King David: A Biography

Through a close and critical reading of biblical texts, ancient history, and recent archeological discoveries, Steven L. McKenzie concludes that David was indeed a real person. This David was not the humble shepherd who slew Goliath and became king, however, but was a usurper, adulterer, and murderer—a Middle Eastern despot of a familiar type. McKenzie shows that the story of humble beginnings is utterly misleading: "shepherd" is a metaphor for "king," and David came from a wealthy, upper-class background. Similarly, McKenzie reveals how David's ascent to power, traditionally attributed to popularity and divine blessing, in fact resulted from a campaign of terror and assassination. While instituting a full-blown Middle Eastern monarchy, David was an aggressive leader, a devious politician, and a ruthless war chief. Throughout his scandalous reign, important figures who stood in his way died at convenient times, under questionable circumstances. Even his own sons were not spared. David's story, writes McKenzie, "reads like a modern soap opera, with plenty of sex, violence, and struggles for power."

One of the most important and complex characters in the Bible, King David has been the subject of innumerable portraits, both artistic and literary. Michaelangelo's magnificent sculpture of him is perhaps the single best known work of art in the world, and the story of the humble shepherd who slew Goliath and became king has assumed a powerful mythological status. But was David a real person—and if so what kind of person was he?
Through a close and critical reading of biblical texts, ancient history, and recent archeological discoveries, Steven L. McKenzie concludes that David was indeed a real person. This David, however, was no hero but a usurper, adulterer, and murderer—a Middle Eastern despot of a familiar type. McKenzie shows that the story of humble beginnings is utterly misleading: "shepherd" is a metaphor for "king," and David came from a wealthy, upper-class background. Similarly, McKenzie reveals how David's ascent to power, traditionally attributed to popularity and divine blessing, in fact resulted from a campaign of terror and assassination. While instituting a full-blown Middle Eastern monarchy, David was an aggressive leader, a devious politician, and a ruthless war chief. Throughout his scandalous reign, important figures who stood in his way died at convenient times, under questionable circumstances. Even his own sons were not spared. David's story, writes McKenzie, "reads like a modern soap opera, with plenty of sex, violence, and struggles for power."
Carefully researched and vividly written, King David: An Unauthorized Biography offers a provocative reappraisal of the life of one of the Bible's most compelling figures.

Library Journal

Scholarship relating to the Bible tends to gravitate toward two extremes: the apologetic and devotional camp finesses difficulties and sees pure heroes and villains, while the skeptical and secular camp takes the Bible to be a purely human creation untainted by divine intervention. McKenzie (Hebrew Bible, Rhodes Coll.; The Hebrew Bible Today), who clearly belongs in the latter camp, laments that there are few "real" biographies of David. A careful and accomplished scholar, he begins solidly with the recognition that the Deuteronomist's goal was not to recount what happened but to use what happened to instruct the reader. Nevertheless, McKenzie asserts that there is much of historical value in the text and sets forth three guidelines for the analysis of data. As a result, a real King David, who ruled over a real kingdom, emerges as a typical Eastern monarch of his time, albeit one of exceptional ability, who connived, murdered, pillaged, betrayed, and ruthlessly crushed all opposition. This work ought to get enough disdain from both extremes to make it very profitable reading for the informed and thoughtful student. Recommended for public and academic libraries.--Eugene O. Bowser, Univ. of Northern Colorado, Greeley Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.\

Steven L. McKenzie as an Associate Professor of Hebrew Bible at Rhodes College. His other books include The Hebrew Bible Today and All Gods Children: A Biblical Critique of Racism. He lives in Memphis.