In recent discussions, a question has been raised about King David’s legitimacy, as a son of Jesse. The reasoning behind this question is to try to explain why Jesse would have kept him from the prophet Samuel, as though Jesse were ashamed of David. Some have tried to argue this idea based on various interpretations of scripture and Jewish tradition. However, after reviewing the biblical text, it seems there is no solid basis for thinking that David was anything other than a legitimate son. In fact, the genealogies found in scripture support his legitimacy.
Understanding Legitimacy Through Scripture
One important consideration in answering this question is the way genealogies are handled in the Bible. Throughout scripture, we see the inclusion of all family lines. However, David’s genealogy does not suggest any form of illegitimacy, and there is no indication that his lineage was anything other than legitimate. It is significant to note that in genealogical lists, individuals who were not legitimate were typically pointed out as such, so the absence of any mention of this in David’s case is telling. Here is an example from the book of Judges: “Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty warrior, but he was the son of a prostitute. Gilead was the father of Jephthah.” (Judges 11:1)
The Role of Jewish Tradition
Some may point to Jewish tradition, which has long debated matters of legitimacy and ancestry. However, it is important to consider that, from a Christian perspective, Jewish tradition can be problematic. In Romans 11, Paul refers to the Jewish people as “enemies in regard to the gospel.” Their rejection of Jesus as the Messiah gives them a clear motivation to distort biblical interpretations that might lead others to see Jesus for who He truly is. This suggests that we must be cautious about giving too much weight to certain Jewish traditions, particularly when they seem to steer us away from the truth of Christ.
David’s Words in Psalm 51
Another argument made by some in support of the idea that David was illegitimate stems from a passage in Psalm 51, where David says, “I was conceived in sin.” This has been interpreted by some as an admission that David was born out of wedlock or had some other form of unclean conception. However, I believe this interpretation misses a more fundamental truth that applies to all of humanity: we are all conceived in sin. Psalm 51 is a beautiful reflection of David’s repentance, not an indication of unique birth circumstances. The Bible teaches that all of us inherit a sin nature from Adam, and there is no scriptural basis for an “age of accountability.” This means that every person, regardless of when they come to faith, is born with a sinful nature. If God shows mercy to infants who die without believing the gospel, it is a reflection of His great mercy towards all of us, who were born sinners.
A Cultural Perspective: The Youngest Son Was Often Overlooked
In the case of David, we must also consider the cultural context. In ancient Israel, the youngest son was often overlooked, as seen in the story of David’s anointing. When Samuel arrived to anoint one of Jesse’s sons, David was the last to be considered, as he was the youngest. This was not unusual in the cultural practices of the time. This cultural dynamic was likely at play when David was overlooked by his own family. It was simply a common practice that the youngest was often ignored.
A Parallel with Jesus: The Youngest Son Overlooked
Interestingly, there’s a fascinating parallel between David and Jesus in this regard. Jesus, too, was overlooked in His earthly ministry. He came from humble beginnings, born in a manger, and even though He was the Son of God, He was initially rejected by many. Just as David, the youngest son of Jesse, was eventually revealed as king, so too Jesus, the “youngest” brother of Adam, was revealed as the King of Kings. This parallel reinforces the idea that being overlooked or disregarded because of one’s position in the family or society does not diminish their legitimacy or purpose in God’s plan.
Conclusion
After considering the evidence, it seems clear that there is no strong biblical case for the idea that David was an illegitimate son of Jesse. Instead, we see that David’s genealogy supports his legitimacy, and his statements in scripture about sin are not unique to him but apply to all of humanity. Furthermore, cultural practices of overlooking the youngest son help explain why David might have been initially disregarded by his family. Ultimately, these considerations lead me to conclude that David’s position as a legitimate son of Jesse is supported by Scripture. It is still a reminder that, in God’s plan, whether legitimate or not, those who are overlooked or disregarded by the world often hold the greatest significance in His kingdom.
The House of David
Finally, if you’re here because you’re wondering if you should continue watching shows like The House of David or The Chosen, which uses the Bible as inspiration to tell stories, I believe we can all watch such shows, knowing that nothing is a replacement for the Bible. No movie or show about the Bible will ever be close to being on a level with Scripture. Such things should always be seen as entertainment, not for counting as time spent in the Bible. The creators of The Chosen, at least, have tried to say the same.
In my opinion, we’re allowed to watch all kinds of shows for entertainment. So, I don’t support the severe criticism shows like these receive. There are much worse things we could be watching. Any false things we see are like all the other false things we see on a daily basis. Hearing false things is a recurring event which is protected against or unlearned by attending church and opening the Bible. In my opinion it seems like Bible shows can either pique people’s interest in reading the Bible, or else the person is not worse off than they were: not reading their Bible or attending church where they learn the truth.
While I do see flaws here and there with a show like The Chosen for example, having both a bachelors and masters in the Bible, I am much more surprised with its biblical accuracy. But again, these shows are not a replacement for the Bible, and are not even intended to be such a replacement. I believe the message Christians should be sending is to be discerning, not severely warning people like a curmudgeon, as if such Christian TV shows are “filth” on par with an R rated show.
Everything we consume should be consumed critically. These shows could be seen as a good challenge, to get us talking, and revisiting the Bible to see what it really has to say. The answer to not being led astray is to read and study Scripture and attend a church and be taught. If non-Christians aren’t doing that anyway, shows like the Chosen may not be bringing them out of darkness, because only the gospel does that; but couldn’t it be something God uses to pique their interest for opening Scripture? For Christians, we have the Holy Spirit living in us, who testifies within us according to what is truth and what is not. (John 16:13, John 2:27, 1 Corinthians 2:12-14, Romans 8:16)
I’ve read and watched material online from leaders I respect who disagree with me on this issue. That’s fine. I think we can agree that everything that does not come from faith is sin, so that could include watching these shows for some. I believe it is a matter of conscience as taught in Romans 14. So I believe Christian leaders ought to speak about these things as a matter of conscience, not demanding we stop watching them as if we are again under the law. (We are not. See Romans 6:14, Romans 7:6, Galatians 3:24-25, Galatians 5:18)
I once asked a pastor who was severely criticizing the Chosen on social media if he could name one TV show that he could recommend. His response was that he doesn’t really watch a lot of TV and tends to read books. While that was true, I knew this man to enjoy the TV show The Office. So if folks can watch the office as a matter of conscience in the privacy of their own homes, let’s not forbid shows like The House of David or The Chosen but simply watch them critically.
“If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.” (Colossians 2:20-23)
Adorn the Gospel 