The reign of King David is described as the most successful in the history of Israel's monarchy. For this reason, David is labeled as the ideal king of Israel. This is based on his numerous achievements.

King David defeated and killed Goliath, the Philistines who had challenged King Saul and all his soldiers. This earned him respect from King Saul, the Israelites and above all, it ensured peace and stability (1 Samuel 17: 14 ff).

King David defeated the Amalekites in one of his famous military confrontations. This ensured that there was peace in Israel (1 Samuel 30b: 1 ff).

King David defeated the Philistines Once and for all. The Philistines had become such a threat to the people of Israel during the reign of King Saul that they even took the ark of covenant with them. They had also killed the two sons of Eli. Therefore, their defeat helped to restore peace and stability in the kingdom (2 Samuel 5: 17 ff).

King David captured Jerusalem from the Jebusites and made it as the capital city of Israel (David city). This also completed the conquest of the Canaan land (2 Samuel 5:6-7).

King David was a great diplomat. He signed trade treaties with the neighbouring nations like Tyre and Egypt. This became important in ensuring stability within the Kingdom and at the borders considering that Israel had been at war with the neighbours for a long period of time.

King David promoted unity in Israel. The rejection of King Saul and the Lord choosing him as king left the kingdom divided as some people favoured him and others rallied against him. However, King David made all the tribes of the North and the South to recognize him as their only leader (2 Samuel 5: 1 ff).

King David centralized worship at Jerusalem as opposed to the existence of various shrines in places like Gilgal, Shiloh and Bethel among others.

King David expanded the boundaries of Israel through his military victories. He annexed the territory of Edom to Israel.

King David built and maintained a strong army in Israel. He used this army to keep the sovereignty of Israel and maintained stability within the kingdom.

King David built round Jerusalem and made it to become the most attractive city of the time. His magnificent palace added to the beauty of the city (2 Samuel 5 :9).

King David eliminated internal resistance and opposition within the kingdom. For example, he put to death some family members of King Saul who were opposing his leadership. This ensured peace and stability within the kingdom.

King David brought back the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem from Baalah where the Philistines had abandoned it following its capture during the reign of King Saul (2 Samuel 6: 1 ff).

King David developed a plan of building a temple for God in Jerusalem. He had intended to make the temple the Lord's sanctuary as the covenant box would be kept inside it. However, the Lord through Prophet Nathan stopped him from fulfilling his plan with a promise that one of his sons would do so on his behalf (2 Samuel 7: 1 ff).

King David composed psalms using his talents in music. These were songs he used to praise the-Lord for his goodness. They were later to be greatly used by all the people of Israel (2 Samuel 22: 1 ff).

King David centralized his administration in Jerusalem. This enabled him to take control of the entire kingdom as everything was monitored more closely.

King David was a repentant person whenever he could find himself in the wrong. He repented after having committed the double sin of adultery and murder and this made God to forgive him (2 Samuel 12: 13).

King David had a strong respect for God's servants like Samuel and Prophet Nathan. He humbled himself before prophet Nathan who had condemned him for his sins of adultery and murder .This was opposed to the character of the King Saul who disrespected God's servants particularly Samuel.

King David greatly honoured and feared the Lord. He sang songs of praise and danced for the Lord during the transfer of the covenant box back to Jerusalem from Baalah where the Philistines had abandoned it (2 Samuel 6:9-14).

King David promoted justice among the people of Israel. He ensured that cases were judged fairly basing on the covenant laws.

King David became the founder of a powerful dynasty in Israel. His son, Solomon succeeded him as king of Israel.

King David established commercial link with neighbouring nations like Tyre, which supplied him with building materials (2 Samuel 5: 11).

The Failures of King David

Being truly human, King David had his short comings or mistakes. Despite winning the Lord's favour, King David later blundered thus he developed black spots in his leadership over Israel and as such failed to live up to the expected standard.

King David ignored his duty of leading Israel into the battle field. He chose to send his military commanders and soldiers to fight the Ammonites. However, that was a time when kings were required to go war (2 Samuel 11: 1).

King David committed adultery with Bathsheba who was the wife to Uriah, the Hittite and one of his faithful soldiers. This was against the covenant laws that prohibited the Israelites from having sexual desires for another man's wife (2 Samuel 11: 1 ff).

King David violated the law of sanctification of Israel's army. He had sexual intercourse with Bathsheba when Israel was at war with the Ammonites when he knew such an act was forbidden (2 Samuel 11 :4).

King David was involved in murder. He plotted for the death of Uriah during Israel's war with the Ammonites. He was also responsible for the death of some family members of King Saul (2 Samuel 11: 14-17).

Figure 5: David handing over a letter to Uriah, 1619.

King David became a polygamous man after making Bathsheba his second wife following the planned death of her husband, Uriah (2 Samuel 11: 26-27). However, this was an act of disobedience since the kings of Israel were required marry only one wife.

King David was a weak family head by failing to control his family members. He allowed his own son, Amnon to play trick on him in order to rape his half sister Tamar and watched helplessly the events that followed. He also failed to control the succession disputes between his sons, Solomon and Adonijah.

King David attempted to carry out a census which the king of Israel was not allowed to do. This census was therefore illegal and it had the wrong motive since it was intended to know the number of men who could be subjected to forced labour.

King David became tribalistic towards the end of his reign. He favoured only the people in and around Jerusalem.

King David became autocratic towards the end of his reign. He centralized his power and ruled the kingdom almost single handedly.

King David allied with foreign and pagan nations including Tyre through signing trade treaties. However, this was against the will of God.

Israel experienced corruption and exploitation especially of the minority during King David's reign. This was brought about by the commercial prosperity that the nation had attained.

King David introduced forced labour in Israel during the building his palace and the Jerusalem city. This was a slavery condition similar to what their ancestors experienced in Egypt.

King David forcefully recruited the people of Israel into the army as he embarked on fighting his ambitious wars (2 Samuel 24:9).

King David's reign experienced an epidemic because of his sins. Many people died during this period (2 Samuel 24: 14).