David in Josephus’s Works

Abstract This chapter surveys Josephus’s portrayal of David, with particular attention to Antiquities 6–7, where the biblical narrative of Samuel is extensively rewritten. While earlier scholarship has often concentrated on the question of Davidic messianism in Josephus’s work, the present contribution shifts the focus to the exegetical strategies through which Josephus constructs a coherent and intelligible portrait of David and, more broadly, of Israel’s early monarchy. Josephus does not merely summarize the biblical text but actively reshapes it through selective omission, strategic addition, and careful modification of narrative details. These techniques allow him to clarify motivations, smooth narrative tensions, and highlight David’s political and moral virtues. Although Josephus occasionally engages in apologetic tendencies and employs Hellenizing elements to make the story more accessible to his audience, he remains largely faithful to the Masoretic Text in terms of overall structure and content. His rewriting often aims to resolve ambiguities in the biblical account and to present David as a model leader whose rise to power appears orderly, legitimate, and divinely guided. By analyzing these exegetical practices, the chapter demonstrates that Josephus’s treatment of David reflects not only historiographical concerns but also a sustained effort to interpret and systematize the biblical narrative for his mixed audience.