David was a 10th-century BC monarch and prophet who ruled the united Kingdom of Israel. Born in Bethlehem as the youngest son of Jesse, he was originally a shepherd and a musician skilled with the lyre. He rose to prominence after defeating the Philistine giant Goliath, eventually becoming the leader of the Tribe of Judah before uniting all Israel. After establishing Jerusalem as his capital, he reigned as a significant figure in biblical history, serving as a model for future kings and the ancestor of the Messiah.