#WingedWordsWindsday: 2023/08/02 -- King David

 

WINGED WORDS WINDSDAY

Compiled & Edited by Rob Chappell (@RHCLambengolmo)

Vol. 2, No. 40: August 2, 2023

 

The Prophet David: Songs and Tales of Israel’s Once and Future King

Adapted from a Presentation by the Editor (3/2/2014) at the Lutheran Campus Center

 

An Introductory Note from the Editor

                King David is revered as a nation-builder, an inspired poet, and a courageous warrior-hero throughout the Abrahamic family of religions. David has always been one of my favorite biblical heroes because, like all the rest of us, he was a fallible human being who made mistakes but kept on trying to improve himself and the world around him. So this week, I’m pleased to present some not-so-well-known stories about, and poems by, King David – whom some scholars have come to regard as Israel’s “Once and Future King” (more about that later on). We begin, however, with a classic Irish poem that celebrates an unknown warrior who, like King David, was also an inspired poet.

 

“The Minstrel Boy”

By Thomas Moore (1779-1852)

 

1. The minstrel boy to the war is gone,

In the ranks of death ye will find him;

His father’s sword he hath girded on,

And his wild harp slung behind him.

“Land of Song!” said the warrior bard,

“Though all the world betray thee,

One sword, at least, thy rights shall guard,

One faithful harp shall praise thee!”

 

2. The Minstrel fell! — but the foeman's chain

Could not bring that proud soul under;

The harp he loved ne'er spoke again,

For he tore its chords asunder;

And said, "No chains shall sully thee,

Thou soul of love and bravery!

Thy songs were made for the pure and free,

They shall never sound in slavery."

 

3. The minstrel boy will return, we pray;

When we hear the news, we all will cheer it.

The minstrel boy will return one day,

Torn perhaps in body, not in spirit.

Then may he play on his harp in peace,

In a world such as Heaven intended;

For all the bitterness of man must cease,

And every battle must be ended.

 

Eulogy of King David in Sirach 47:2-11 (LXX)

Composed by Rabbi Yeshua Ben-Sira (180 BCE)

Translated by Sir Lancelot C. L. Brenton (1807-1862)

                As is the fat taken away from the peace offering, so was David chosen out of the children of Israel. He played with lions as with kids, and with bears as with lambs. Slew he not a giant, when he was yet but young? and did he not take away reproach from the people, when he lifted up his hand with the stone in the sling, and beat down the boasting of Goliath? for he called upon the Most High Lord; and he gave him strength in his right hand to slay that mighty warrior, and set up the horn of his people.

                So the people honored him with ten thousands, and praised him in the blessings of the Lord in that he gave him a crown of glory. For he destroyed the enemies on every side, and brought to nought the Philistines his adversaries, and broke their horn in sunder unto this day. In all his works he praised the Holy One Most High with words of glory; with his whole heart he sang songs, and loved him that made him. He set singers also before the altar, that by their voices they might make sweet melody, and daily sing praises in their songs. He beautified their feasts, and set in order the solemn times until the end, that they might praise his holy name, and that the temple might sound from morning.

                The Lord took away his sins, and exalted his horn forever: he gave him a covenant of kings, and a throne of glory in Israel.

 

David vs. Goliath in Verse: Psalm 151 (LXX)

                Although the standard Hebrew version of the Psalter contains 150 psalms, many more psalms were composed in antiquity, and a few of them actually made it into ancient translations of the Bible. Psalm 151, a versified account of David’s battle with Goliath, is found in the Greek, Latin, and Syriac versions of the Psalter. A longer yet fragmentary rendition of Psalm 151 was also found among the Dead Sea Scrolls at Qumran.

 

                This Psalm is a genuine one of David, though supernumerary, composed when he fought in single combat with Goliad.

                I was small among my brethren, and youngest in my father's house: I tended my father's sheep. My hands formed a musical instrument, and my fingers tuned a psaltery. And who shall tell my Lord? the Lord himself, he himself hears. He sent forth his angel, and took me from my father's sheep, and he anointed me with the oil of his anointing. My brothers were handsome and tall; but the Lord did not take pleasure in them. I went forth to meet the Philistine; and he cursed me by his idols. But I drew his own sword, and beheaded him, and removed reproach from the children of Israel.

 

King David Playing the Harp (1622) by Gerard van Honthorst. (Image Credit: Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)

 

The Story of King David’s Thirst

                Three versions of this tale have been preserved for us in biblical writings. Although the basic story remains the same, with minor differences in detail, each version puts a slightly different spin on the narrative. The point of this tale is that David was not only a valiant warrior-hero; he was also a man of honor who did not want to expose the warriors under his command to unnecessary risks.

 

Version A: 2 Samuel 23:13-17 (JPS 1917)

(Compiled by the Deuteronomistic Historians in the 7th or 6th Century BCE)

                And three of the thirty chief went down, and came to David in the harvest time unto the cave of Adullam; and the troop of the Philistines were encamped in the valley of Rephaim. And David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. And David longed, and said: ‘Oh that one would give me water to drink of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!’ And the three mighty men broke through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David; but he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the LORD. And he said: ‘Be it far from me, O LORD, that I should do this; shall I drink the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives?’ therefore he would not drink it. These things did the three mighty men.

 

Version B: 1 Chronicles 11:15-19 (JPS 1917)

(Compiled by the Chronicler in the 5th Century BCE)

                And three of the thirty chiefs went down to the rock to David, unto the cave of Adullam; and the host of the Philistines were encamped in the valley of Rephaim. And David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. And David longed, and said: ‘Oh that one would give me water to drink of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!’ And the three broke through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David; but David would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the LORD, and said: ‘My God forbid it me, that I should do this; shall I drink the blood of these men that have put their lives in jeopardy? for with the jeopardy of their lives they brought it.’ Therefore he would not drink it. These things did the three mighty men.

 

Version C: 4 Maccabees 3:1-18 (LXX)

(Composed by an Unknown Author in the 1st Century CE)

Translated by Sir Lancelot C. L. Brenton

                The argument is exceedingly ridiculous: for reasoning does not appear to bear sway over its own affections, but over those of the body, in such a way as that any one of you may not be able to root out desire, but reasoning will enable you to avoid being enslaved to it.

                One may not be able to root out anger from the soul, but it is possible to withstand anger. Any one of you may not be able to eradicate malice, but reasoning has force to work with you to prevent your yielding to malice. For reasoning is not an eradicator, but an antagonist of the passions. And this may be more clearly comprehended from the thirst of King David. For after David had been attacking the Philistines the whole day, he with the soldiers of his nation slew many of them; then when evening came, sweating and very weary, he came to the royal tent, about which the entire host of our ancestors was encamped.

                Now all the rest of them were at supper; but the king, being very much athirst, although he had numerous springs, could not by their means quench his thirst; but a certain irrational longing for the water in the enemy's camp grew stronger and fiercer upon him, and consumed him with languish.

                Wherefore his body-guards being troubled at this longing of the king, two valiant young soldiers, reverencing the desire of the king, put on their panoplies, and taking a pitcher, got over the ramparts of the enemies: and unperceived by the guardians of the gate, they went throughout the whole camp of the enemy in quest. And having boldly discovered the fountain, they filled out of it the draught for the king.

                But he, though parched up with thirst, reasoned that a draught reputed of equal value to blood, would be terribly dangerous to his soul. Wherefore, setting up reasoning in opposition to his desire, he poured out the draught to God. For the temperate mind has power to conquer the pressure of the passions, and to quench the fires of excitement, and to wrestle down the pains of the body, however excessive; and, through the excellency of reasoning, to abominate all the assaults of the passions.

 

The Last Words of David: 2 Samuel 23:1-7 (JPS 1917)

                This poem was recited by David on his deathbed. It has been set to music several times by classical composers, and extensive commentaries have been written to expound upon it through the centuries.

 

Now these are the last words of David:

The saying of David the son of Jesse,

And the saying of the man raised on high,

The anointed of the God of Jacob,

And the sweet singer of Israel:

The spirit of the LORD spoke by me,

And His word was upon my tongue.

 

The God of Israel said,

The Rock of Israel spoke to me:

‘Ruler over men shall be

The righteous, even he that ruleth in the fear of God,

And as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth,

A morning without clouds;

When through clear shining after rain,

The tender grass springeth out of the earth.’

For is not my house established with God?

For an everlasting covenant He hath made with me,

Ordered in all things, and sure;

For all my salvation, and all my desire,

Will he not make it to grow?

But the ungodly, they are as thorns thrust away, all of them,

For they cannot be taken with the hand;

But the man that toucheth them

Must be armed with iron and the staff of a spear;

And they shall be utterly burned with fire in their place.

 

The Once and Future King

                After the death of King David’s son, Solomon, the Israelite monarchy began a long, slow decline, which began with the division of the kingdom and culminated in the Assyrian exile of the northern tribes (721 BCE) and the Babylonian exile of the southern tribes (586 BCE). The Hebrew prophets arose to comfort and confront their people in the midst of their troubles. As the centuries rolled on, some of the prophets began to hope that David himself might return to lead all the people of Israel into a new Golden Age that would bless the whole world. Several commentators, down through the centuries, have speculated that David himself is the “priestly prince” whom Ezekiel expected to rule the restored Israelite commonwealth, as foretold in Ezekiel 40-48.

 

Hosea 3:4-5 (JPS 1917)

8th Century BCE

                For the children of Israel shall sit solitary many days without king, and without prince, and without sacrifice, and without pillar, and without ephod or teraphim; afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king; and shall come trembling unto the LORD and to His goodness in the end of days.

 

Jeremiah 30:1-9 (JPS 1917)

7th-6th Centuries BCE

                The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying: ‘Thus speaketh the LORD, the God of Israel, saying: Write thee all the words that I have spoken unto thee in a book. For, lo, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will turn the captivity of My people Israel and Judah, saith the LORD; and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.’

                And these are the words that the LORD spoke concerning Israel and concerning Judah. For thus saith the LORD:

 

We have heard a voice of trembling,

Of fear, and not of peace.

Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child;

Wherefore do I see every man

With his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail,

And all faces are turned into paleness?

Alas! for that day is great,

So that none is like it;

And it is a time of trouble unto Jacob,

But out of it shall he be saved.8And it shall come to pass in that day,

Saith the LORD of hosts,

That I will break his yoke from off thy neck,

And will burst thy bands;

And strangers shall no more make him their bondman;

But they shall serve the LORD their God,

And David their king,

Whom I will raise up unto them.

 

Ezekiel 34:22-28 (JPS 1917)

6th Century BCE

                ‘Therefore will I save My flock, and they shall no more be a prey; and I will judge between cattle and cattle. And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even My servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. And I the LORD will be their God, and My servant David prince among them; I the LORD have spoken. And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause evil beasts to cease out of the land; and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods. And I will make them and the places round about My hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in its season; there shall be showers of blessing. And the tree of the field shall yield its fruit, and the earth shall yield her produce, and they shall be safe in their land; and they shall know that I am the LORD, when I have broken the bars of their yoke, and have delivered them out of the hand of those that made bondmen of them. And they shall no more be a prey to the nations, neither shall the beast of the earth devour them; but they shall dwell safely, and none shall make them afraid.’

 

Ezekiel 37:21-28 (JPS 1917)

6th Century BCE

                ‘And say unto them: Thus saith the Lord GOD: Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the nations, whither they are gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land; and I will make them one nation in the land, upon the mountains of Israel, and one king shall be king to them all; and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all; neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions; but I will save them out of all their dwelling-places, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them; so shall they be My people, and I will be their God. And My servant David shall be king over them, and they all shall have one shepherd; they shall also walk in Mine ordinances, and observe My statutes, and do them. And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob My servant, wherein your fathers dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, they, and their children, and their children’s children, forever; and David My servant shall be their prince forever. Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them — it shall be an everlasting covenant with them; and I will establish them, and multiply them, and will set My sanctuary in the midst of them forever. My dwelling-place also shall be over them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. And the nations shall know that I am the LORD that sanctify Israel, when My sanctuary shall be in the midst of them forever.’

 

“Arthur Pendragon: The Once and Future King of Britain”

Excerpted from Chapter 23 of The Age of Chivalry

By Thomas Bulfinch (1798-1867)

                Thus of Arthur I find never more written in books that be authorized, nor more of the very certainty of his death; but thus was he led away in a ship, wherein were three queens; the one was King Arthur's sister, Queen Morgane le Fay; the other was Viviane, the Lady of the Lake; and the third was the queen of North Galis. And this tale Sir Bedivere, knight of the Table Round, made to be written.

                Yet some men say that King Arthur is not dead, but hid away into another place, and men say that he shall come again and reign over England. But many say that there is written on his tomb this verse:

 

“Hie jacet Arthurus, Rex quondam, Rexque futurus.”

“Here Arthur lies, King once and King to be.”

 

King Arthur Carried to the Land of Enchantment (1847) by William Bell Scott. (Image Credit: Public Domain)

 

Resources for Further Exploration

•         Early Jewish Writings @ https://earlyjewishwritings.com

•         Arthur, Legendary King of Britain @ http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/arthur.html

•         Psalm 156: King David as a Visionary Prophet @  https://readingreligion.org/9781532642395/has-psalm-156-been-found/