David the Prophet: An Examination of David in the Book of Samuel

Abstract

In the New Testament, David is frequently labeled a prophet. Many interpreters have approached this with no concern and have read David the King as a prophet in the Old Testament accounts. Simply put, since David is called a prophet in the New Testament, and the Psalms record his prophecies, it is natural to approach David as a prophet. In modern times, however, some scholars have challenged the notion because in the entire Old Testament, David is never explicitly called a prophet. These scholars propose various solutions, assuming they will find the original reference to David as a prophet in extra-biblical or inter-testamental sources. This thesis shows that David is a prophet in the earliest narrative account of David’s life, recorded in 1 and 2 Sam.