King David, The Odds

An Undisputed Messiah Requirement

One Messiah requirement is common to both Judaism and Christianity in Matthew and Luke. The foundations begin in Genesis with a prophetic blessing by Jacob, then the Law handed down to Moses followed by many prophecies thereafter until the appearance of Jesus of Nazareth.

First, prophetic blessings were given by Jacob, aka Israel, to each of his sons. One son, Judah, received the blessing that his family-tribe lineage would be like a lion that would possess the “scepter”:

^{Gen 49:8-10} “Judah, [as for] you, your brothers will acknowledge you. Your hand will be at the nape of your enemies, [and] your father’s sons will prostrate themselves to you. A cub [and] a grown lion is Judah. From the prey, my son, you withdrew. He crouched, rested like a lion, and like a lion, who will rouse him? The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the student of the law from between his feet, until Shiloh comes, and to him will be a gathering of peoples.”_{(Complete Jewish Bible)}^[1]

Rabbi Rashi, one of most revered Rabbi sages, identified Shiloh as the “King Messiah, to whom the kingdom belongs.” According to Rashi, the“scepter” refers to the royal lineage of “David and thereafter.”^[2]

Centuries later, at Mt. Sinai Moses received the Law from God defined in the books of the Torah – Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Deuteronomy and Numbers. Much more than just the 10 Commandments, the Law of God also included promises and prophecies. One was the promise of a future kingdom in an unnamed place God would choose.^[3]

Leaving Mt. Sinai on their quest to reach the promised land of Abraham, the tribes of Israel were defeating one enemy after another creating dread by those kings and nations lying in their path. One enemy king, Balak, thought he could cleverly use God to prevent his Moab nation’s defeat.

Persistently, Balak asked the prophet Balaam to place a curse from God on the Hebrews, but the prophet refused. In response, Balaam instead issued a momentous Messiah prophesy saying:

^{Nm 24:17}“I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near; A star shall come forth from Jacob, A scepter shall rise from Israel, And shall crush through the forehead of Moab, And tear down all the sons of Sheth.”_{(New American Standard Bible)}

“Scepter” or “staff” is translated from the same Hebrew word shebet appearing in Jacob’s blessing of Judah.^[4] Again, Rashi said shebet represents “a king who rules dominantly” pointing to King David. A star, the Rabbi describes, “shoots out like an arrow” and uproots the sons of Sheth or Seth, the son of Adam; in other words, symbolically all of mankind.^[5]

Rabbi Maimonides authored the 13 Principles of Faith defining the fundamentals of the Jewish faith. In it, the Rabbi interpreted Balaam’s prophecy to be referring to the future King David and the Messiah who will be a King from the “House of David.”^[6] Later, building on Balaam’s prophecy, the prophet Nathan promised Israel’s King David:

^{2 Sam 7:16}“Your house and your kingdom shall endure before me forever; your throne shall be established forever.”_{(New American Standard Version)}

Multiple prophecies of the Branch of David were issued by prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah and Zechariah.^[7] Isaiah, regarded by Judaism and Christianity to be the greatest of all the prophets, alone issued multiple Messiah prophecies.^[8] One Isaiah prophecy viewed by Christians as pointing to the Messiah is often seen during Christmas season: ^[9]

^{Is 9:5-6 (vs. 6-7)} “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever.”_{(Jewish Publication Society)}^[10]

Rabbi Jose the Galilean, in the Babylonian Talmud tractate, “The Chapter on Peace,” identified one of the names of the Messiah as the “Prince of Peace.” In the second verse (6/7), the prophecy says he will rule from the throne of David.^[11]

Rabbi Tanhun in a Talmud Gemara interpreted two of the six blessings of Ruth 3:17 as referring to David and the Messiah.^[12] The Rabbi associated the Messiah with “peace” in Isaiah 9:5 clarifying the blessing of David by identifying the Messiah as the son of the “Bethlechemite” Jesse with the Messiah’s blessing appearing in Isaiah 11:2:

“The name of the Messiah is also “peace” (Shalom), as it is written [Is. ix. 5]: “The prince of peace.” … “Messiah — as it reads [Is. xi. 2]: “And there shall rest upon him the spirit of the Lord, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.”^[12]

Isaiah chapter 11 contains a second prophecy referencing the “root of Jesse.” The Jewish Encyclopedia recognizes Jesse as the father of King David saying of Isaiah’s 11:10 prophecy, it is “one of his sublimest Messianic prophecies.”^[13]

^{Is 11:1-2 “}And a shoot shall spring forth from the stem of Jesse, and a twig shall sprout from his roots.And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, a spirit of wisdom and understanding, a spirit of counsel and heroism, a spirit of knowledge and fear of the Lord.” _{(Complete Jewish Bible}₎

^{Is 11:10 “}And it shall come to pass on that day, that the root of Jesse, which stands as a banner for peoples, to him shall the nations inquire, and his peace shall be [with] honor.”_{(Complete Jewish Bible}₎

Judaism interprets the prophecies of the scepter, the Prince of Peace, the “root of Jesse” and the Branch as referring to the Messiah. These prophecies establish the one single prophetic Messiah requirement recognized by both Judaism and Christianity – the Messiah must born in the family lineage of King David. What then are the odds that Jesus of Nazareth is the fulfillment of this Messiah requirement?

Updated October 19, 2022.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

REFERENCES:

[1] The Compete Jewish Bible – with Rashi Commentary. 2019. <https://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/aid/63255/jewish/The-Bible-with-Rashi.htm>

[2] Rashi. The Compete Jewish Bible – with Rashi Commentary. Commentary on Genesis 49:10. “The Throne of David Trailer.” Vimeo. Image. 2014. <https://vimeo.com/113429903>

[3] Dueteronomy17:14-15.

[4] Net.bible.org. Numbers 24:17. Hebrew text shebet <07626>. 2019. <http://classic.net.bible.org/strong.php?id=07626>

[5] Rashi. The Complete Jewish Bible with Rashi Commentary. Numbers 24:17 commentary.

[6] Maimonides. “The Law Concerning Moshiach.” Ed. Yechezkal Shimon Gutfreund, Chapters 11 & 12. <http://www.kesser.org/moshiach/rambam.html#SIE>

[7] Rich, Tracey R. “Mashiach: The Messiah.” Judaism101. 2011. <http://www.jewfaq.org/mashiach.htm>

[8] “Isaiah.” Jewish Encyclopedia. 2011. <http://jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/8235-isaiah> “Isaiah.” Biblica | The International Bible Society. 2019. <https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/intro-to-isaiah>

[9] Rashi. The Complete Jewish Bible with Rashi Commentary. Isaiah 9:6 commentary.

[10] “The Book of Yeshayahu (Isaiah): Chapter 9.” Jewish Virtual Library. 2019. <https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yeshayahu-isaiah-chapter-9>

[11]The Babylonian Talmud. Trans. Michael L. Rodkinson. 1918. Book 5: Tractate Derech Eretz-Zuta, “The Chapter on Peace.” p 32. <http://www.sacred-texts.com/jud/t05/ere18.htm> “Minor Tractate Zuta Rabbah: Chapter on Peace.” Jewish Virtual Library. 2019. <https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/minor-tractate-zuta-rabbah-chapter-on-peace> “Jewish Concepts: Peace.” Virtual Library. 2019. <https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/peace> “Jose the Galilean.” Jewish Encyclopedia. <http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/8788-jose-the-galilean>

[12] “Tractate Sanhedrin: Chapter 11.” Virtual Library. 2019. <https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/tractate-sanhedrin-chapter-11; CR Soncino Babylonian Talmud. Ed. Isidore Epstein. “Sanhedrin 93b.” 1935-1948. <https://israelect.com/Come-and-Hear/sanhedrin/sanhedrin_93.html#93b_12

[13] “Jesse.” JewishEncyclopedia.com. 2011. <https://jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/8613-jesse> “The Book of Yeshayahu (Isaiah): Chapter 11. Jewish Virtual Library. 2019. <https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yeshayahu-isaiah-chapter-11>

David – the Iconic King of Israel

Stories of David are told in the Bible about his amazing heroics – how he became King of Israel, his rule of the kingdom … and his great sins. In-spite-of his flaws, David became the subject of virtually undisputed prophecies that foretold the Messiah would come through his lineage.^[1]

Accounts begin with his father who was Jesse from Bethlehem of the tribe of Judah. Red-headed David, the youngest of 8 boys, was assigned to be the shepherd of his father’s sheep. Alone in the wilderness, he became an expert with a slingshot and single-handedly killed lions and bears who threatened the flock.^[2]

Summoned one day by his father to their home in Bethlehem, David was a surprised when he discovered the prophet Samuel was there waiting, too. Shockingly, the prophet anointed David as God’s choice to be the next King of Israel in-spite-of the fact Israel already had a ruling King.^[3] Nothing changed immediately, but David’s legendary actions began to grow soon thereafter…

Three of David’s brothers were fighting in Israel’s army supported by their father who routinely sent David to them with supplies. During one visit, David was astonished to see Israel’s army afraid of an ace giant Philistine warrior named Goliath who challenged and taunted Israel’s army daily.

Asking King Saul’s permission to battle Goliath, the shepherd boy was ridiculed by his older brothers and even King Saul tried to discourage David; however, the King relented. Defiantly David announced to Goliath he would kill him in the name of the Lord and cut off his head, but David was still cursed and mocked by the giant Philistine.

David did just as he said – with a slingshot and a single stone he killed Goliath, then used Goliath’s own sword to cut off his head. That very day David was placed in the service of King Saul.^[4]

Fame eventually made Saul jealous of David forcing him to go into hiding when Saul tried to kill him.^[5] Failing to seek and obey God’s guidance would cost King Saul his own life and that of his sons in battle.

After Saul’s death, David became king, but he had no throne and the fortified city of Jebus was in David’s sight. ^[6] With the notoriety of being a skilled formidable warrior from serving in King Saul’s army, David had become well-known to his enemies.^[7] Using his savvy reputation, David formed an army from the tribes of Israel and advanced toward Jebus.

Hurling insults at Israel’s approaching army, the Jebusites taunted them shouting “the blind and the lame” could fight off Israel and in arrogant mockery positioned lame and blind people on the city walls.^[8] Taking great offense, David offered his commanding leaders the position of General to whomever led the army to victory over Jebus.^[9]

Joab won the challenge and became the commanding General of Israel’s army. Jebus, formerly known as Salem, now was called by new names – the City of David, Jerusalem, also called Zion.^[10]

Basking in the glory of his kingdom, David decided to take a census contrary to God’s past instructions because it demonstrated a lack of faith in God.^[11] General Joab pressed the King not to do it, but David persisted.^[12]

Punishment delivered by an “angel of the Lord” for David’s sin was heavy upon the nation whereupon the King pleaded with God to punish only himself and his family because Israel was innocent. Prophet Gad delivered God’s response instructing David to build an altar on the threshing floor of Araunah located on Mount Moriah and offer an atonement sacrifice for the people of Israel.^[13]

Purchasing the threshing floor, the oxen and materials, David himself built the altar. Astonishingly, God sent fire down from heaven to consume the sacrifice.

Moved deeply, David declared: “This is the house of the LORD God, and this is the altar of burnt offerings for Israel.”^[14] The Temple was to be built on Mount Moriah, the place where a 1000 years earlier Abraham took his only son, Isaac, to be sacrificed, but spared at the last moment with a substitute sacrificial ram.^[15]

News came from God to David in the form of a prophecy came through the prophet Nathan. He foretold that David’s future son would be the one to build the House of God fulfilling one of the promises God made to Moses at Mt. Sinai.^[16]

^{2 Sam 7:12-13} “When your days are complete and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.”^[17]

Lord Acton’s quote “absolute power corrupts absolutely” applied even to King David. From his palace rooftop, David watched his neighbor’s wife taking a bath.

Ironically, her name was Bath-Sheba. Dispatching his men to bring her to his palace, David seduced her and she became pregnant.^[18]

Bath-Sheba’s husband, Uriah, was one of the King’s top military officers away fighting a war – how would Bath-Sheba explain away her pregnancy? David devised a cover-up plan.

Uriah was summoned from the battlefield at the behest of David under the pretense of earning a well-deserved leave from duty. The true reason was to give Bath-Sheba an opportunity to have marital relations with her husband to legitimize her pregnancy.

Backfiring, the loyal Uriah did not think it would be fair to his troops back on the battlefield if he were at home enjoying the pleasures of his wife. The King’s back-up scheme was much more sinister.

To the front lines of war David sent Uriah with the expectation Uriah would die in battle. Indeed, he was killed in action.

A royally planned and executed murder plot seemed foolproof – except to God. Prophet Nathan exposed David’s sin bringing judgment upon the King and Bath-Sheba when their ill-conceived baby died.^[19]

In spite of his deplorable sins of adultery and murder, God still honored His promise to David. Prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah and Zechariah over the following centuries would prophesy that the Messiah would come from the House of David, prophecies attested by renowned Jewish Sages Rashi and Maimonides.^[20]

David also wrote many of the Psalms, some deemed to be prophetic.^[21] First words of Psalms 22, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken me?” were cried out by Jesus shortly before he died on the cross. Psalms 22 depicts the dramatic image of a man dying in agony and humiliation, remarkably consistent in specific detail of the circumstances of the Roman crucifixion of Jesus a millennium later.

As a mortal, Jesus would have no control over being born a 1000 years later into the royal lineage of David nor in Bethlehem, David’s hometown. It is especially exceptional considering that up until the last moment, Jesus was expected to be born in Nazareth, a week’s-long journey away.

From King David to Jesus, what are the odds of improbability all these events were just a coincidence?

Updated January 26, 2024.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

REFERENCES:

[1] I Samuel 16. CR I Chronicles 2; Matthew 1:6; Luke 3:31-32.
[2] I Samuel 17.
[3] I Sam. 16; Chronicles 2, 10.
[4] I Samuel 18. “David and Goliath.” WallpaperCave. photo. n.d. <https://wallpapercave.com/wp/wp3721504.jpg>
[5] I Samuel 19.
[6] 2 Samuel 2, 5. 1 Chronicles 10, 11.
[7] 1Chronicles 11.
[8] I Chronicles 11; 2 Samuel 5. Josephus, Flavius. Antiquities of the Jews. Book VII, Chapter III.1. <http://books.google.com/books?id=e0dAAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false>
[9] 2 Samuel 5; I Chronicles 11. Josephus. Antiquity. Book VII, Chapter III.1.
[10] I Chronicles 17:1. Josephus. Antiquity. Book VII, Chapter III.1-2. <http://books.google.com/books?id=e0dAAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false> Net.bible.org. Hebrew text. “Jebus <2982>” <https://net.bible.org> Lexicon-Concordance Online Bible. Hebrew “J^ebuw <2982>” (Brown-Driver-Briggs). <http://lexiconcordance.com> Dolphin, Lambert. “Mount Moriah, Site of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.” TempleMount.org. 1996. <http://www.templemount.org/moriah2.html> “Zion.” Fausset Bible Dictionary. 1878. http://classic.studylight.org/dic/fbd> “Zion.” Encyclopædia Britannica. 2024. <https://www.britannica.com/place/Zion-hill-Jerusalem>
[11] Exodus 30.
[12] I Chronicles 21; 2 Samuel 24.
[13] I Chronicles 21; 2 Chronicles 3; 2 Samuel 24.
[14] NKJV. I Chronicles 21-22. 2 Samuel 24. “Araunah.” Jewish Encyclopedia. 2011. <http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com> “The Site – The Temple Mount.” Bible-History.com. n.d. <http://www.bible-history.com/jewishtemple/JEWISH_TEMPLEThe_Site.htm> Josephus. Antiquities. Book VII, Chapter III.
[15] I Chronicles 22; 2 Chronicles 3.
[16] Genesis 49; 2 Samuel 5; 1 Chronicles 11, 17; Chronicles 5; 1Kings 2; Judges 1; Psalms 76. Josephus. Antiquities. Book VII, Chapter III.2.
[17] NASB. I Chronicles 17.
[18] 2 Samuel 11. “Lord Acton writes to Bishop Creighton…” Online Library of Liberty. 2017. <http://oll.libertyfund.org/quote/214> “King David Quotes.” AZQuotes. photo. n.d. <https://www.azquotes.com/quotes/topics/king-david.html>
[19] 2 Samuel 12.
[20] Isaiah 9; Jeremiah 23; 33; Zechariah 12. The Compete Jewish Bible – with Rashi Commentary. Rashi commentaries: Gensis 49:10; Numbers 24:17; Zechariah 12:12; Micah 5:2. Maimonides. Mishneh Torah. “The Law Concerning Moshiach.” Chapter 11. <http://www.kesser.org/moshiach/rambam.html#SIE>
[21] The Complete Jewish Bible with Rashi’s Commentary. Rashi commentaries on Micah 5:2 and Psalms 118:22. “Salvation.” Jewish Encyclopedia. 2011.