Where was King David born?

Native of Beth-lehem. 1 Sam. 16:1,18; 1 Sam. 17:58; 2 Sam. 21:19.

City of Judah, also called BETH-LEHEM-JUDAH (Judges 17:7-9). It is first mentioned in connection with the death and burial of Rachel. Gen. 35:19. The history of Ruth is also connected with Beth-lehem. Ruth 1:1-22; Ruth 2:4. David was anointed in the house of Jesse the Bethlehemite, so that apparently it was the place of David's birth, 1 Sam. 16:4; 1 Sam. 17:12, 15; and this accounts for its being called in Luke 2:11 the 'city of David.' It was also the birth-place of Jesus: though it was "little among the thousands of Judah," it the better agreed with His humiliation. Beth-lehem, signifying 'house of bread,' is a very appropriate name for a place whence the Saviour should proceed as a man — He who was the living bread that came down from heaven.

Bethlehem was important in the life of David, the son of Jesse. His great-grandfather Boaz, his grandfather Obed, his father Jesse and he were all born there (Ruth 2: 4, 11; Ruth 4: 17; 1 Sam. 16: 1; 20: 6). It was there that Samuel the prophet and judge of Israel anointed him to be king in the place of the unfaithful and rejected king Saul (1 Sam. 16: 1-13). That was high honour for David. It was in his own town that David looked after his father's sheep and did his duties faithfully (1 Sam. 17: 15, 34-35). This remarkable blend of royal dignity and lowly service in David was later seen in divine perfection in the Son of God. The incident involving David's three mighty men enacted at Bethlehem expressed the devotion they had towards him. When David expressed a desire to have a drink of water from the well in Bethlehem, his men broke through the ranks of the enemies, the Philistines, and brought the water to their leader and king. David, greatly touched by their courage and devotion, would not drink the precious water, but poured it out to Jehovah as a drink offering. A dangerous mission successfully accomplished was finalised by an offering to Jehovah (1 Chr. 11: 15-19).

Bethlehem was important in the life of David, the son of Jesse. His great-grandfather Boaz, his grandfather Obed, his father Jesse and he were all born there (Ruth 2:4, 11; Ruth 4:17; 1 Sam. 16:1; 20:6). It was there that Samuel the prophet and judge of Israel anointed him to be king in the place of the unfaithful and rejected king Saul (1 Sam. 16:1-13). That was high honour for David. It was in his own town that David looked after his father's sheep and did his duties faithfully (1 Sam. 17:15, 34-35). This remarkable blend of royal dignity and lowly service in David was later seen in divine perfection in the Son of God. The incident involving David's three mighty men enacted at Bethlehem expressed the devotion they had towards him. When David expressed a desire to have a drink of water from the well in Bethlehem, his men broke through the ranks of the enemies, the Philistines, and brought the water to their leader and king. David, greatly touched by their courage and devotion, would not drink the precious water, but poured it out to Jehovah as a drink offering. A dangerous mission successfully accomplished was finalised by an offering to Jehovah (1 Chr. 11:15-19).

The little city of Bethlehem is often called the “City of David,” because it was the birth-place of David. In this city David spent most of his youthful days.

He was the youngest of eight sons of Jesse, and it was his duty to feed his father’s sheep. And David in his youth was a very brave and good shepherd boy. Did he love his father’s sheep? Ah! better than this, he loved the Lord.

A son of Jesse the Bethlehemite. There was nothing outstanding, so far as man could see, about his birth; but when we trace his genealogy, as given in Matthew's Gospel, how much there is to learn of God's ways in preparing His King, whether it be King David, or David's greater son, the Son of God. Although Jacob, when dying, had indicated that Judah was the royal tribe, it was not until David was anointed that the royal family came into evidence. None could have foreseen that David, the youngest in a family of eight sons, and that a family comparatively obscure, would be the one to sit upon Jehovah's throne. And who would have thought that the lowly Babe, born in Bethlehem's stable, was God's King; and that the little hand that appeared so weak would wield the sceptre of the universe, as it had formed the wide creation?

The first notice we have of David is where Samuel is sent of God to anoint him king instead of Saul. (1 Sam. 16) Here, in the first circle of his life which is presented to us, we trace the elements of the character and position of one who was so largely to engage our attention afterwards. We find him, the youngest son of Jesse, absent from home, caring for his father's sheep in the wilderness; and his countenance, that true index of the innermost being, announcing what manner of man he is — "ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to." "And when Samuel anointed him, the Spirit of the Lord came upon him from that day forward."

Now that David is about to be brought to the front on God's part, Satan stirs up the enemy. "When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid. Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Beth-lehem-judah, whose name was Jesse; and he had eight sons: and the man went among men for an old man in the days of Saul. And the three eldest sons of Jesse went and followed Saul to the battle: and the names of his three sons that went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and next to him Abinadab, and the third Shammah. And David was the youngest: and the three eldest followed Saul. But David went and returned from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem." He was again in the plain path of humble daily duty. No road is really so good as this, and none where God's honour will be more found when His time comes. It was there that God anointed him for the throne; it was thence that God called him to the court of Saul; and it was now from the same tending of his father's flock that God wrought so as to bring him into the great field of action where the question had to be decided between the Philistines and the living God.

Just as He prepared many other godly leaders among His earthly people, Israel, so God in His infinite wisdom and love trained David in quiet obscurity as a shepherd. The youngest of Jesse's eight sons, David was not deemed important enough to call to the sacrifice when the prophet Samuel came to Bethlehem. The first time he is mentioned, his father said of him, "Behold, he is feeding the sheep" (1 Sam. 16:11). When Jesse sent him to take food to his older brothers in the army, "David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took his charge and went, as Jesse had commanded him" (1 Sam. 17:20). And how touchingly he describes a shepherd's care in Psalm 23!

It was at Bethlehem likewise that David was born. Call to mind the history of David in connection with Bethlehem. Think of him as the poet, the warrior, and the king. His youthful surroundings told on his after-life. Bethlehem's mountain ravines afforded solitude and opportunity for communion with God. There he fed his flock, and learned the lessons which the Spirit led him to indite in later days. There he learned to be the man of war, and to be alone with God — to have communion with God. David was not only born there, but there he was anointed. His chief mighty men were Bethlehemites, and it was for the water of its well he sighed, and not in vain. All these things were but the forecasts and pictures of what was to come. In this same spot Jesus — the Son of David — the Son of God, was born. Bethlehem! thou art indeed the true House of Bread. What a wonderful thing — that in thee the Saviour, the Son of God, should be born! On Bethlehem's plains, where the shepherds kept watch, the gospel tidings were first proclaimed — "Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord."