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4. David

Image by Ben White

The stories of David are recounted in several books of the Bible, including 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, and 1 Chronicles. Here are some key events:


  • David Anointed by Samuel: Samuel anoints David as king in 1 Samuel 16:1-13.

  • David and Goliath: The story of David's victory over Goliath is found in 1 Samuel 17:1-58.

  • David and Jonathan: The close friendship between David and Jonathan is described in 1 Samuel 18:1-4 and 20:1-42.

  • David the King: David's reign as king is detailed in 2 Samuel 5:1-5.

  • David and the Ark of the Covenant: David's retrieval of the Ark of the Covenant is recounted in 2 Samuel 6:1-23.

  • David and Abigail: The narrative of David and Abigail is found in 1 Samuel 25:1-44.

  • David, Nathan, and Bathsheba: Nathan confronts David about his sin with Bathsheba in 2 Samuel 12:1-14.

  • David and Mephibosheth: David's kindness to Mephibosheth is described in 2 Samuel 9:1-13.

  • David and Absalom: The rebellion of Absalom against David is detailed in 2 Samuel 15:1-37.

Image by Mick Haupt

What is the Ark of the Covenant? 

In Judaism and Christianity, the Ark of the Covenant is a special, ornate chest made of gold that held the two stone tablets with the Ten Commandments given to Moses. The Levites, a tribe of Israel, carried the Ark during the time when the Israelites wandered in the wilderness. Later, King David was able to bring the Ark back to Jerusalem. His son placed it in the most sacred part of the temple. However, it is said to have been captured by the Babylonians and hasn't been found since... although there's a famous movie about it starring Harrison Ford.


What is the Talmud? 

The Talmud contains lots of important discussions and teachings about Jewish law and traditions. It's made up of two main parts: 

  • the Mishnah, which is a written record of ancient Jewish teachings, and 

  • the Gemara, which is a commentary that explains and discusses the Mishnah. 

Orthodox Jews consider the Talmud very important and use it to understand their religious beliefs and practices.

KID EXPLANATION

David was a young shepherd boy chosen by God to be king, and he did some amazing things! He bravely defeated a giant named Goliath with just a sling and a stone. He had a best friend named Jonathan who helped him, and later, David became a great king. He brought back a special box called the Ark of the Covenant to his people and showed kindness to a boy named Mephibosheth who had trouble walking. But David also made mistakes, like when he did something wrong with a lady named Bathsheba, and his friend Nathan helped him see his error. David's own son, Absalom, even tried to take over as king, but David forgave him. Through it all, David learned that being a good leader means being brave, kind, and willing to admit when you're wrong.

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