King David

Through a close and critical reading of biblical texts ancient history and recent archeological discoveries Steven L. McKenzie concludes that David was indeed a real person. This David was not the humble shepherd who slew Goliath and became king however but was a usurper adulterer and murderer--a Middle Eastern despot of a familiar type. McKenzie shows that the story of humble beginnings is utterly misleading: shepherd is a metaphor for king and David came from a wealthy upper-class background. Similarly McKenzie reveals how David''s ascent to power traditionally attributed to popularity and divine blessing in fact resulted from a campaign of terror and assassination. While instituting a full-blown Middle Eastern monarchy David was an aggressive leader a devious politician and a ruthless war chief. Throughout his scandalous reign important figures who stood in his way died at convenient times under questionable circumstances. Even his own sons were not spared. David''s story writes McKenzie reads like a modern soap opera with plenty of sex violence and struggles for power.