约死于西元前962年

古以色列国第二代国王（约于西元前1000～962年在位）。最初在扫罗（Saul）的宫廷中当侍从，因作战英勇深受百姓爱戴，引起扫罗的猜忌而成为亡命之徒。扫罗死后，他被拥立为王。大卫从耶布斯人（Jebusite）手中夺得耶路撒冷（Jerusalem），定其为首都；打败非利士人（Philistines）；以及扩张势力范围，成为与以色列接壤的许多小王国的最高领主。他曾遭遇一些叛乱，包括第三子押沙龙（Absalom）发动的一次叛乱。大卫统一了以色列所有的支派，建立一个王国，使耶路撒冷成为政教中心。他规定所有以前神祇的名称和称号都称作上帝，或以色列的神雅赫维（Yahweh）。虽然王国在大卫的儿子和继位者所罗门（Solomon）的手中分裂，但宗教统一仍延续下来，大卫的王室成为象征上帝与以色列人之间的联结。“messiah”（弥赛亚）一词源出“hameshiach”（膏立者），这是大卫世系国王的称号。

Second of the Israelite kings (r. c. 1000-c. 962 BC). David was an aide at
the court of Saul until the monarch's jealousy forced him into outlawry. He
became king of Israel on Saul's death. He captured Jerusalem from the Jebusites
and made it his capital, defeated the Philistines, and gained control of many
bordering kingdoms. He faced several revolts, including one by his third son,
Absalom. He unified all Israel into one kingdom and made Jerusalem both the
religious and political center. He made all other names for God mere titles or
attributes for Israel's god Yahweh, who was worshiped in Jerusalem. Though the
kingdom split under David's son and successor Solomon, religious unity endured,
and the house of David symbolized the bond between God and Israel. The word
messiah comes from hameshiach, the title of kings of the line of David.

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