Page 97 - New English Book L

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Chapter VII

KING DAVID (pbuh) CALLS HIM: “MY LORD”

The history of David (pbuh) , his exploits and
prophetical writings, are found in two books of the
Old Testament Samuel and the Psalms. He was the
youngest son of Yishai (Jessie) (pbuh) from the tribe of
Judah. While still a young shepherd, he had killed a
bear and torn into halves a lion. The valiant young
man swung a small stone right through the forehead of
Goliath, an armed Philistine champion and saved the
army of Israel. The highest reward for a successful feat
displaying valour was the hand of Michal; a daughter
of King Saul. David (pbuh) played on harp and flute, and
was a good singer. His flight from his jealous father-in-
law, his adventures and exploits as a bandit, are well
known. On the death of Saul, David (pbuh) was invited
by the people to assume the reins of the kingdom, for
which he had long before been anointed by the Prophet
Samuel. He reigned for some seven years at Hebron.
He took Jerusalem from the Jebusites and made it the
capital of his kingdom. Its two hills, or mounts, were
named “Moriah” and “Sion.” Both these words have the
same signification and import as the famous “Marwa”
and “Sapha” at Makkah, which words respectively
mean “the place of the vision of the Lord,” and “the
rock” or “stone. “David’s wars, his very grave family
troubles, his sin against the faithful soldier, Uriah, and
his wife, Bathsheba, was not left with impunity. He
reigned forty years; his life was marked with wars and
family grief. There are some contradictory accounts
about him, which are evidently to be ascribed to the
two opposite sources.