The Shepherd King

How many heroes from ancient history can you name who are still being honored today by Israelis and by Palestinians, by Catholics and by Protestants, by followers of Islam and by followers of Judaism?David Ben-Jesse uniquely fits that description. He is known to Jews (and to Israelis) as their greatest king; to Muslims as a revered prophet; and to Christians as one whom God called "a man after my own heart" (Holy Bible, Acts of the Apostles 13:22).Yet those who write about King David often tend to say either too much or too little about him. Devotional materials sometimes spiritualize every detail of his life. Bible study books may gloss over the less uplifting aspects of his career. Novels go to the opposite extreme, adding imaginary (even racy) content to embroider a story already rich in texture.THE SHEPHERD KING: A New Biography of David Ben-Jesse is based on a careful and reverent re-reading of the age-old narratives; on reliable scholarly studies of biblical literature; and on recent archeological findings that shed light on life as it was lived three thousand years ago. Neither devotional nor fictional in approach, it is indeed a new biography for readers 12 and up of one of the most colorful and compelling characters in all of human history.