Walk With David
דוד המלך
Follow the shepherd boy from Bethlehem as he rises to become Israel's greatest king. David's journey is one of the most dramatic in the Tanakh — from being anointed in secret, to fleeing through the wilderness, to establishing Jerusalem as the eternal capital. His path traces the geography of courage, loyalty, and faith.
Approximately 200 km across Judah and Israel
The Journey
The prophet Samuel comes to Bethlehem and anoints the young shepherd David, the youngest son of Jesse, as the future king of Israel.
וַיִּקַּ֨ח שְׁמוּאֵ֜ל אֶת־קֶ֣רֶן הַשֶּׁ֗מֶן וַיִּמְשַׁ֣ח אֹתוֹ֮ בְּקֶ֣רֶב אֶחָיו֒ וַתִּצְלַ֤ח רֽוּחַ־יְהֹוָה֙ אֶל־דָּוִ֔ד מֵהַיּ֥וֹם הַה֖וּא וָמָ֑עְלָה וַיָּ֣קׇם שְׁמוּאֵ֔ל וַיֵּ֖לֶךְ הָרָמָֽתָה׃
Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers; and the spirit of GOD gripped David from that day on. Samuel then set out for Ramah.
Valley of Elah
עמק האלהDavid defeats the Philistine giant Goliath with a sling and a stone. 'You come to me with a sword and a spear, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts.'
וַיִּשְׁלַח֩ דָּוִ֨ד אֶת־יָד֜וֹ אֶל־הַכֶּ֗לִי וַיִּקַּ֨ח מִשָּׁ֥ם אֶ֙בֶן֙ וַיְקַלַּ֔ע וַיַּ֥ךְ אֶת־הַפְּלִשְׁתִּ֖י אֶל־מִצְח֑וֹ וַתִּטְבַּ֤ע הָאֶ֙בֶן֙ בְּמִצְח֔וֹ וַיִּפֹּ֥ל עַל־פָּנָ֖יו אָֽרְצָה׃
David put his hand into the bag; he took out a stone and slung it. It struck the Philistine in the forehead; the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell face down on the ground.
Fleeing from Saul, David hides in the caves of Ein Gedi. When Saul enters the very cave where David is hiding, David spares his life — cutting only the corner of his robe.
וַ֠יָּבֹ֠א אֶל־גִּדְר֨וֹת הַצֹּ֤אן עַל־הַדֶּ֙רֶךְ֙ וְשָׁ֣ם מְעָרָ֔ה וַיָּבֹ֥א שָׁא֖וּל לְהָסֵ֣ךְ אֶת־רַגְלָ֑יו וְדָוִד֙ וַאֲנָשָׁ֔יו בְּיַרְכְּתֵ֥י הַמְּעָרָ֖ה יֹשְׁבִֽים׃
and he came to the sheepfolds along the way. There was a cave there, and Saul went in to relieve himself.bto relieve himself Lit. “to cover his feet.” Now David and his men were sitting in the back of the cave.
After Saul's death, David is anointed king over Judah at Hebron. He reigns from Hebron for seven and a half years before all the tribes unite under him.
וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ אַנְשֵׁ֣י יְהוּדָ֔ה וַיִּמְשְׁחוּ־שָׁ֧ם אֶת־דָּוִ֛ד לְמֶ֖לֶךְ עַל־בֵּ֣ית יְהוּדָ֑ה וַיַּגִּ֤דוּ לְדָוִד֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר אַנְשֵׁי֙ יָבֵ֣ישׁ גִּלְעָ֔ד אֲשֶׁ֥ר קָבְר֖וּ אֶת־שָׁאֽוּל׃ {ס}
The people of Judahapeople of Judah I.e., their leaders, on the tribe’s behalf. came and there they anointed David king over the House of Judah.David was told about the agents of Jabesh-gilead who buried Saul.
David conquers the Jebusite fortress on Mount Zion and makes Jerusalem his capital — the City of David. He brings the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem, dancing before it with all his might.
וַיִּלְכֹּ֣ד דָּוִ֔ד אֵ֖ת מְצֻדַ֣ת צִיּ֑וֹן הִ֖יא עִ֥יר דָּוִֽד׃
But David captured the stronghold of Zion; it is now the City of David.
Israel Wall Art
