[.ca] King David: The Real Life of the Man Who Ruled Israel (ISBN 0345435052)

From Amazon.co.uk:
The difficulty of bringing into perspective figures who are larger than life is well known to Jonathan Kirsch, author of a life of Moses and of the provocative Biblical study The Harlot by the Side of the Road. In his well-researched narrative Kirsch brings King David, arguably the most important figure in the entire Jewish Bible, into relief. In searching for the "real" King David, Kirsch does not claim to bring new information to his study. he is more journalist than Biblical scholar, and clearly acknowledges when he is speculating (as, for example, in his reconstruction of the scene in which David first glimpses the beautiful Bathsheba). Rather, he chooses to remind his readers that David is not myth but flesh and blood--and is, astonishingly, presented this way in the biblical texts themselves. Kirsch's David is real, human, both heroic and flawed. Following much of modern religious scholarship which sees the Bible as "a patchwork of ancient texts that were composed and compiled by countless authors and editors," this study may not appeal to more fundamentalist readers; butit is not intended for scholars. It should, however, satisfy many readers who wish to explore more deeply the pertinent and picaresque life of a very real man, a charismatic leader who, as one historian puts it, "played exquisitely, fought heroically and loved titanically." --Doug Thorpe

The David few know:
Kirsch gives us a detailed account of one of the most famous men in history, complete with the good, the bad, the ugly, and the very ugly. The real David is not for Sunday school students. One wonders why he was known as "a man after God's own heart." Kirsch also makes a good point by suggesting that there is almost no extra-biblical evidence for the existence of David or a united monarchy in Jerusalem. Yet the detail and honesty of which multiple books of the Bible speak of David is enough to convince most historians that he existed. However, do not tell your children about him until they are old enough to see an R-rated movie.

Kirsch Always Makes Me Think:
Jonathan Kirsch is my favorite type of theological writer. He's not afraid to ask the tough questions about the cornerstones of faith and he's open to a wide variety of possibilities both traditional and liberal. He has a deft hand and obvious faith but his writing lacks the undercurrents (and, often, overtones) of other writers who ram particular points of view down a reader's throat. He is the kind of writer who gets the wheels in your head turning. This time out Kirsch looks at the biblical figure of King David. He examines what we know of a man who is in many ways the key figure of the Bible. For those of us focused mainly on the New Testament, we need to be reminded that David was the pinnacle of Jewish success and the cornerstone of Messianic thought. It is no coincidence that Matthew and Luke are careful to trace the genealogy of Jesus through David. And Kirsch makes a very interesting case that it is possible that the books that carry the story of David (1 & 2 Samuel) may be among the oldest in the Bible around which even much of the Torah may have had its development. Certainly, Kirsch reminds us of how very human David is. He is a virile youth and a successful warrior both for and against his countrymen. He is an anointed shepherd who takes years to secure a kingdom which he eventually must defend against his own sons. He is a servant of Yahweh who breaks nearly all the commandments at one time or another but repents. He is a believer but is steeped in pagan ritual and tradition who ultimately is not allowed to build a temple to his God. In the oldest stories, David gives us a glimpse of a people and religion that is trying to make itself into the Judaism we recognize but is still finding its way despite Abraham and Moses. Ultimately, Kirsch leads us to an understanding of David and his time by fleshing out details and offering explanations for things that get short shrift in the Biblical text. Whether or not you accept all of Kirsch's possibilities, this book is a valuable resource for anyone who wants a clearer picture of the Old Testament world.

How NOT to write a biography:
It is very evident that the motive of the author was to debunk the Old Testamentin general, and the biblical David in particular. In doing so, he appears to reference all his material with notated references to the index. Howefver, if you examine these references, many are stated as factual material. In reality, they were previously written by another individual, and their validity is highly suspect. He uses other versions of the Bible to support his position, and roughly 150 books which he eviscerated passages to support his positions. A fairytale!

Another Quack on the loose!:
Kirsch's account of King David's life is highly questionable to say the least. The book is full of conjecture. The flaws in the author's reasoning are apparent on the face of every page. His perception of King David's relationship with God and country is severely unschooled and a danger to follow. Anyone interested in appreciating the true story of "The man after God's heart" would be better off reading the Biblical accounts. Don't waste your money on this quack historian who seems committed to justifying base persuits with the flaws of the great men and women of Biblical antiquity.

A misleading buy:
On the back cover this book promises to include biblical archaeology with the traditional stories from the bible - but it does not. I read the first 60 pages and then dipped into some later sections in utter frustration. All this book does is weave together a story based almost wholely on the bible stories. You find out very little that a read of the bible would not provide. I consider the book a waste of money.