Tag: king david

Reviewing House of David: A Biblical Epic with Strengths and Struggles

As a Christian, I often approach television adaptations of biblical stories with a mix of excitement and caution. The Bible is a sacred text, rich with history, theology, and divine truth, so any attempt to bring its narratives to the screen must be handled with care. Amazon Prime Video’s House of David, a new series chronicling the early life of King David, has caught my attention. Having watched roughly half of the first season, I’m eager to share my thoughts on how closely it aligns with the biblical account, its strengths as a production, and where it takes creative liberties. I hope to give you my thoughts, encouraging discernment while appreciating the show’s efforts to bring Scripture to life.

Be My AI: A wooden slingshot lying on sandy ground in a desert-like environment. The slingshot is positioned upright, casting a long shadow due to the low angle of the sun, which is either rising or setting in the background. The ground is covered with small pebbles and a few larger stones scattered around. In the distance, there are blurred silhouettes of hills or mountains under a clear sky. The lighting creates a warm, golden tone across the scene.

A Faithful Foundation with Creative Flourishes

House of David centres on the early years of David, the shepherd boy who becomes Israel’s greatest king, with the first season building towards his iconic confrontation with Goliath. The show draws primarily from 1 Samuel 13–18, faithfully depicting key moments such as Samuel’s anointing of David and David’s role as a harpist in King Saul’s court. The prophet Samuel, portrayed by Stephen Lang, is a commanding presence, embodying the gravitas of a God-ordained seer. King Saul (Ali Suliman) and other biblical figures, like Jonathan and Michal, are all present, grounding the narrative in the scriptural framework. For those familiar with David’s life as depicted in the Bible, the core story is recognisable, and the show strives to honour the essence of these events.

However, the Bible provides sparse details about David’s early life, leaving gaps that House of David fills with creative storytelling. This poetic licence is understandable—television demands a fleshed-out narrative to sustain an eight-episode season. For example, the show introduces subplots, such as a fictional romance between David and Michal that unfolds earlier than in Scripture, and explores David’s family dynamics, including a tradition suggesting he was an outcast due to his birth circumstances. While these additions add drama, they occasionally stray from the biblical text. The David of Scripture is marked by unwavering faith and courage, but the show sometimes portrays him as rebellious or uncertain, which feels inconsistent with his biblical character. As long as these embellishments don’t contradict the Bible’s core truths, I find them generally acceptable for a dramatic adaptation, though they require discernment.

I found some of the shows portrayal of David a little inconsistent at times. Even as a young man, watching the flocks, my impression from the Bible is that he had unwavering courage. The show often depicts him as quite fearful, and although he faces those fears Even tackling a lion, the show does not depict him as the man I imagine from reading the Bible. I am the 1st to admit that could be my problem, and perhaps there is some realism in a younger David learning to face his fears and develop courage as he matures. But it’s something to look out for and consider. 

Strengths: Engaging Storytelling and High Production Value

One of the standout qualities of House of David is its production quality. Filmed in Greece, the series boasts stunning cinematography, with sweeping landscapes and detailed sets that immerse viewers in the ancient Near Eastern world. The costumes and battle scenes are meticulously crafted, lending authenticity to the period. The acting is another strength—Michael Iskander’s portrayal of David captures his musicality and heart, even if the character occasionally deviates from the biblical archetype. Ali Suliman’s Saul is particularly compelling, portraying a king torn between divine calling and personal pride, a dynamic that mirrors 1 Samuel 15’s account of his disobedience.

The show’s pacing is steady, allowing relationships—such as David’s friendship with Jonathan or his tensions with Saul—to develop naturally. It explores themes of faith, obedience, and destiny, which resonate deeply with Christian viewers. The inclusion of David’s love for music, with Hebrew psalms woven into the narrative, adds a spiritually rich layer, reminding us of his role as the “sweet psalmist of Israel”.

Areas of Concern: Darkness and Supernatural Elements

House of David doesn’t shy away from the grittier aspects of the biblical world. The battle scenes, while not gratuitous, are reasonably violent, reflecting the harsh realities of the time. This aligns with the historical context but may be intense for younger viewers, so parental discretion is advised.

More concerning is the show’s emphasis on witchcraft and supernatural elements, particularly among Israel’s enemies. For instance, a subplot involving the Amalekite king Agag casting spells and references to giants as descendants of fallen angels lean heavily into fantasy. While these elements draw from biblical and postbiblical traditions, they risk sensationalising the narrative, making it feel more like a fantasy epic than a historical drama. The Bible mentions spiritual forces, but House of David amplifies these, sometimes veering into speculative territory, such as an early meeting with the Witch of Endor, which is entirely fabricated.

Clearly the Bible is a supernatural book. There are many references to God in the show, and we know from the biblical text that the enemies of Israel did worship false idols and have detestable practices which led to God‘s judgement on them. So I’m not criticising the show for supernatural elements, Merely pointing out that we ought to handle this material with care. 

A Reminder to Return to Scripture

I haven’t watched The Chosen, a series often compared to House of David for its biblical storytelling, but I assume it shares a similar approach: blending scriptural fidelity with dramatic interpretation. House of David is an engaging watch, and I’m eager to finish the season. Its success—reaching #2 on Prime Video’s most-watched list and drawing 22 million viewers in its first 17 days—shows its broad appeal. However, as Christians, we must use such adaptations as a springboard, not a substitute, for studying the Bible. Shows like this can spark interest in Scripture, but they also remind us to verify what we see against the Word of God.

In conclusion, House of David is a visually stunning, well-acted series that largely captures the spirit of David’s early life, though it takes notable creative liberties. It’s a compelling blend of faith and drama, but its darker themes and supernatural flourishes require discernment. I encourage viewers to enjoy it as historical fiction while returning to 1 Samuel to anchor their understanding in truth. Let’s use this series to deepen our engagement with the Bible, ensuring we know what is—and isn’t—biblical.

What Should You Be Doing?

In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king’s men and the whole Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem.

2 One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, 3 and David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, “She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.

2 Samuel 11:1-3 (NIV)

King David was without a doubt Israel’s greatest king. He was beloved of God, and penned much of the Psalms we know and love today. Yet he was not a perfect man, and 2 Samuel 11 begins to tell how he fell into temptation and committed the sin of adultery.

These passages are not here for us to pick on David, nor is anything I say in this post meant to be criticism of him. These stories and words are here in our Bible to teach us, and we must learn the lessons from David’s mistakes. Hopefully by doing so, we will avoid the sins he fell into.

2 Samuel 11 opens by telling us it is spring time, and the time when kings go off to war. We might then expect it to say that King David gathered his army and went after the Ammonites, but it does not… Instead we read that David sent Joab with the army to go fight, and he stayed at home.

This is probably David’s first mistake. For whatever reason, he decides not to go out with the army. Perhaps he was fed up with war, or perhaps he was just tired. We do not know if Joab tried to convince him either way, but ultimately he was not where he needed to be – and that led him down a path of trouble.

David’s first misstep was to not do what he should have been doing. What should you be doing? Are you putting off things you know God has put on your heart? Are you making excuses not to fulfil your commitments or responsibilities? If so, then it could likewise lead you into problems.

There are likely countless examples. Do we find ourselves watching all kinds of sinfulness on TV, instead of spending time with God or our families? Are we surfing the web instead of putting in the hours at work (this is all too easy while working at home)? Are you laying in on a Sunday morning instead of being with God’s fellow people? Insert your own example here…

Verse 2 begins “One evening, David got up from his bed…” What does that tell you? David had been in bed during the day. Some immediately assume he’s spent all day in bed, and all night doing whatever he wanted. This could well be true, but we must also remember Israel can get very warm and so he may have just been resting during the heat of the day.

Irrespective, he then decides to take a walk on the roof. We do not know if this was his custom, or the done thing of the day, but again, it leads him into the path of temptation. I have no idea if David’s palace was the biggest and tallest building around, but it is in my mind at least. David, on the roof, would have had a good view of the entire area. Was it pride that took him up there, to survey his entire kingdom? Did he know it was a common time for women to bathe, and so hoped to catch a glimpse? We don’t know, and i have no wish to unfairly criticise him – as the text does not necessarily support it.

From the roof, David sees a beautiful woman. As above, we do not know if it was an accident or contrived in some way. Either way, what should he have been doing at this point? Averting his eyes? Definitely. Running away? Quite probably. And as an aside, one day i’ll write a post about “running away” as we see several examples in the Bible of people who did this, for good and bad reasons.

When he saw her bathing, instead of doing what he should have done, he sends a servant to find out who she is. It is clear that he is flirting with sin at this point. He has likely looked on her with lust, and now sets his mind to having her for himself. When he finds out that she is married, that should certainly have been the end of it. But if you know the story, then you know it is not the case.

There is more to learn from the rest of the account, but my point for today is simply to say – what should you be doing? We see more than one opportunity here for David to have done the right thing, and he chose not to. Instead of doing what he ought to be, he takes small steps towards sin.

Temptation is often like that. Rarely is someone simply tempted to commit adultery. It starts with minor things; the laugh by the water cooler, the touch of the arm, the sharing of personal thoughts… and before you know it, you are in a situation where you have moved closer and closer to sin, and it’s now much harder to escape.

Had David just gone to war as he should, then he may never have laid eyes on Bathsheba at all. If you were doing what you should be, what sin might you never lay eyes on?

Perhaps you are not engaged in a particular sin right now, but recognise you are slowly moving towards it – one step at a time. Take time now to reflect on this, and turn back before it is too late. Talk to the Lord about it, and ask Him to give you strength to resist temptation.