July 3, 2025 • 24 mins
# 185 - David: King of Judah - In this episode of The Chosen People with Yael Eckstein, David leaves exile behind to answer God’s quiet call and take the crown in Hebron—not by conquest, but by consent. Join us as we explore how true kingship begins with humility, obedience, and the courage to wait for God’s timing.
Episode 185 of The Chosen People with Yael Eckstein is inspired by the Book of Joshua.
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For more information about Yael Eckstein and IFCJ visit https://www.ifcj.org/
Today's opening prayer is inspired by 1 Samuel 2:4, "The bows of the warriors are broken, but those who stumbled are armed with strength."
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Show Notes:
(01:32) Intro with Yael Eckstein
(02:46) David: King of Judah
(18:20) Reflection with Yael Eckstein
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Previously on the Chosen people.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
You will sit on Israel's throne. David, not I that
soul you The Lord raises the humble. My brother may
be a shepherd. Now the head of God is upon you.
I see it as clearly as I see the stars.
Speaker 1 (00:18):
Soul's weary arms flashed through the enemy as they advanced.
Closer and closer they pressed, but the king stood his
ground until it hit an enemy arrow whistled through the air,
finding its mark on Soul's side, through flesh, through bone,
into the lungs. So this is how it how it ends?
(00:51):
What what's the first love? The David sat again, the
crown of Soul in his lap, heavy with blood and memory.
He did not look up. He only whispered, more to
(01:13):
himself than any other. David closed his eyes. He had
won no war, He had claimed no glory. The crown
had come and with it the curse.
Speaker 3 (01:34):
Judah didn't need a king with the sword. It needed
a shepherd with a scar shell. Oh, my friends, from
here in the holy land of Israel, I'm l extein
with international Fellowship of Christians and Jews, and welcome to
the Chosen People. Have you ever felt the tension of
almost becoming who you were always meant to be, but
(01:55):
not yet. That's strange in between, where the old chapter
is closed, but no one hasn't fully begun today, and
second Samuel too we find David standing in exactly that place.
Saul is dead, the throne is empty, but the crown,
the crown is not the point. The people are, the
land is aching, the tribes are scattered. The future of
(02:18):
Israel teeters on a razor's edge, and David, our poet,
our warrior, our exile is called rise. But how does
a man rise without reaching? How does one receive power
without grasping for it? What kind of strength does it
(02:38):
take to wait for God's timing? Because in Hebron everything
is about to change.
Speaker 1 (02:48):
The sun rose like a crown over the black edge
of the earth, and spilled gold across the plains of Ziklag.
To the common eye, it was a morning no different
than the thousands that had come before it. The world turned,
the light returned, work began, but not for David. Long
(03:11):
before the sun kissed the hills, David had climbed the
Eastern rise above the village. Alone. He sat with his
lyre strumming a song of praise to the Lord. He
sang and strummed on the edge of the hill, looking
out at the horizon. To the north lay the lands
of Judah, the pride and strength of Israel. David stood
(03:35):
between the past and the future, between the man he
had been and the king he was fated to become.
He watched the light crawl slowly across the valley. The
warmth touched his cheeks like the hand of an old friend.
It was as though the earth itself had turned its
(03:56):
face to him. He closed his eyes and prayed. He
prayed in the simplest of ways, no grand gestures or
consultation of the ephod, just the sheep and his shepherd,
nestled together in the tall grass.
Speaker 4 (04:13):
Shall I rise up?
Speaker 1 (04:15):
Shall I return to Judah? The answer came not with
fire or thunder, but with the wind, a stirring in
the trees, her breath on his skin, A still, small,
quiet voice rise. The word hummed through the stillness like
(04:36):
a drawn bowstring. David's eyes opened, where to who will
receive me too? Hebron At that moment, David felt again
the weight of Samuel's oil upon his brow. He had
been just a boy, then, a forgotten son, No one
(04:58):
but the Lord had seen the fire in him. But
now the fire burned hotter. The burden was no longer prophecy.
It was purpose. David descended the slope with steady steps.
The village below stirred as he returned. Beniah was the
first to greet him with a pat on the shoulder
(05:18):
and a cup of hot broth. Saw is dead.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
Israel is in shambles. The tribes are disutified. The Philistines
plunder and burn all in their wake. Ziglag doesn't seem
too awful. It's pity we're leaving. I never said we
were leaving. It's all over your face.
Speaker 1 (05:36):
The others gathered before him, Uriah, Jashabin, Abeshi, and the
other mighty men. There was a hush among them, the
sense that the ground itself was shifting beneath their feet.
They were ready. David raised his voice, clear and fierce
as a trumpet on a battlefield.
Speaker 4 (05:58):
The Lord would have us to Judah, will you.
Speaker 5 (06:02):
Go with me?
Speaker 1 (06:04):
A roar broke from the crowd, loud enough to shake
the hills. Men beat swords against their shields, women wept,
children clung to their mothers, and David stood at the
center of it all, the sun rising behind him like
a halo of fire. They packed what they could carry,
(06:25):
tools and treasures, flocks and families, and by noon the
roads of Ziklag bore the footprints of a nation in exile.
No longer their shepherd led them, and the hills of
Hebron waited. The road to Hebron stretched long across the
(06:45):
hills of Judah, winding like an old scar through the
land of his father's. Two figures could be seen riding
toward them in the distance. The company halted and Beniah
drew his blade. Those men looked darned.
Speaker 4 (07:02):
We will not draw any blood. Do you understand we
won't have to?
Speaker 6 (07:08):
I recognize those horses.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
Abishai bolted with a giddy stride. The two figures approaching
were none other than his brothers, Joab and arsa Hal.
The three collided into each other, embracing with tears and laughs.
David wrote to meet them, embracing them with familial love.
Joab's graveling and hard voice was a strange comfort to David.
Speaker 6 (07:36):
You look like you've seen a thousand lives, David, it
feels that way.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
Thanks for keeping Abashi alive and in one piece.
Speaker 4 (07:46):
Oh it was Abashi who kept me alive, who was
good to have family close by.
Speaker 1 (07:52):
Joab's tone turned serious. His gaze surveyed the company behind
David and sent.
Speaker 6 (08:00):
By the elders of Jodah. The company of men is
just around the bend, ready to escort you to Hebron.
Speaker 4 (08:07):
I haven't come to claim the throne, Joann. We returned
to serve at the conquer.
Speaker 6 (08:14):
The elders seem to think otherwise.
Speaker 1 (08:17):
Beniah and Jasha Beam flashed their blades. What awaits us?
Speaker 5 (08:21):
Pianna gates heron, you're telling me after all this, they
still don't trust David, after everything he's done.
Speaker 1 (08:31):
Beniah shifted his stance. Joab was undisturbed by their posturing.
He was a harder man than any of them. Put
that away, boy, you'd be.
Speaker 6 (08:42):
Idiots a start a fight.
Speaker 1 (08:43):
Right now, you're at the mercy.
Speaker 6 (08:45):
And the elders of Judah. Your fate is in their hands,
and no amount of posturing will change that.
Speaker 1 (08:54):
David's lip twitched. He looked back at his men and
gestured for them to be at e He then reached
into his pack and retrieved Saul's crown.
Speaker 4 (09:06):
As the hell I know you're the swiftest in the man.
Return this crown to the eldest as a gesture of goodwill.
Tell them I've come as a servant of Judah. Abashi
go with him. Tell them of what we've done since
being in exile.
Speaker 1 (09:23):
The brothers mounted their horses and disappeared around the bend.
David turned to Joab, heart pounding with anxious anticipation.
Speaker 4 (09:33):
Joe Am, speak plainly, Is this a trap?
Speaker 1 (09:39):
Joe AB's face was impassive, revealing nothing.
Speaker 6 (09:44):
You'll have to wait and see for yourselves.
Speaker 1 (09:51):
The fire crackled in the center of the circle, throwing
sparks into the twilight. Saul's crown rested atop a stone
table beside the flame. The elders of Judah sat around it,
their faces half in shadow, half in flame. Arsahl and
Abishai reclined on the outskirts. They had said little since
(10:14):
delivering the crown and David's message, but they listened. The
weight of history was in the air. One misstep here,
good birth, a war.
Speaker 4 (10:25):
He's the champion of our people.
Speaker 7 (10:29):
He thought for us when no other would, even when hunted.
He guarded the borders of Judah as if he were
already king.
Speaker 5 (10:37):
And yet the son of Saul still lives yishmashef remains
in Mahinon with Abner and a side. The If David
above him now would be treason in the eyes of
all Israel. We would be inviting war.
Speaker 7 (10:51):
War is already upon us. The Philistines let their teeth
at our orders. Who above you thinks ish boshef will
stop them? That frail child couldn't command a flock of sheep.
Speaker 1 (11:04):
A murmur rippled through the gathered men.
Speaker 7 (11:07):
Ishmashant is no king. He has neither fire in his belly,
nor iron and his spine.
Speaker 4 (11:14):
Abner's the one ruling in his name, and that dog.
Speaker 7 (11:17):
Was ever loyal to Soul's pride.
Speaker 4 (11:20):
Not in Israel's good?
Speaker 7 (11:22):
Would you trade one Homo crown for another?
Speaker 1 (11:27):
Voices rose, some in anger, others in caution. The air
thickened with memory and fear, the fear of another civil schism,
the ghost of Benjamin against Judah. No man here had
forgotten the blood spilled in the name of unity.
Speaker 5 (11:46):
But what are the people of the Lord. Will they
follow us? Have we crowned David? They may not.
Speaker 7 (11:53):
The Lord has already chosen his kid.
Speaker 1 (11:56):
You all know it.
Speaker 7 (11:57):
You've known him since that day in the valley with
David stood alone against the giant.
Speaker 1 (12:04):
Eyes turned toward the crown, not as a symbol of glory,
but of burden, a relic forged in duty, not desire.
Our Sir Hel stood then slowly and set aside his
empty bowl. Habish. I was visibly nervous, What are you
(12:24):
doing moving this along? As Sir Hel approached the roaring
fire in the middle, and every elder suddenly silenced and
fixed their eyes on him.
Speaker 4 (12:36):
I was on molt Gilboa when Saul felt my brother,
and I watched the destruction, barely escaping with our lives.
Speaker 6 (12:45):
I smelled the burning flesh of our kin. The United
Philistine kings are wolves, their bloodthirsty, revenous, and they're ruthless.
Whoever is to.
Speaker 1 (12:56):
Be our king must be willing to base those monsters
without fear. His words rang in the quiet, like a
blade drawn from its scabbard.
Speaker 5 (13:08):
Oh my wandering, oh my waiting. Let Juda arrive behind
the severn. If blood is to be smelled, let it
be for righteousness.
Speaker 1 (13:19):
The men nodded one by one, and just like that,
beneath the stars of Hebron, under the eyes of the
Lord and the ghosts of Israel's passed. They chose their king.
The tall gates of Hebron were in sight. David rode
(13:43):
at the front, his eyes fixed on the distant walls.
The sun hung low behind them, painting the sky a deep,
royal purple. His men said little. They were nervous. Judah
had once called them rebels. David had once been cursed
in Saul's course, and now they marched toward a city
(14:06):
that might equally crown him or behead him. David said nothing.
He prayed. When they came within a mile of the gates,
they could hear it, a low thrum. As they neared,
the sound grew louder. The wind carried the timbre of drums.
(14:27):
The air trembled beneath their feet. Those drums of the
warren were celebration. They reached the city walls, then the
gates opened. It began with one voice, a shout, ragged
and full throated. Then many the people poured forth, like
(14:49):
flood waters from the broken dam. There were no soldiers
with swords, no stones hurled at their feet. Instead, there
was singing music, dancing hands reaching toward heaven, children through
garlands at David's feet. Old men wept, and women danced
(15:11):
with tambourines. David's mouth parted, but no sound came. The
faces before him blurred. The years of running, the caves,
the betrayal, the blood, all of it melted away. His
heart swell'd. He had never imagined joy could feel so heavy.
(15:34):
The crowd parted, revealing the elders of Judah atop a
high platform of carved stone. Abeshei and Arsahial were at
the base, beaming in their midst stood the priests, their
robes catching the light of the setting sun. And there,
resting in the hands of Hebrun's high elder, was the
(15:56):
crown of Israel, the same gold once worn by a
man who loved and hated David in equal measure. David
climbed the steps, slowly and steadily, each footfall echoing like
thunder in the hush that fell. The Naiah, Jashabine, and
(16:17):
Uriah were close behind him. At the top, he turned
to face the gathered multitude.
Speaker 8 (16:25):
The Jia Sayer, the harvest of Bethlehem, the warrior who
would not lift his hand against the king, the outlaw
who guarded our borders when our king would not.
Speaker 7 (16:39):
You have been chosen by God and confirmed by the
voice of the people. David, son of Jesse rise now
as King of Judah, not by birthright, but by divine anointing.
Speaker 1 (16:55):
The crown was raised, David bowed his head, the weight
of it settled on his brow, like iron and fire.
He rose, and the city shook with praise. Long Live
King David, They cried, Long live the Shepherd of Judah.
(17:16):
From the walls to the fields beyond. The land rang
with joy. David did not speak, not at first. His
eyes searched the horizon north toward Jerusalem, and further still
to the wall tore hills, where the rest of Israel
watched and waited. Judah had chosen him, but the North
(17:40):
had not. This was only the beginning. He would reign,
He would war, and one day a greater king would
rise from his line, not born of court or crowned
in gold, but in thorns. But that was a tale
for another age. Here stood David, no longer the boy
(18:04):
who played songs to soothe the mad king, nor the
outlaw who slept among wolves. Here stood the shepherd king,
crowned not in comfort but in fire.
Speaker 3 (18:23):
Oh my, what a moment I'm struck by how quiet
David was through all of this. Not silent exactly, but reserved,
measured a man who knows that once you say yes
to something sacred, you can't take it back. David's steps
towards Hebron were triumphant, they were deliberate, they were slow,
(18:43):
they were almost reluctant. And David's reluctance it's kind of
wisdom that only comes from exile, after you've had your
name dragged through the mud, after you've lived with the
ache of being called and the agony of being forgotten.
David knew all of that, and he still said yes.
(19:06):
The very first verse of Second Samuel two shows us
the difference between David and Saul. It reads, in the
course of time, David inquired of the Lord, shall I
go up to one of the towns of Judah? He asked?
Speaker 5 (19:21):
Now.
Speaker 3 (19:21):
Saul all too often acted on his own, But David
posed the ultimate question to God, is this the right
time for me to go up to Hebron and to
rule as the king of Israel? And this is the
exact quality. The bibleist told us that God desires in
a king for the chosen people, a king who knows
(19:41):
that he is not the ultimate king, but that God
is the ultimate king. And so David, even though he
had already been anointed, asked God if it was the
right time to begin his rule. And when David did
become king, one of the first things that he did
was to show a pret A day earlier, his enemy,
(20:02):
King Saul had been killed by the Philistines, and now
David had never really harbored ill feelings towards Saul. It
was Saul who felt threatened by David. It was Saul
who tried to kill David. So when David heard of
Saul's death, he didn't celebrate. Instead, he mourned and instructed
(20:23):
the Chosen People to do the same. And as David
was mourning Saul, he heard that the Philistines had beheaded
Saul and put his body, along with those of his
family members, on display. The people of jabeshkhi Lad, a
part of Israel, heard what had happened and decided not
to stand for this disrespect of King Saul. They raided
(20:47):
the village where the bodies were being kept. They reclaimed them,
and they gave them finally a proper burial. When David
heard what the people of jabeshkhi Lad did. He expressed
his gratitude, and he promised to repay them for their
holy actions. My friends, there's a lesson in this for
all of us. I know that there's a lesson for me.
(21:09):
One of the most important character traits is our ability
to appreciate what others do for us, to not take
it for granted, to not think we deserve anything, to
realize everything is a blessing. It's our duty to think,
to honor and take knowledge the many people who have
worked hard for us and for others. It's in this
(21:31):
spirit I want to think all of you who have
partnered with us at the fellowship in our holy work,
to help the Chosen people today wherever they are, to
feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to shelter the poor,
to be there as Christians, to stand with Israel and
the Jewish people. I want to say thank you to
(21:52):
that who might you want to think today, what a
moment to witness and what a mirror holds up to
our own hearts. The Bible doesn't shy away from showing
how fragile the mantle of leadership can be, how easily
power can corrupt, how profoundly. It must be steward it.
(22:14):
David doesn't begin his reign with conquest. He begins it
with consent, with submission, with listening. David didn't ascend because
he wanted glory. He rose because he was given a
divine assignment, and he surrendered everything else in order to
serve it. I want to speak today to anyone listening
(22:37):
who feels like you're stuck between seasons. Maybe it's a job,
or a small town, or a quiet corner of your
life where it feels like nothing is moving. Maybe you've
been praying, like David, shall I go up? But you
haven't heard God answer you yet. Don't rush the moment,
don't force God's blessing. Instead, just way and obey, keep
(23:02):
singing your song. God will open up the gates in
his own time, and when he does, may you enter
with open hands and an open heart.
Speaker 1 (23:14):
Amen. You can listen to the Chosen People with Isle
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(23:36):
producers of The Chosen People with Yile Eckstein, edited by
Alberto Avilla, narrated by Paul Caltefianu. Characters are voiced by
Jonathan Cotton, Aaron Salvado, Sarah Seltz, Mike Reagan, Stephen Ringwold,
Sylvia Zaradoc, Thomas Copeland Junior, Rosanna Pilcher, and the opening
prayer is voiced by John Moore. Music by Andrew Morgan Smith,
(24:00):
written by Aaron Salvato, Bree Rosalie and Chris Baig. Special
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(24:22):
Chosen People with Yile Egstein, please rate and leave a review.
Previously on the Chosen people.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
You will sit on Israel's throne. David, not I that
soul you The Lord raises the humble. My brother may
be a shepherd. Now the head of God is upon you.
I see it as clearly as I see the stars.
Speaker 1 (00:18):
Soul's weary arms flashed through the enemy as they advanced.
Closer and closer they pressed, but the king stood his
ground until it hit an enemy arrow whistled through the air,
finding its mark on Soul's side, through flesh, through bone,
into the lungs. So this is how it how it ends?
(00:51):
What what's the first love? The David sat again, the
crown of Soul in his lap, heavy with blood and memory.
He did not look up. He only whispered, more to
(01:13):
himself than any other. David closed his eyes. He had
won no war, He had claimed no glory. The crown
had come and with it the curse.
Speaker 3 (01:34):
Judah didn't need a king with the sword. It needed
a shepherd with a scar shell. Oh, my friends, from
here in the holy land of Israel, I'm l extein
with international Fellowship of Christians and Jews, and welcome to
the Chosen People. Have you ever felt the tension of
almost becoming who you were always meant to be, but
(01:55):
not yet. That's strange in between, where the old chapter
is closed, but no one hasn't fully begun today, and
second Samuel too we find David standing in exactly that place.
Saul is dead, the throne is empty, but the crown,
the crown is not the point. The people are, the
land is aching, the tribes are scattered. The future of
(02:18):
Israel teeters on a razor's edge, and David, our poet,
our warrior, our exile is called rise. But how does
a man rise without reaching? How does one receive power
without grasping for it? What kind of strength does it
(02:38):
take to wait for God's timing? Because in Hebron everything
is about to change.
Speaker 1 (02:48):
The sun rose like a crown over the black edge
of the earth, and spilled gold across the plains of Ziklag.
To the common eye, it was a morning no different
than the thousands that had come before it. The world turned,
the light returned, work began, but not for David. Long
(03:11):
before the sun kissed the hills, David had climbed the
Eastern rise above the village. Alone. He sat with his
lyre strumming a song of praise to the Lord. He
sang and strummed on the edge of the hill, looking
out at the horizon. To the north lay the lands
of Judah, the pride and strength of Israel. David stood
(03:35):
between the past and the future, between the man he
had been and the king he was fated to become.
He watched the light crawl slowly across the valley. The
warmth touched his cheeks like the hand of an old friend.
It was as though the earth itself had turned its
(03:56):
face to him. He closed his eyes and prayed. He
prayed in the simplest of ways, no grand gestures or
consultation of the ephod, just the sheep and his shepherd,
nestled together in the tall grass.
Speaker 4 (04:13):
Shall I rise up?
Speaker 1 (04:15):
Shall I return to Judah? The answer came not with
fire or thunder, but with the wind, a stirring in
the trees, her breath on his skin, A still, small,
quiet voice rise. The word hummed through the stillness like
(04:36):
a drawn bowstring. David's eyes opened, where to who will
receive me too? Hebron At that moment, David felt again
the weight of Samuel's oil upon his brow. He had
been just a boy, then, a forgotten son, No one
(04:58):
but the Lord had seen the fire in him. But
now the fire burned hotter. The burden was no longer prophecy.
It was purpose. David descended the slope with steady steps.
The village below stirred as he returned. Beniah was the
first to greet him with a pat on the shoulder
(05:18):
and a cup of hot broth. Saw is dead.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
Israel is in shambles. The tribes are disutified. The Philistines
plunder and burn all in their wake. Ziglag doesn't seem
too awful. It's pity we're leaving. I never said we
were leaving. It's all over your face.
Speaker 1 (05:36):
The others gathered before him, Uriah, Jashabin, Abeshi, and the
other mighty men. There was a hush among them, the
sense that the ground itself was shifting beneath their feet.
They were ready. David raised his voice, clear and fierce
as a trumpet on a battlefield.
Speaker 4 (05:58):
The Lord would have us to Judah, will you.
Speaker 5 (06:02):
Go with me?
Speaker 1 (06:04):
A roar broke from the crowd, loud enough to shake
the hills. Men beat swords against their shields, women wept,
children clung to their mothers, and David stood at the
center of it all, the sun rising behind him like
a halo of fire. They packed what they could carry,
(06:25):
tools and treasures, flocks and families, and by noon the
roads of Ziklag bore the footprints of a nation in exile.
No longer their shepherd led them, and the hills of
Hebron waited. The road to Hebron stretched long across the
(06:45):
hills of Judah, winding like an old scar through the
land of his father's. Two figures could be seen riding
toward them in the distance. The company halted and Beniah
drew his blade. Those men looked darned.
Speaker 4 (07:02):
We will not draw any blood. Do you understand we
won't have to?
Speaker 6 (07:08):
I recognize those horses.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
Abishai bolted with a giddy stride. The two figures approaching
were none other than his brothers, Joab and arsa Hal.
The three collided into each other, embracing with tears and laughs.
David wrote to meet them, embracing them with familial love.
Joab's graveling and hard voice was a strange comfort to David.
Speaker 6 (07:36):
You look like you've seen a thousand lives, David, it
feels that way.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
Thanks for keeping Abashi alive and in one piece.
Speaker 4 (07:46):
Oh it was Abashi who kept me alive, who was
good to have family close by.
Speaker 1 (07:52):
Joab's tone turned serious. His gaze surveyed the company behind
David and sent.
Speaker 6 (08:00):
By the elders of Jodah. The company of men is
just around the bend, ready to escort you to Hebron.
Speaker 4 (08:07):
I haven't come to claim the throne, Joann. We returned
to serve at the conquer.
Speaker 6 (08:14):
The elders seem to think otherwise.
Speaker 1 (08:17):
Beniah and Jasha Beam flashed their blades. What awaits us?
Speaker 5 (08:21):
Pianna gates heron, you're telling me after all this, they
still don't trust David, after everything he's done.
Speaker 1 (08:31):
Beniah shifted his stance. Joab was undisturbed by their posturing.
He was a harder man than any of them. Put
that away, boy, you'd be.
Speaker 6 (08:42):
Idiots a start a fight.
Speaker 1 (08:43):
Right now, you're at the mercy.
Speaker 6 (08:45):
And the elders of Judah. Your fate is in their hands,
and no amount of posturing will change that.
Speaker 1 (08:54):
David's lip twitched. He looked back at his men and
gestured for them to be at e He then reached
into his pack and retrieved Saul's crown.
Speaker 4 (09:06):
As the hell I know you're the swiftest in the man.
Return this crown to the eldest as a gesture of goodwill.
Tell them I've come as a servant of Judah. Abashi
go with him. Tell them of what we've done since
being in exile.
Speaker 1 (09:23):
The brothers mounted their horses and disappeared around the bend.
David turned to Joab, heart pounding with anxious anticipation.
Speaker 4 (09:33):
Joe Am, speak plainly, Is this a trap?
Speaker 1 (09:39):
Joe AB's face was impassive, revealing nothing.
Speaker 6 (09:44):
You'll have to wait and see for yourselves.
Speaker 1 (09:51):
The fire crackled in the center of the circle, throwing
sparks into the twilight. Saul's crown rested atop a stone
table beside the flame. The elders of Judah sat around it,
their faces half in shadow, half in flame. Arsahl and
Abishai reclined on the outskirts. They had said little since
(10:14):
delivering the crown and David's message, but they listened. The
weight of history was in the air. One misstep here,
good birth, a war.
Speaker 4 (10:25):
He's the champion of our people.
Speaker 7 (10:29):
He thought for us when no other would, even when hunted.
He guarded the borders of Judah as if he were
already king.
Speaker 5 (10:37):
And yet the son of Saul still lives yishmashef remains
in Mahinon with Abner and a side. The If David
above him now would be treason in the eyes of
all Israel. We would be inviting war.
Speaker 7 (10:51):
War is already upon us. The Philistines let their teeth
at our orders. Who above you thinks ish boshef will
stop them? That frail child couldn't command a flock of sheep.
Speaker 1 (11:04):
A murmur rippled through the gathered men.
Speaker 7 (11:07):
Ishmashant is no king. He has neither fire in his belly,
nor iron and his spine.
Speaker 4 (11:14):
Abner's the one ruling in his name, and that dog.
Speaker 7 (11:17):
Was ever loyal to Soul's pride.
Speaker 4 (11:20):
Not in Israel's good?
Speaker 7 (11:22):
Would you trade one Homo crown for another?
Speaker 1 (11:27):
Voices rose, some in anger, others in caution. The air
thickened with memory and fear, the fear of another civil schism,
the ghost of Benjamin against Judah. No man here had
forgotten the blood spilled in the name of unity.
Speaker 5 (11:46):
But what are the people of the Lord. Will they
follow us? Have we crowned David? They may not.
Speaker 7 (11:53):
The Lord has already chosen his kid.
Speaker 1 (11:56):
You all know it.
Speaker 7 (11:57):
You've known him since that day in the valley with
David stood alone against the giant.
Speaker 1 (12:04):
Eyes turned toward the crown, not as a symbol of glory,
but of burden, a relic forged in duty, not desire.
Our Sir Hel stood then slowly and set aside his
empty bowl. Habish. I was visibly nervous, What are you
(12:24):
doing moving this along? As Sir Hel approached the roaring
fire in the middle, and every elder suddenly silenced and
fixed their eyes on him.
Speaker 4 (12:36):
I was on molt Gilboa when Saul felt my brother,
and I watched the destruction, barely escaping with our lives.
Speaker 6 (12:45):
I smelled the burning flesh of our kin. The United
Philistine kings are wolves, their bloodthirsty, revenous, and they're ruthless.
Whoever is to.
Speaker 1 (12:56):
Be our king must be willing to base those monsters
without fear. His words rang in the quiet, like a
blade drawn from its scabbard.
Speaker 5 (13:08):
Oh my wandering, oh my waiting. Let Juda arrive behind
the severn. If blood is to be smelled, let it
be for righteousness.
Speaker 1 (13:19):
The men nodded one by one, and just like that,
beneath the stars of Hebron, under the eyes of the
Lord and the ghosts of Israel's passed. They chose their king.
The tall gates of Hebron were in sight. David rode
(13:43):
at the front, his eyes fixed on the distant walls.
The sun hung low behind them, painting the sky a deep,
royal purple. His men said little. They were nervous. Judah
had once called them rebels. David had once been cursed
in Saul's course, and now they marched toward a city
(14:06):
that might equally crown him or behead him. David said nothing.
He prayed. When they came within a mile of the gates,
they could hear it, a low thrum. As they neared,
the sound grew louder. The wind carried the timbre of drums.
(14:27):
The air trembled beneath their feet. Those drums of the
warren were celebration. They reached the city walls, then the
gates opened. It began with one voice, a shout, ragged
and full throated. Then many the people poured forth, like
(14:49):
flood waters from the broken dam. There were no soldiers
with swords, no stones hurled at their feet. Instead, there
was singing music, dancing hands reaching toward heaven, children through
garlands at David's feet. Old men wept, and women danced
(15:11):
with tambourines. David's mouth parted, but no sound came. The
faces before him blurred. The years of running, the caves,
the betrayal, the blood, all of it melted away. His
heart swell'd. He had never imagined joy could feel so heavy.
(15:34):
The crowd parted, revealing the elders of Judah atop a
high platform of carved stone. Abeshei and Arsahial were at
the base, beaming in their midst stood the priests, their
robes catching the light of the setting sun. And there,
resting in the hands of Hebrun's high elder, was the
(15:56):
crown of Israel, the same gold once worn by a
man who loved and hated David in equal measure. David
climbed the steps, slowly and steadily, each footfall echoing like
thunder in the hush that fell. The Naiah, Jashabine, and
(16:17):
Uriah were close behind him. At the top, he turned
to face the gathered multitude.
Speaker 8 (16:25):
The Jia Sayer, the harvest of Bethlehem, the warrior who
would not lift his hand against the king, the outlaw
who guarded our borders when our king would not.
Speaker 7 (16:39):
You have been chosen by God and confirmed by the
voice of the people. David, son of Jesse rise now
as King of Judah, not by birthright, but by divine anointing.
Speaker 1 (16:55):
The crown was raised, David bowed his head, the weight
of it settled on his brow, like iron and fire.
He rose, and the city shook with praise. Long Live
King David, They cried, Long live the Shepherd of Judah.
(17:16):
From the walls to the fields beyond. The land rang
with joy. David did not speak, not at first. His
eyes searched the horizon north toward Jerusalem, and further still
to the wall tore hills, where the rest of Israel
watched and waited. Judah had chosen him, but the North
(17:40):
had not. This was only the beginning. He would reign,
He would war, and one day a greater king would
rise from his line, not born of court or crowned
in gold, but in thorns. But that was a tale
for another age. Here stood David, no longer the boy
(18:04):
who played songs to soothe the mad king, nor the
outlaw who slept among wolves. Here stood the shepherd king,
crowned not in comfort but in fire.
Speaker 3 (18:23):
Oh my, what a moment I'm struck by how quiet
David was through all of this. Not silent exactly, but reserved,
measured a man who knows that once you say yes
to something sacred, you can't take it back. David's steps
towards Hebron were triumphant, they were deliberate, they were slow,
(18:43):
they were almost reluctant. And David's reluctance it's kind of
wisdom that only comes from exile, after you've had your
name dragged through the mud, after you've lived with the
ache of being called and the agony of being forgotten.
David knew all of that, and he still said yes.
(19:06):
The very first verse of Second Samuel two shows us
the difference between David and Saul. It reads, in the
course of time, David inquired of the Lord, shall I
go up to one of the towns of Judah? He asked?
Speaker 5 (19:21):
Now.
Speaker 3 (19:21):
Saul all too often acted on his own, But David
posed the ultimate question to God, is this the right
time for me to go up to Hebron and to
rule as the king of Israel? And this is the
exact quality. The bibleist told us that God desires in
a king for the chosen people, a king who knows
(19:41):
that he is not the ultimate king, but that God
is the ultimate king. And so David, even though he
had already been anointed, asked God if it was the
right time to begin his rule. And when David did
become king, one of the first things that he did
was to show a pret A day earlier, his enemy,
(20:02):
King Saul had been killed by the Philistines, and now
David had never really harbored ill feelings towards Saul. It
was Saul who felt threatened by David. It was Saul
who tried to kill David. So when David heard of
Saul's death, he didn't celebrate. Instead, he mourned and instructed
(20:23):
the Chosen People to do the same. And as David
was mourning Saul, he heard that the Philistines had beheaded
Saul and put his body, along with those of his
family members, on display. The people of jabeshkhi Lad, a
part of Israel, heard what had happened and decided not
to stand for this disrespect of King Saul. They raided
(20:47):
the village where the bodies were being kept. They reclaimed them,
and they gave them finally a proper burial. When David
heard what the people of jabeshkhi Lad did. He expressed
his gratitude, and he promised to repay them for their
holy actions. My friends, there's a lesson in this for
all of us. I know that there's a lesson for me.
(21:09):
One of the most important character traits is our ability
to appreciate what others do for us, to not take
it for granted, to not think we deserve anything, to
realize everything is a blessing. It's our duty to think,
to honor and take knowledge the many people who have
worked hard for us and for others. It's in this
(21:31):
spirit I want to think all of you who have
partnered with us at the fellowship in our holy work,
to help the Chosen people today wherever they are, to
feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to shelter the poor,
to be there as Christians, to stand with Israel and
the Jewish people. I want to say thank you to
(21:52):
that who might you want to think today, what a
moment to witness and what a mirror holds up to
our own hearts. The Bible doesn't shy away from showing
how fragile the mantle of leadership can be, how easily
power can corrupt, how profoundly. It must be steward it.
(22:14):
David doesn't begin his reign with conquest. He begins it
with consent, with submission, with listening. David didn't ascend because
he wanted glory. He rose because he was given a
divine assignment, and he surrendered everything else in order to
serve it. I want to speak today to anyone listening
(22:37):
who feels like you're stuck between seasons. Maybe it's a job,
or a small town, or a quiet corner of your
life where it feels like nothing is moving. Maybe you've
been praying, like David, shall I go up? But you
haven't heard God answer you yet. Don't rush the moment,
don't force God's blessing. Instead, just way and obey, keep
(23:02):
singing your song. God will open up the gates in
his own time, and when he does, may you enter
with open hands and an open heart.
Speaker 1 (23:14):
Amen. You can listen to the Chosen People with Isle
Eckstein ad free by downloading and subscribing to the Prey
dot Com app today. This Prey dog comproduction is only
made possible by our dedicated team of creative talents, Steve Katina,
Max Bard, Zach Shellabager, and Ben Gammon are the executive
(23:36):
producers of The Chosen People with Yile Eckstein, edited by
Alberto Avilla, narrated by Paul Caltefianu. Characters are voiced by
Jonathan Cotton, Aaron Salvado, Sarah Seltz, Mike Reagan, Stephen Ringwold,
Sylvia Zaradoc, Thomas Copeland Junior, Rosanna Pilcher, and the opening
prayer is voiced by John Moore. Music by Andrew Morgan Smith,
(24:00):
written by Aaron Salvato, Bree Rosalie and Chris Baig. Special
thanks to Bishop Paul Lanier, Robin van Ettin, kayleb Burrows,
Jocelyn Fuller, and the team at International Fellowship of Christians
and Jews. You can hear more Prey dot com productions
on the Prey dot com app, available on the Apple
App Store and Google Play Store. If you enjoyed The
(24:22):
Chosen People with Yile Egstein, please rate and leave a review.
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