Summary

According to the Hebrew Bible, David rose from humble beginnings as a sheepherder in the hills of Bethlehem to become the ruler of the ancient kingdom of Israel and the founder of an empire that included not only the modern state of Israel, but parts of Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan as well. Courageous and conniving, pious and vengeful, warrior, poet, fugitive, and king, David is not only one of the most complex and fascinating figures in Hebrew scripture but also one of the ancient world’s best-known leaders. King David uses the ample writings by and about the revered king of Israel to explore his historical significance in world history and how his time in power contributed to modern-day situations in the Middle East.

Specifications

Full-color and black-and-white photographs and illustrations. Maps. Chronology. Further reading. Index.

About the Author(s)

Louise Chipley Slavicek received her master’s degree in history from the University of Connecticut. She is the author of more than a dozen books for young people, including Women of the American Revolution, Israel, and The Great Wall of China. She lives in Ohio.

Introduction by Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr., Albert Schweitzer Professor of the Humanities, City University of New York; winner of the Pulitzer Prize for History and for Biography