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The personality of David highlights Jewish history with an aura of glory that has not dimmed through the ages. This king of biblical days is not only the hero of a great past; he is also a figure associated with the future. According to tradition, it is from the house of David that the messiah is to come.(1)
This messianic association with David's name can be understood as a longing for his return. The period of his rule has been idealized as the time when a heroic figure sat upon the throne of Israel. David provided security for his people by making the Hebrew nation strong, defeating its enemies, extending its boundaries, and molding the children of Israel, so recently a group of loosely related semi-nomadic tribes, into a monarchy that had a respected place among the nations. It is not surprising that he became the “glorious father” of Jewish tradition, the symbol of strength and power, who ruled his people with righteousness and justice.
The character of David presents some interesting contrasts and some intriguing problems. A great king and a fearless warrior, David was at the same time a weak, indulgent father, who almost lost his throne to his own son. Strong and often ruthless in battle, David was also capable of gentle and tender emotions and is beloved in Jewish legend as the “sweet singer of Zion.” He had the capacity to evoke strong feelings in many people, both men and women. He