How old was David when he _____?
David is one of the most well-known figures in the Bible. He started as a young shepherd boy who was chosen by God to be the future king of Israel. David slayed Goliath as a youth and eventually became king after Saul. He reigned over Israel for 40 years from around 1010 BC to 970 BC.
But at what points in David’s life do the key events happen? How old was David when he was anointed as king? When he fought Goliath? Or at other important moments? Let’s explore David’s life chronologically and see what the Bible tells us about David’s age as his story unfolds.
Anointed as Future King
The prophet Samuel is led by God to the house of Jesse in Bethlehem to anoint one of Jesse’s sons as the next king of Israel since Saul had disobeyed God (1 Samuel 16:1-13). Jesse presents his sons one by one to Samuel, but God indicates to Samuel that none of the presented sons are to be the anointed king.
Finally, the youngest son David is called in from tending the sheep and Samuel anoints him with oil as the one that God has chosen. But how old was David at this pivotal moment when he is privately anointed as the next king of Israel?
The Bible does not explicitly state David’s age when he was anointed. However, some clues in the passage surrounding the account provide an approximate range. First, we know from 1 Samuel 17:12 that David was the youngest of eight sons of Jesse. From the order of the brothers presented to Samuel, David seems to be the youngest by a decent margin.
In addition, David is described as still tending the sheep when fetched by his father to see Samuel (1 Samuel 16:11). This indicates he likely was one of the younger sons helping the household by caring for the flocks.
Finally, when Samuel is observing each of the sons, God tells him in 1 Samuel 16:7, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature…” This suggests the sons being reviewed, including David, were old enough to be visibly matured and separated out from mere children around the house.
Putting these clues together, it seems reasonable that David was a teenager when anointed as future king, likely in the range of 15-20 years old. Old enough to be working outdoors with the flocks and matured in appearance, but still one of the youngest sons living at home.
So in summary, though his exact age isn’t given, context shows David was likely a teenager of around 15-20 years old when he was anointed as the future king of Israel in 1 Samuel 16.
Kill Goliath in Battle
One of the most famous moments in David’s early life is when he stepped up to fight the Philistine champion Goliath in 1 Samuel 17. When the Israelites were afraid to face this giant of a man, young David courageously volunteered to fight him with just a sling and stones.
But how old was David when he fought and killed the imposing Goliath? Let’s walk through some clues in 1 Samuel 17:
– David is described as being one of Saul’s armorbearers (1 Samuel 16:21) when he goes to visit his brothers on the battlefield where Goliath was taunting the Israelites. David seems mature enough to be in service to Saul, but still young enough to be checking on his older brothers.
– When David speaks to Saul and volunteers to fight Goliath, Saul replies “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you are but a youth…” (1 Samuel 17:33). The text emphasizes David’s youthful age, in contrast to Goliath’s experience and maturity.
– As David is getting ready to face Goliath, he mentions to Saul that as a youth he fought lions and bears while guarding his father’s sheep (1 Samuel 17:34-36). This further reinforces David was still in the stage of tending flocks, implying he was likely a teen.
So while his precise age is not stated, the cumulative descriptions indicate David was almost certainly a teenager when he fought Goliath. Many scholars conclude based on the evidence that he was around 15-18 years old at the time. Still young and untested in war, but bravely stepping out in faith against the dangerous Philistine giant.
Marry King Saul’s Daughter Michal
After David killed Goliath, he found further favor with King Saul and eventually became best friends with Saul’s son Jonathan (1 Samuel 18:1). Saul kept David in his service and offered David his daughter Michal’s hand in marriage after David had performed valiantly in battle against the Philistines.
We are told in 1 Samuel 18:20-27 that Saul was pleased to offer Michal as a wife to David to try to ensnare him. So at what age did David marry Saul’s daughter? Let’s take a look at some clues:
– In 1 Samuel 17:33, as we saw earlier, Saul referred to David as still being a “youth” when he fought Goliath. Based on this, less than a couple years is likely to have passed when the marriage to Michal took place.
– When speaking to Saul about marrying his daughter, David responds humbly in 1 Samuel 18:18 that “I am a poor man and lightly esteemed.” This doesn’t sound like the response of an older, established warrior.
– As mentioned in 1 Samuel 17, David was still tending his father Jesse’s sheep not long before the battle with Goliath. So it is doubtful much time has passed from that shepherd stage of life to the marriage of Michal.
Taking these details into consideration, most biblical scholars estimate David was around 18-22 years old when he married Michal, the daughter of King Saul. Still a young man on the rise garnering attention for his battle skills. Certainly an honor for David to marry into the royal family at this relatively young age as he continued serving in Saul’s court.
Anointed King over Judah
After Saul’s death, David was then anointed king over the tribe and region of Judah in 2 Samuel 2:1-4a. David was 30 years old when this took place, as explicitly stated in 2 Samuel 5:4.
This anointing restricted over Judah lasted initially for 7 1/2 years, until finally David was anointed king over all Israel (see 2 Samuel 5:4-5) after a period of civil war between the house of Saul and the house of David.
But when this first anointing as king over Judah happened, the Bible clearly records in 2 Samuel 5:4 that “David was thirty years old when he began to reign.”
Anointed King over All Israel
As discussed earlier, David was initially made king over Judah at age 30. After 7 1/2 years ruling just Judah from Hebron, he was then anointed king over all Israel according to 2 Samuel 5:1-3.
The Bible specifies David was 30 years old when he became king over just Judah (2 Samuel 5:4). And his reign from Hebron lasted 7 1/2 years per 2 Samuel 2:11. Therefore, simple math indicates David was 37 years old when he became king over unified Israel at this time.
We’re told in 2 Samuel 5:4-5:
“David was thirty years old when he began to reign. He reigned forty years. In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years.”
So in total, David was:
30 years old at the anointing over Judah
+ 7 1/2 years reigning over Judah
= 37 1/2 years old when he began reigning over all Israel
Therefore, the Bible provides the exact timeline showing David was 37 years old when he became king over the unified nation of Israel.
Commit Adultery with Bathsheba
One of the most well known events in David’s reign as king over Israel was his adulterous affair with Bathsheba, leading to his arranging the death of her husband Uriah. This grievous sin displeased God and had lasting consequences in David’s house per 2 Samuel 12.
When did this scandalous affair occur during David’s reign? Information in the account provides some chronological clues:
– 2 Samuel 5:4 tells us David was 30 years old when he became king over Judah and reigned in Hebron 7 1/2 years.
– As shown earlier, he was 37 when he then became king over all Israel.
– In 2 Samuel 5:14, following the summary of David’s age, we’re told he took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem after he was king over all Israel.
– The very next chapter, 2 Samuel 11, begins the account of his taking of Bathsheba. This suggests it occurred after being king in Jerusalem for some time.
– The baby conceived by David and Bathsheba died after 7 days according to 2 Samuel 12:15-18. Later, Solomon is identified as David’s successor in 1 Kings 1-2.
Putting these clues together, it seems best to place the affair sometime in the middle of David’s reign in Jerusalem, a few years after becoming king over all Israel at age 37. Many scholars estimate he was around 40-45 years old when the scandal with Bathsheba transpired.
So in summary, David was likely around 40-45 years old when he committed adultery with Bathsheba based on all chronological clues provided throughout Scripture. Certainly a sobering episode in the life of Israel’s king.
Number of Israel and Judah
One of David’s most serious mistakes as king was when he ordered a census to be taken to number all the fighting men in Israel and Judah (2 Samuel 24:1-17). This act displeased God and judgment came upon the nation.
We are provided David’s age at the time of this census in 2 Samuel 24: While no specific age is stated in the passage, it does say this census took place at “the end of the days”, implying late in David’s reign (2 Samuel 24:1).
Additionally, soon after in 1 Kings 1:1 it notes, “Now King David was old and advanced in years.” And in 1 Kings 1:3 it mentions, “David had grown old…”
From the earlier chronology we know:
– David was 30 years old when he became king over Judah
– He reigned 7 1/2 years over Judah in Hebron
– Then became king of Israel at age 37
– And reigned over Israel for 33 years in Jerusalem (2 Samuel 5:4-5)
That puts David at about 70 years old (30+7+33) near the end of his reign when the census took place. Therefore, based on the textual clues, David was likely around 70 years old give or take a couple years when he erred in taking the census of Israel and Judah recorded in 2 Samuel 24.
Appoint Solomon as Successor
As David neared death, one of his final acts as king was to formally appoint his son Solomon as successor, despite the efforts of another son Adonijah to seize the throne. We read about this transition of power in 1 Kings 1.
David was by now clearly advanced in age and nearing the end of his life according to the account:
– In 1 Kings 1:1 we’re told, “Now King David was old and advanced in years.”
– His servants suggest finding a young virgin to attend to him and keep him warm (1 Kings 1:1-4), implying his elderly frailty.
– In 1 Kings 1:15, when Bathsheba visits David, he is described as “very old” and she bows down in respect.
The chronicler adds in 1 Chronicles 23:1 – “When David was old and full of days, he made Solomon his son king over Israel.” And in 1 Chronicles 29:28 – “David died at a good old age, full of days, riches, and honor.”
Taking all these passages together, David seems to have been around 70 years old when he appointed Solomon as his successor, not long before David’s death after a long and full life of “riches and honor” as Israel’s king.
Conclusion
While the Bible does not always directly state David’s age at major points in his life, based on detailed chronology and clues given in Scripture, here are reasonable estimates of David’s age alongside his remarkable journey:
– Anointed future king: around 15-20 years old
– Killed Goliath: around 15-18 years old
– Married Saul’s daughter: around 18-22 years old
– Anointed king over Judah: 30 years old
– Anointed king over Israel: 37 years old
– Affair with Bathsheba: around 40-45 years old
– Numbered fighting men: around 70 years old
– Appointed Solomon as successor: around 70 years old
From teenage shepherd to aged and respected king over all Israel, God used the life of David in mighty ways, despite some grave failures along the way. May we reflect on the faithfulness of God shown throughout the full span of David’s years.
