Summarized

In this presentation, the speaker delves into the historical and biblical accounts of King David, aiming to discern the line between myth and history. The speaker begins by highlighting David's prominent presence in popular culture through art and the enduring "David and Goliath" archetype, even as biblical literacy declines.

The presentation then shifts to David's biblical narrative, tracing his journey from a shepherd boy to the king of Jerusalem, the first Israelite to establish Jerusalem as his capital, and a model for kingship. David is portrayed as unifying the twelve tribes of Israel and conquering neighboring lands to establish an empire. The speaker also recounts other famous biblical stories about David, including his affair with Bathsheba, the murder of Uriah the Hittite, and the subsequent courtly intrigues within his family. David is also known as the author of many Psalms and is remembered as a poet and musician.

The speaker then critically examines the historicity of David, noting that modern archaeology challenges the idea of a unified kingdom of Israel and Judah under Saul, David, and Solomon as a myth. Archaeological evidence suggests that Jerusalem was a small village during David and Solomon's supposed reign, and significant development occurred much later, after the fall of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Furthermore, extra-biblical historical records emphasize the importance of the Northern Kingdom of Israel (Omride dynasty) over Judah, with no mention of a united kingdom or David's empire.

The presentation also discusses the Deuteronomistic History (books of Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings), which forms the core of the biblical narrative about David. The speaker suggests that these texts were likely composed much later, during the time of King Josiah (7th century BCE), and retrospectively recast Israel's history to promote Yahweh-only worship and Jerusalem as the central religious site. This reinterpretation explains the "embarrassing" narratives about David, as they may reflect contemporary events and criticisms of later kings like Manasseh.

Finally, the speaker addresses the question of David's historicity, concluding that it's likely only the name "House of David" for the kings of Judah was known at the time the biblical stories were composed. The famous story of David and Goliath is also questioned, as another biblical tradition attributes Goliath's death to a different hero. The speaker concludes by emphasizing that the biblical narratives are rich literary works but not historically accurate accounts, reflecting the beliefs and concerns of their later authors rather than a precise historical record.