David

(da'vid.) [Heb., beloved. A prophet of Israel, and the youngest son of Je e of Bethlehem, of the tribe of Judah. While attending his father's flocks, he was chosen by the prophet Samuel at the age of 15 to become the succe or of Saul, the reigning king of Israel. The latter, after D. had signalized himself by the slaying of Goliath, a gigantic Philistine,drew upon his head the jealousy and hatred of Saul, who, after unsucce ful attempts to take away his life, succeeded in compelling D. to fly into the wilderne , where he remained till the death of his persecutor placed him on the throne. His acce ion was, however, opposed by all the tribes save Judah, that to which he himself belonged, and a civil war ensued, occasioned by the pretensions of Ishbosheth, a younger son of the late king. After the death of the latter (1055), peace was restored, and D. remained in uninterrupted po e ion of the throne for a period of 30 years. His reign was attended with great military glory; he subdued the Jebusites, Philistines, and other hostile tribes; but it was on the other hand tarnished by crimes committed by David out of the lusts of the flesh. His younger son Absalom perished in rebellion against his father, who bewailed his untimely end with sorrow. Towards the close of his life, D. abdicated to make way for his son Solomon, dying eventually in 1015 B. c. D. composed the greater number of the Psalms which are known by his name-tender and pathetic utterances of faith and devotion, unsurDavid pa ed of I., their king kind. of Scotland, s. his brother Alexander I., 1124, and D. 1153.-D. II., known as DAVID BRUCE, after the death of his father the great king, Robert Bruce, and the a umption of the crown by Edward Baliol, 1332, retired to France, but recovered his throne ten years afterward. In 1346 he invaded England, was defeated, and incarcerated a prisoner in the Tower of London till 1357. D. 1371. [s. 266]