. The number of people to be killed was measured with ropes.

“And he smote the Moabites, and measured them with a line, laying them on the ground; and he measured two ropes for killing, and one rope for keeping alive. (2 Samuel 8: 2).

In addition, David subdued Syria and Idumea and made them pay tribute. War booty flocked to Jerusalem: gold, silver, copper. He also fought with the Ammonites. And he dealt with them very cruelly.

“And the people that were in him, he brought them out and put them under the saws, under the iron threshers, under the iron axes, and threw them into the kilns. So he did with all the cities of the Ammonites. (2 Kings 12:31).

But the Ammonites and Moabites, as the descendants of Lot, Abraham's nephew, were also Semites, so to speak, brothers, but they worshiped only other gods.

It is interesting that Joab invited Rabba to take the city of Ammon. He sent a messenger to David asking him to hurry before the city fell. Because, in this case, all the glory will go not to the king, but to him, Joab. (See 2 Kings 12: 27-28)

And the king hastened, and at the head of the army entered the city. This is how David accomplished "great feats."

By the way, about attributing great deeds to the king. A certain Elnahan, the son of Jagare-Orgim of Bethlehem, killed Goliath Gefyan, "whose spear shaft was like a beam of weavers." (See 2 Kings 21:19). David, at the dawn of his career, also fought with a certain Goliath from Gath, whose spear shaft was also like a beam of weavers. (See 1 Samuel 17: 4-7).

Interesting, right? Surely somewhere the Bible writers lied? Where?

David cruelly dealt not only with external, but also with internal enemies. Almost the entire family of Saul, with the exception of the lame son Jonathan, and all his associates were destroyed.

The frail Mephibosheth did not pose any danger to David, so it was generously decided to keep him alive. It seems like in memory of the oath that David once made to his beloved friend Jonathan.

Saul's descendant received land, slaves and a place at the king's table, which, at the same time, allowed David to keep him under constant supervision.

Dealing with the consolidation of the throne and the expansion of borders, David, however, did not forget about his personal life.

Once, walking along the roof of the royal house, he saw a woman bathing (!?). He liked her and sent his servants to take her.

Everything would be fine, but she was the wife of Uriah the Hittite - a devoted and responsible military man who fought alongside Jobab. While the husband risked his life for the king, the king amused himself with his wife. And I had some more fun. Bathsheba became pregnant.

A scandal was brewing. The king, of course, in theory, could sleep with whoever he pleases - with Bathsheba and Uriah, and at the same time.

However, first, according to the Mosaic Law, lovers must be put to death. Secondly, the military served as the mainstay of his power, and it was not known how they would react to the humiliation of one of them, even by the king.

David makes a desperate attempt to save the situation - he did not want to spoil his carefully created image, and jokes with the military are bad.

He calls Uriah, allegedly to familiarize himself with the situation at the front, gives him a drink and hopes that he will immediately run home to his wife and her pregnancy will be legal. But it was not there.

The devoted soldier, you see, was uncomfortable to rest on the featherbeds when his comrades-in-arms were in the field. David's plan fell through.

Then he sends Uriah with a letter to Jobab, where he orders to put the horned husband in the most dangerous area. Uriah dies.

At the end of the mourning, David took Bathsheba into his harem. The child who was born died on the 7th day, allegedly for a crime committed by David. However, soon David comforted Bathsheba again, and she bore him a son - Solomon.

The sons of David, seeing a worthy role model in front of them, acted accordingly. The eldest Amnon raped his sister Tamar (David's daughter from another wife), and then he hated her. And there was nothing for him.

However, Absalom, Tamar's brother, harbored a grudge and looked for an opportunity to settle accounts with the rapist. Two years later, he threw a sheep-shearing party, to which he invited all his brothers. During the feast, Absalom's servants killed Amnon.

Absalom, fleeing David's wrath, fled. Three years later, the king forgave him, he returned and began to weave intrigues against his father (worthy son!).

With several henchmen, Absalom entered Hebron and proclaimed himself king. David suddenly became afraid of something and rushed out of Jerusalem on the rebar, leaving his harem “for keeping the house,” but simply, to the mercy of fate.

Absalom entered the capital. However, he made a few mistakes and succumbed to the influence of Elder Husiyah, who pretended to betray David. But in fact, he was left to them to find out the plans of the conspirators and upset them.

Ultimately, the conspiracy was suppressed, and Absalom was killed by Joab.

After the death of Absalom, Jerusalem continued to remain in the hands of the conspirators, led by Amessai, the new commander-in-chief. However, this time, David did not blunder. He sent a messenger to Amesai with a dispatch, in which he swore that he would make him commander-in-chief instead of Joab. (2 Kings 19:13) And Amessai took a peck.

The first thing David did when he returned to the capital was to punish his wives and concubines, who did not keep his house and allowed Absalom to enter them. He put them under lock and key and, until their death, bypassed them with his attention.

And Joab, as usual, dealt with Amesa - he stabbed him. A faithful companion, without words, he understood the wishes of the king.

Then there was an attack - hunger for 3 years. Jehovah whispered to David that all evil comes from the bloodthirsty house of Saul, who wanted to somehow (only wanted!) To destroy the Gibeonites.

The Gibeonites are those Ammoreites who, not wanting to be cut out by the army of Joshua, tricked him into swearing that he would leave them alive.

Saul, of course, did not have to follow this oath. However, nowhere in the Bible is Saul mentioning any intentions for this people.

So, supposedly now, 40 years after the reign of Saul, they came to David and began to demand from him the death of the surviving descendants of Saul for some of his alleged sins before them.

David urgently granted their request - 7 people of Saul's descendants were hanged.

The situation is quite fantastic. Why did the Jewish king jump at a jump to fulfill the wishes of some Amorites, who were not even Semites?

It's just that David, following his long-standing tradition, used (or invented) any excuse to remove enemies. This is how he "performed judgment and righteousness."

Now we also have an idea of what “truth” David was creating and what we can learn from him …