There are many people that have had a last impact on the Israel. Names that come to mind include Moses, Jesus, and Ben Gurion. There is one however that’s name has been tied to Israel for thousands of years as a figurehead. King David.
King David was thought to be alive between 1040 BC and 970 BC. His life is documented from the time of his great-grandparents, Ruth and Boaz. Their son Obed, was the father of David’s father Jesse. When Saul displeased the Lord, Samuel was instructed to anoint a young shepherd boy, David, as the next king. David then went through an adventurous story of triumph and failures on his way to being king and through the rest of his life. He is known as being “a man after God’s own heart”.
While David lived in Israel three-thousand years ago, you can still visit places and see things associated with him today! Here’s a few things to include on your next Christian Israel Tour if you want to learn more about King David.
Bethlehem
Jesus was a descendent of King David according to the Bible and that is why Joseph had to return to Bethlehem for the census. That is because David was born and raised as a shepherd in Bethlehem. So while you may be focused on the birth of Christ in this area, take a moment back to remember David’s humble beginnings as well.
The Valley of Elah
Outside of Jerusalem along the road you may see a tour bus or two pulled over with people standing in a field. That is because this is the Valley of Elah, the location of David’s killing of Goliath. It is still undeveloped, so you can get a real sense of what it was like and imagine meeting armies and the face-off between David and Goliath. You may even find a stone.
Ein Gedi
The Psalms are largely credited to David and many were written while he hid from King Saul in Ein Gedi, an oasis in the Judean Desert not far from the Dead Sea. This is now a nature preserve and you can see some of the terrain David described.
The City of David
No area is richer in the history of King David than the City of David, the Jerusalem that King David knew and built up as he established the kingdom. They City of David continues to be an endless treasure trove of archeological finds of the area that date back to the time of King David himself.
King David’s Tomb
One spot that is traditionally ascribed to King David but may not have actually have been connected to him is what is known as King David’s Tomb. The tomb is connected to the Cennacle which is also known as “the Upper Room” where the Last Supper took place. Inside you will find a cenotaph and Judaica. Between the establishment of Israel and the Six-Day War, this tomb was considered the holiest Jewish location in Israel as Jews were not allowed to visit the Western Wall. While this is a spot that is not an original tomb, it is still an important part of Jewish culture and history and gives you a chance to think about the impact King David had and continues to have through the millennia.
We look forward to welcoming you to Israel to explore the sites of King David and other Biblical locations and figures. Talk to one of our wonderful Tour Operators to start planning your tour today!
