In the footsteps of David

Generally, the further back in time the harder it is to prove that something has happened. We regularly report in Evangelicals Now on archaeological discoveries that confirm the historical reliability of the Bible. But there is the problem that the further back we go, the less material evidence we have. It’s inevitable. Corrosion, erosion, weathering and vandalism all play a part in eradicating the past.

What evidence is there for the period of ancient Israel’s monarchies: for Saul, David and Solomon? In particular, David became the great warrior, musician, poet and king who unifies the tribes of Israel and establishes Jerusalem as its capital. Can we prove the existence and significance of David in antiquity?

Myth and mystery

King David seems an obvious candidate for the realms of myth and legend. Scholar Thomas L. Thompson wrote: “David is no more a historical figure than King Arthur.” Thompson, in his predictably named The Mythic Past, followed a liberal scholarly consensus that the stories about King David reflect much later storytelling about Israel’s past with fictional tales to explain their origins. Did King Arthur exist? While there may have been a figure of the distant past who inspired the later mediaeval legends, the stories themselves are pure invention. Could the same be said of David?