Biblical evidence for King David. King David ruled Israel for 40 years, from 1010 B.C. to 970 B.C. He died at the age of 70. The Bible's books of 1 and 2 Samuel are the primary source of information about King David's life. David is considered a key figure in Jewish history. He is credited with establishing Jerusalem as Israel's capital. He is also credited with writing several psalms, including "The Lord is My Shepherd". David's reign was marked by domestic problems, including revolts by his so