This verse, "David slept with his fathers, and was buried in David’s city," from 1 Kings 2:10 is a standard formulaic expression used in the Old Testament to denote the death and burial of a king. Let's break it down:
"David slept with his fathers": This is a euphemism for death. It doesn't literally mean he was sleeping in the same bed as his ancestors. Instead, it's a way of saying he died and joined them in the afterlife, or at least, in the collective memory and history of his family and people. The concept of Sheol (the afterlife in early Jewish belief) was somewhat vague at this time, and this phrase implies a joining of the ancestors. It's a more respectful and poetic way of stating that he died.
"was buried in David's city": This clarifies where he was buried - in Jerusalem, specifically in the area known as the City of David. This was the original core of Jerusalem that David conquered and made his capital. Being buried there held significant importance because it reinforced his lineage, dynasty, and connection to the throne. It also signified that Jerusalem was the rightful capital of Israel.
In essence, the verse is a concise statement that David died and was buried in Jerusalem, reinforcing his legacy and the legitimacy of his dynasty. It marks the end of David's reign and the beginning of Solomon's.
This verse, "David slept with his fathers, and was buried in David’s city," from 1 Kings 2:10 is a standard formulaic expression used in the Old Testament to denote the death and burial of a king. Let's break it down:
"David slept with his fathers": This is a euphemism for death. It doesn't literally mean he was sleeping in the same bed as his ancestors. Instead, it's a way of saying he died and joined them in the afterlife, or at least, in the collective memory and history of his family and people. The concept of Sheol (the afterlife in early Jewish belief) was somewhat vague at this time, and this phrase implies a joining of the ancestors. It's a more respectful and poetic way of stating that he died.
"was buried in David's city": This clarifies where he was buried - in Jerusalem, specifically in the area known as the City of David. This was the original core of Jerusalem that David conquered and made his capital. Being buried there held significant importance because it reinforced his lineage, dynasty, and connection to the throne. It also signified that Jerusalem was the rightful capital of Israel.
In essence, the verse is a concise statement that David died and was buried in Jerusalem, reinforcing his legacy and the legitimacy of his dynasty. It marks the end of David's reign and the beginning of Solomon's.