David, Hebrew 'beloved' 11th century BC
First king of the Judean dynasty of Israel

He was the youngest son of Jesse of Bethlehem, and is traditionally the author of several of the Psalms and the ancestor of Jesus Christ. His success as a warrior against the Philistines, especially in killing Goliath, aroused King Saul's jealousy, and he was forced to flee, but after Saul's death he became King over Judah in Hebron, and later was chosen King of all Israel. Jerusalem became the political and religious centre of his kingdom, and he built a palace for himself on its highest hill, Zion (the 'city of David'), and placed the Ark of the Covenant there under a tent. He united the many tribes of Israel, and extended his territory from Egypt to the Euphrates. The later part of his reign was troubled by attempted revolutions by his sons Absalom and Adonijah. He may have died as early as 1018BC, and was succeeded by his son Solomon, his son by Bathsheba.