King David, son of Yishai of Bethlehem in the territory of the tribe of Judah, was the youngest of eight brothers. A shepherd of his father's flock and a harpist, he was anointed by the prophet Shmuel to succeed King Shaul.

Having entered Shaul's service, he killed the Philistine giant Goliath with a sling and a stone. He later had to flee from Shaul through the wilderness, including Ein Gedi and the wilderness of Ziph.

After Shaul's death he was anointed king of Judah in Hebron, and later king over all Israel. He reigned forty years: seven in Hebron and thirty-three in Jerusalem, which he conquered and made his capital, and to which he brought the Ark. The prophet Natan told him that it would not be he who would build the Temple but his son Shlomo, whom he named as his successor.

Jewish tradition regards him as the author of most of the Psalms (Tehillim), and teaches that the Mashiach will be a man descended from him.

He died at the age of 70. The Jerusalem Talmud teaches that he died on Shavuot ("David died on Atzeret"). The Book of Kings records that he was buried in the City of David. A building on Mount Zion in Jerusalem is venerated as his tomb, and it is customary to visit it on Shavuot, the day of his passing according to tradition.