The Story of David (1976) - full transcript

[♪]

NARRATOR:
This is David,

immortalized by Michelangelo

in one of the world's
most famous statues.

And this is David come to life.

♪ Surely ♪
[STRUMMING]

♪ Goodness and mercy ♪

♪ Will walk with me ♪

♪ All my days on Earth ♪

[♪]

NARRATOR:
The Story of David.



Filmed in Israel,
where 3000 years ago,

Saul was the first king

and David was a shepherd.

DAVID: ♪ Yahweh ♪
[STRUMMING LYRE]

♪ Guards me in his fields ♪

♪ And I do not hunger ♪

♪ He brings me to ♪

♪ The soft new grass ♪

♪ And the clear water ♪

♪ Of the pool ♪

♪ He raises up my spirit ♪

♪ He shows me the path of-- ♪
[ANIMAL SNARLING]

[GROWLS]

[GOAT BLEATS]



[♪]

[LION GROWLING]

[ROARS]

[BLEATS]

[BLEATS]

[♪]

MAN:
Whoa!

[SIGHS]

[BIRD SQUAWKS]

Samuel!

[ECHOES]
Samuel, Samuel...

Samuel!

[ECHOES]
Samuel...

Prophet!

[CHANTING INDISTINCTLY]

Samuel.

Samuel.

[CHANTING INAUDIBLY]

Seer.

Prophet in Israel.

I am the Saul the King.

Here I am.

[RESUMES CHANTING]

Whose son are you?

Who are you?

[SPITS]

You know me, prophet.

You chose me out of Benjamin.

I was not a poor man.

I inherited my father's fields
and farmed them.

I served my time
in the militia of my tribe.

I could have lived
and died like my father,

in peace.

But you chose me.

Yahweh chose you.

With your mouth.

Well,

you told me to fight

the enemies of Israel.

And for 20 years,

I've fought them.

Now,

let's talk of things
as they are.

I've done as you told me.

Why do you now
speak against me?

Why do you turn away from me

before my own men?

Come. Between us, now.

No one hears our words.

The Lord hears.

All right, then.

Between Samuel the prophet,

Saul the king
and the Lord.

What is the truth?

We have pushed the sea people

back to the coast. Right.

Ha!

But the Philistines have
rich cities.

They trade with Egypt.

And they hold the secret

of working iron.

Iron swords,
iron spears, iron axes.

Prophet,

I've sent men running
down the rocks

shouting for Yahweh

carrying swords made of copper
and tin against iron.

Yahweh has brought victories.

It was the Lord our God
who was king then.

But the people
rejected him crying:

"Give us a king."

I know you did not want
a king, Samuel.

Before you poured
your oil on my head,

you were judge over Israel.

You were the only voice
in Israel.

It was the voice
of the Lord.

Through the mouth
of Samuel.

[CHANTS]

Prophet,
have I done anything

to make you less?

You broke Yahweh's law

when you made
the sacrifice at Gilgal

but I am the Lord's prophet.

I waited seven days for you.

My army was melting away
like fat on the fire.

The enemy was moving
into position.

I had to fight
while I had the advantage.

I-- They were 10-to-one
against us.

You have not kept
the commandment of the Lord.

Your kingdom
shall not continue.

Oh, Samuel.

The dazzling
in my eyes is coming--

It's followed by the blood
coming to my head, splitting it.

Let me speak to you
before I am sick.

Our enemies are strong.

Let there be peace between us,

or Israel will be destroyed.

[FABRIC RIPS]

[♪]

Yahweh has torn

the kingdom of Israel
from you this day.

It is given to another.

Yahweh has repented

that he made you king

over Israel.

Prophet, I have fought
for Yahweh.

He knows me.

I am still Saul.

Saul the king.

[MOANS]

[BIRDS CHIRPING]

[HAMMERING]

[DONKEY BRAYS]

Is that all you brought,
David?

Ten roasts?

What does our father think
we can live on? Stones?

What's in that sack?

Oh, that's cheeses.

Cheeses?

For the captain
of your thousand.

Let his family
bring him cheeses.

When you get back,
tell the old one to send meat.

I came by the valley trail

and I saw the Philistine camp
across on the hill.

Ah, good thing they didn't
see you, little brother.

Well, if I were a fighting man,
I wouldn't hide in the rocks.

I'd go down on the plain
and fight them.

Shammah.
Yeah?

Send for the war chief.

The king of little goats
has a new battle plan.

[BLEATS]

[ALL LAUGH]

Well, what's the use
of gathering

all the fighting men
of all the tribes

just to hide them in the hills?

Why not fight?

Down there on the plain?

Have you ever seen

a charge
of Philistine chariots?

Great knives
in the wheels

cutting you down
like a wheat field.

Iron swords, sharp.

And archers with horned bows.

Copper.
All it's good for

is cutting a cheese.

Maybe that's all Saul
is good for.

Abinadab.

He's lost his edge for fighting.

ELIAB:
Keep your tongue off Saul,
brother,

or you'll choke on it.

Oh, our oldest brother
is like Saul.

Whenever he sees
a Philistine sword,

he waters his loincloth.

SHAMMAH:
Hey, stop it, stop it.

Stop it.

David, come here.
Hey, David.

David, come back
and help me.

DAVID: ♪ The lions of Judah ♪
[STRUMMING LYRE]

♪ Are my brothers ♪

[STRUMS]

♪ Oh, hear them roar ♪

♪ On the mountains ♪

[STRUMS]

♪ Tremble ♪

♪ Oh, Israel ♪

♪ When my brothers ♪

♪ Roar ♪

♪ Why do they roar? ♪

♪ Oh, men of Judah ♪

Why?

[STRUMS]

Because you have eaten
cooked beans

and your bellies
are full of wind.

[ALL LAUGH]

Where is your father?

In his chamber, commander.

Where are you going?

Hunting.

Take six men, Jonathan.

[CHUCKLES]
To hunt a partridge?

There is a raiding party
to the south.

They burned two villages
last week.

I haven't the men
to send after you.

Saul?

Saul.

Saul.

Do you know me, Saul?

I know you.

Abner,

son of Ner,
my father's brother.

Saul,

what is it?

Has the blood come to your head?

I heard them

in the night.

And the spirit of Yahweh
is gone from Saul.

The old man took it away
from me.

Samuel?

[LAUGHS]

Listen, cousin,
he never forgets

the people came
and said to him:

"Give us a king
who knows how to fight."

In all the years Samuel
was judge

did he ever win
against the Philistines?

[LAUGHS]

Quiet!

He will hear you.
He is Yahweh's prophet.

Let him hear me.

What does he do?

He cuts the throats
of little lambs

and paints their blood
on the altar horns.

You and I have butchered

Philistines, Ammonites.

And spilled their blood
into Yahweh's land.

Yahweh is a God of battle, Saul.

You and I serve him.

I feel

the evil spirit from him.

It creeps into my heart
in the night.

I sweat.

I dream.

Then I wake
and cannot sleep again.

And--

I don't know why I--

I'm afraid

of nothing.

But the fear...

[GASPS]

...sits on my chest
like a stone.

Wine, a whole jug,
without water.

We'll get drunk, cousin.

And then

you will sleep.

Abner,

I am in a pit,

in a deep well.

And when I try to climb out,

the stones roll under my feet

and I fall back.

Abner.

Abner!

Help me.

[♪]

[LAUGHING]

Come.

My lord?

What?
A goat and a jug of wine.

My father sent them with me
as an offering.

Saul has a goat
and a jug of wine. Come.

To do what?

What am I to do?

No one told you?

They said I was to play
at the house of Saul.

ABNER:
Then you know.

[KNOCKING AT DOOR]

How is he?
Well.

Is this the player?

What's your name?

David, son of Jesse.

Ah.

Play well for my father.

Lord?

[♪]

[STRUMMING]

♪ He ♪

♪ That dwells ♪

♪ In the secret place ♪

♪ Of the most high ♪

♪ Shall abide ♪

♪ Under the shadow ♪

♪ Of the Almighty ♪

♪ I will say ♪

♪ Of the Lord ♪

♪ He is my refuge ♪

♪ He is my fortress ♪

♪ My God ♪

♪ In him ♪

♪ Will I trust ♪

♪ You will not fear ♪

♪ The terror by night ♪

♪ Nor the arrows
That fly by day ♪

♪ Nor the plague of darkness ♪

♪ A thousand shall fall ♪

♪ At your side ♪

♪ And 10,000 ♪

♪ At your right hand ♪

♪ But the fear ♪

♪ Shall not ♪

♪ Come near you ♪

♪ There shall no evil ♪

♪ Befall you ♪

♪ No evil ♪

♪ Befall you ♪

♪ No evil ♪

♪ Befall you ♪

♪ Or your dwelling ♪

[♪]

Whose son are you?

[STRUMS]

Whose son are you?

David. I'm a shepherd.

I'm the son of Jesse
of Judah, lord.

Play.

[STRUMS]

[GROANS]

Is that a song of Judah?

Oh, I don't know.
I just play it.

It's not a song at all.
[CHUCKLES]

I'm a child of Benjamin.

Do you know the harvest song
of the Benjaminites?

[HUMS]

[PLAYS ALONG IN TUNE]

That's it.

The girls sing that
when they toss the grain

up in the air
in their baskets.

Ah.

[CHUCKLES]

I was a farmer
before I was king,

before he came
and poured oil on my head.

What's your name, boy?

I'm David, lord.

David.
Mm-hm.

Never let an old man
pour oil on your head.

[LAUGHS]

No, I'm telling you,
it's bad luck,

for farmers and shepherds.

[GROANS]

[HUMMING]

[STRUMMING]

How are the crops this year
in Bethlehem, David?

There was rain
after sowing time, that's good.

The sprouts will be strong.

And they can take
a dry time later.

[♪]

[LAUGHS]

[♪]

ELIAB:
Brother.

I didn't believe it
when they said

you were made armor bearer
to the king.

SHAMMAH:
Oh, look at the embroidery,

like a temple whore in Gaza.

[MEN CHUCKLE]

What do you do
in the house of Saul?

Well, I count the weapons
in Saul's storehouse.

And I, uh,
tie the straps

on his breastplate,

sharpen his spear points
with a stone.

What else?

Well,

when the evil spirit
comes on him,

he sits alone in the dark
and he sweats.

And, uh,
his breath grows short.

His head splits.

And then,

they call for me.

[SCOFFS]
What can you do?

I play.

ELIAB:
You just play?

And then the evil spirit
goes away.

Here he comes!

[♪]

[MEN CHATTERING INDISTINCTLY]

What is it?

Philistines?

I see no army.
Where are the Philistines?

Across the valley,
over the ridge.

[HORSE WHINNIES]
What is it?

[SPEAKS IN FOREIGN DIALECT]

Who is that?

Goliath of Gath.

He shouts his name every day.

[SHOUTING IN FOREIGN DIALECT]

I can't understand.
What does he say?

Zachariah.

It's the dialect
of the sea people.

[SHOUTING IN FOREIGN DIALECT]

Dogs that follow Saul,

eating his leavings,

send me one man to fight.

If he kills me,

then we will be your slaves.

But if I kill him,

then you will be our slaves.

Where are you dogs of Israel?

[LAUGHS]

Hiding under the rocks
like dung beetles.

[♪]

[GOLIATH LAUGHS]

[LAUGHS]

[HORSE WHINNIES]

SAUL:
No.

King--
No.

At least give me
your body armor.

No.
Let me go out against the man.

Does the hero of Gibeah
now want added glory?

How many days can an army

listen to him bellow?

Father, he taunts the men
of Israel and says:

"Who is this Saul
that calls himself king

"that no man will defend?

"He is no king.

He is the eater
of the dung of swine."

[GRUNTS]

Those are the words
of Goliath of Gath.

Can I let him call
my father that?

Lord.

Saul.

Cousin.

This man stands

a sword's length
taller than you.

He can throw
that iron spear

30 paces further
than you can cast yours.

He carries armor heavier
than you can lift.

He will kill you, my son,

and drag your corpse
behind his chariot

in front of the whole
of the army.

Jonathan!

ABNER:
There are two things

that take the fight
out of a man:

fear in the belly
and a sickness in the bowel.

And our men do fear Goliath.

If I send any man out
against him--

You, myself, Jonathan
--and he's killed,

then everyone says the mightiest
of Israel is slain.

Lord?

Lord, let me fight
the Philistine.

You?

[CHUCKLES]

You fight the--?

[CHUCKLES]

Haven't you heard?
He's a giant.

He's a warrior.

And you, well,
your beard's still a shadow.

What would you do, David?

Wrap your lyre strings
about him?

I killed a lion
and a bear

when they came after
my father's sheep.

Well, a bear does not wear
an iron sword.

Abner, behold the champion
of Israel.

How did you slay the lion?

With a sling.

Yeah.

In the manner of Judah.

He could sing him
to death, huh?

[LAUGHS]

King.

Cousin.

Let the boy go out.

You're drunk.

Who knows what could happen
in a fight?

A lucky stroke,

a sling can kill.

It is in Yahweh's hands.

He's only a boy.
He'll be killed.

So?

Then only a boy is killed.

What glory is there in that
for the Philistines?

What do we risk?

Lord,

if I can kill Goliath,

then your army will believe
that Yahweh is strong.

ABNER:
And that their god

has lost power.

And if he kills me,

well, I'm only a shepherd,
so it will be a small thing.

[SIGHS]

Now, who will

play for me then?

Any fighting man has the right
to take up the challenge, Saul.

He is not a fighting man.

There are other
players of the lyre, cousin.

Lord,

let me go out

for Yahweh,

for Saul.

[♪]

Whoa.

[WHINNIES]

[SHOUTING IN FOREIGN DIALECT]

How close must you be
to kill?

Oh, 30 paces. Less if I can.

He can cast his spear
at 40.

If he closes to sword length,

he'll kill you.

[CHORLTES]

[SPEAKING IN FOREIGN DIALECT]

You come with a spear,
Philistine.

But I come with the name
of the Lord of Hosts:

Yahweh.

Not too close.

[GRUNTS]

[SCREAMS]

Yahweh!

[SCREAMS]

Now we'll attack.

Here is the head
of your enemy,

Goliath of Gath!

I have killed him
for you, Saul!

And for Yahweh!

[ALL CHEERING]

[♪]

I was in that town
three years ago.

The walls are doubled
and guarded by many soldiers.

Did you break in then?

[CHUCKLES]
I broke out.

We were inside.
The Philistines surrounded us.

Well, lord,

you are the son of the king.
What do we do?

I'll hold a counsel of war
with my captain of a thousand.

What do we do?

How many in the garrison?

Uh, 400 from Gath
and Ashqelon

and another hundred mercenaries.

If you were to take
the main company

and go along the road,
attacking the front gate...

Why not just line them up
and cut their throats?

...I could take 200 men around
the ridge to the high place.

We could come down where
the wall runs into the cliff.

We'd be inside.

It's straight up that way.

I saw a goat halfway up.

And where a goat can climb,

so can men of Judah.

We'll have to wait till dark.

When it's moon dark,
we will attack.

[♪]

[MEN SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY]

[HORN BLOWING]

[ALL CHEERING]

GIRL:
♪ Saul, Saul ♪

♪ Saul has slain his thousands ♪

♪ But David, David
His tens of thousands ♪

♪ Saul, Saul ♪

♪ Saul has slain his thousands ♪

♪ But David, David
His tens of thousands ♪

[LAUGHS]
ALL: ♪ Saul, Saul ♪

♪ Saul has slain his thousands ♪

♪ But David, David
His tens of thousands ♪

♪ Saul, Saul... ♪

All he lacks now
is the kingdom.

♪ ...David
His tens of thousands ♪

ALL [CHANTING]:
David, David, David,

David, David, David...

[♪]

[STRUMS]

♪ How long ♪

♪ Will you forget me ♪

♪ Oh, Lord? ♪

♪ Forever? ♪

♪ How long will you ♪

♪ Hide your face from me? ♪

♪ How long shall I
Take counsel ♪

♪ In my soul? ♪

♪ Having sorrow ♪

♪ Ever sorrow ♪

♪ In my heart ♪

Play me

another song.

A song the women of Israel sing,

with the cymbals and the drum.

♪ Saul ♪

♪ Saul has slain his thousands ♪

♪ And David, David
His tens of thousands ♪

[CHUCKLES]

Play me that song, shepherd.

Play it for me.

Captain of a thousand.

♪ Saul ♪

♪ Saul has slain his thousands ♪

♪ And David ♪

♪ David, his tens of thousands ♪

♪ Saul... ♪

[BLEATING]

WOMAN:
David.

You are to lead your thousand

against the Philistines
in the west.

How do you know?

I listened.

There's a meeting
in the war chief's room.

Your brother, Jonathan,
would be very angry.

David?

Do you remember
when you first saw me?

I remember when I saw you.

I remember.

No, you don't.

I was a little girl.

I'm a woman now.

Fourteen.

A beautiful woman, Michal,

daughter of my lord.

David,

when you come back,

you will play the lyre
for me.

I will sing you a song.

About a kitten.

Hm?

No.

When you play the lyre for me,

I will sing for you.

♪ Saul, Saul ♪

♪ Saul has slain-- ♪

Your brother waits for me
down at my lodge.

You may go, David.

She threw a fig at me
and said it was unfair

that the men can go through
the women of the household

like a goat in spring

while a sister must wither
and dry up as a virgin.

Wither and dry up? Oh...

Fourteen, she said.

Followed by 15--

Then 16, huh?

David.

[BOTH LAUGH]

David, a girl who is 14
and throws figs at her brother

is ready for a husband.

And a man who squirts wine
in his eye

is more than ready
for a wife.

The daughter of the king?

Oh, no.

I'm the son of a king.

And I still only wear
one shoe on each foot.

Well, who am I?

What is my father's family
in Israel

that I should be son-in-law
to a king?

Give him my sister, Father.

The people love David.

Michal?

Do you love him?

If my father ordered me
to David's bed,

I would obey.

When the night sweat
comes on me,

I'm afraid.

Afraid of David.

Married to Michal, he would
be tied to the house of Saul.

[♪]

You tell him

Saul the king

asks for no bride price.

But for a dowry,

let him bring me proof

of the killing of
a hundred of my enemies.

A hundred foreskins
of the Philistines,

for vengeance.

Are you afraid for him, my son?

[♪]

David.

David.
Wait, whoa.

David, take care and stay away
from the garrisons

and the walled towns.

I've seen a man without
a foreskin

but never a foreskin
without a man.

[LAUGHS]

I must go where
there are Philistines.

David, he said he was afraid of
you when the spirit is on him.

He's giving me his daughter.

Yes, but if you are killed
collecting the bride price,

I think he would only weep
with one eye.

Oh?

Well, I have no intention
of dying.

[ALL SCREAMING]

[MIDDLE EAST MUSIC BEING PLAYED]

David,

will you play the lyre
for me?

I have forgotten how.

[LYRE BEING STRUMMED]

CHORUS:
♪ Saul, Saul ♪

♪ Saul has slain
His thousands ♪

♪ And David, David
His tens of thousands ♪

♪ Saul, Saul
Saul has slain his thousands ♪

♪ And David, David
His tens of thousand ♪

♪ David, David
David, David ♪

♪ David, David, David
David ♪

Die!

[BREATHING HEAVILY]

[SCREAMS]

[BANGING ON DOOR]

GUARD:
Michal, daughter of Saul.

We are ordered to bring David
to the house of the king.

MICHAL:
If you don't go now,

he will kill you.

What is it? We are sleeping.

GUARD:
We must take David

to the king now.

MICHAL:
Go away.

Tell my father David is sick.

[CAWING]

[♪]

MAN:
David.

David, son of Jesse.

Prophet, I claim sanctuary.

I know.

There are men of the prophet
in every place in Israel.

Even in the house of Saul
at Gibea.

I have waited for you, David,
son of Jesse.

Waited.

But how did you know that I--?

My hand has been on you,
my prophets have watched you

and whispered your name
throughout Israel.

If you are in danger,

seek sanctuary
with the high priests of Nob.

And Yahweh said to me:

"Fill your horn with oil

"and I will send you to Jesse,

for I have provided me
a king among his sons."

Yahweh says it.

And I have anointed
him with oil,

and the spirit of Yahweh
is on him.

And he will cause the house
of Saul to crumble into dust

and blow away with the wind.

No. No.

No.

You are the anointed one.

No.

I am Saul's man.

He made me captain
of a thousand.

Though he is ill
and tried to kill me,

he is the anointed one.

His son is my brother

and his daughter is my wife.

Saul is the king.

Saul.

Saul is king.

Saul.

[♪]

[IMITATING BIRD WHISTLING]

What have I done?

What is my crime against Saul?

None. Come back with me, David.
We'll go to Saul.

We'll swear your loyalty
to him.

I need your strength and love
more than ever now.

I was one step away from death.

His spear put a cold wind
in my gut.

No, I must know
before I can go back to Saul.

Can you go to him?

Find out if he's forgotten
or if he still wants my blood.

And then come back
and tell me.

Where? Here?

No. No, he may have someone
follow you.

A field to the south
across the wadi.

Where the little stone house
stands from the old days.

Hide there.

I'll come out with my bow
to practice.

If I tell the boy:

"Pick up the arrows
and come back,"

then my father
is at peace with you.

But if I tell him:

"No, the arrows
are beyond you,"

then you will know
that Saul is still your enemy

and you must go.

Jonathan,

you are the first after Saul
in his house.

You will be king after him.

If you honestly believe
that I am an enemy

to the house of Saul,

kill me now yourself.

Don't take me in a trap
and bring me alive before Saul.

Brother.

If my father

wants your life,

I will tell you

and you will live.

You've seen David?

He is...

at Bethlehem
with his, uh, father

for the yearly sacrifice.

You lie.

Oh, I know, I know.

You're all with him. You!

Connived to let him, my enemy,
escape. And you.

You chose Jesse's son
against me.

Against your father.

I am ashamed.

People will think
you're not my son.

That she whored
with some stranger

and he begot
an ungrateful bastard.

Listen to me!

As long as Da--

As long as the son of Jesse
lives,

you are in danger.

You will not be king of Israel
after me while he lives.

Now, you've seen him.

You know where he is.
Take him.

Bring him here.

He shall die.
He deserves to die.

What has he done?

Why--? Why--? Why should he
be put to death?

Fool! Choose him against me.

You take his path
against me?

All of you. All.
You all take a plot against me.

Well, I swore.
I swore an oath.

That whosoever shall sin
against me--

Out of my way, Abner.

--shall die. I swore it.

Be it my own son, he shall die.

I tell you, I am--

[BREATHING HEAVILY]

Oh, God...

[♪]

No.

The arrows are beyond you.

I'll shoot no more today.

David?

David,

give me your hand.

Give me your hand.

We are of one blood, David.

Brothers.

Brother,

if you should take
my father's place...

No.

...if you are king.

No. He is the anointed.

And your wise men say,
"Kill all the remnant of Saul,

so none can rise
in rebellion."

Even then,

be my brother.

And if I do not live,

you will not cut off my house.

No.

You come after Saul in Israel.

I have seen a king.

I would rather
be David's brother.

Go.

Go quickly.

Go in peace.

[KNOCK AT DOOR]

MAN: Ahimelech.
[KNOCKING PERSISTS]

Wait.

Wait, I'm coming.

Captain of a thousand.

Where are your men, captain?

Why are you alone?

The king has sent me
on his business

and has ordered me
that no man know of it.

[CLATTER]

I have sent my soldiers
on ahead to, uh, meet me.

Listen, Ahimelech,
you are to help me.

I need supplies.
You have food?

AHIMELECH:
There is no common bread,
captain.

That's the holy bread.

For the Lord's altar.

I've just come from Gibea.

From Saul?

Yes, from Saul
and I'm hungry.

Well...

the fresh bread goes
on the altar in the morning.

If you are on the business
of the king.

I had to leave the king quickly.

I didn't have a chance
to get my own weapons.

Do you have any?

There is no spear.

This is a house
of the Lord, but--

The sword of Goliath.

The Philistine you killed.

[♪]

JOHAB:
Every day we grow stronger
and stronger.

DAVID:
Yes. Soon we'll be 100 men.

JOHAB:
There are men coming to you

from all parts of Judah, David.

Everyone in debt or in distress
looks to you as their captain.

But how shall we live?

There is a spring nearby.

And in this cave
we are not only safe,

but the farmers around
us will now be safe.

Because they are wealthy,

they need protection
from the Philistines.

So they will support us.

And we will defend them.

And the Lord will save
us from the wrath of Saul.

MAN:
We will need his help.

Especially now, when the news
of the massacre at Nob is known.

What happened at Nob?

Who are you?

Abiathar.

Son of Ahimelech.

High priest at Nob.

Why are you in mourning?

He is dead.

My father is dead.

When it was told
to Saul that you came,

that my father gave you bread,

Saul sent his soldiers
and took all the priests.

They are dead.

And the town was sacked.

All dead.

Except for me.

I knew.

I knew that Doeg, that Edomite,
would surely tell Saul

but...

I was afraid for my own life.

I caused the death
of your father.

And of all the priests.

[♪]

Stay with me, Abiathar,
son of Ahimelech.

For my enemy is yours.

And I will hold you safe.

[♪]

DAVID:
Joab.

I repeated your words
to Nabal, David.

"We come in peace," I said.

"We protected your sheep
on the mountains," I said.

"Surely, you've got
something for us,

for David and his 600 men."

"Who is this David?" he says.

"And why should I feed 600 men?

I've got my own house to feed."

What is his name?

Nabal.

[WHISPERS]
Nabal.

How many months
have we been in this place?

Have we ever stolen a sheep?

Have we ever burned villages?

Have we ever trampled
grain fields?

No.

We drove the Philistine
raiders out.

Oh, Nabal.

[BREATHING HEAVILY]

Yahweh,

curse me if I leave any man
alive in his house by morning.

Man, child, ram or goat.

Lord, I am Abigail,

wife of Nabal.

Lord, my husband is a fool.

I was away when your men came
or I would've welcomed them.

I have 200 loaves of bread

and two skins of wine.

And sheep.

And raisins and figs.

They are yours, lord.

And when it comes to pass

that Yahweh makes
you prince over Israel,

then there will be
no bloodguilt on you

over poor, foolish Nabal.

And when Yahweh heaps
blessings on you, lord,

then you will remember Abigail,
your handmaiden.

Nabal is a fortunate man
to have such a wise wife.

[♪]

Lord, live forever.

I am David, son of Jesse,
not lord. Drink.

Samuel is dead.

The prophet is dead.

Saul of Ramah?

MESSENGER:
He was there for the burial

and the sacrifice.

Did Saul mourn for Samuel?

He was seized.

Fell

and bit the grass.

Once he said,

"Never let an old man
pour oil on your head.

"It's bad luck for farmers

and for shepherds."

Where is Saul now?

He pursued a raiding party
of Philistines to Meyon.

But there the people
told him where David was.

How many men?

Three thousand.

He could chase the Philistines
back to the sea

but he comes after you.

He's come after us before.

How long are you going
to let an old man hunt you

like a partridge
in the mountains?

Tell him, brother.

We went to the village of Abib.

You saved them
from the Philistines.

They were our friends.

This time they hid from us.

Drove away the flocks.
Took away the grain.

No one was there but an old man

sweating with fear.

Not of us. Of Saul.

He has made a law.

Anyone who gives us food
or shelters us

or refuses to tell where
we hide is to be killed.

The men will be hungry in five
days and starving in 20.

Saul fished for us
like a man with a spear.

Throwing it in the muddy water.

Now he's drying up the pond.

You must move now.

The old prophet was for you.

Judah would rise.

Part of Ephraim,
half of Manasseh.

Only Benjamin would stay
with that old madman.

[GRUNTS]

Should I start a war
among the tribes?

Should I have the blood
of Israel on my head?

Saul was as my father.

Your father is hunting
you with 3000 men.

Move against him in the night.

How many of those 3000
will fight against David?

I am not a rebel against Saul.

Tell that to Saul.

You have no choice.

I am not a rebel against Saul.

If his men find you,
your head will be on a spear

and your body nailed to the wall
of Saul's house at Gibea.

The little children will point
at it and say,

"See? That was David.

He was not a rebel
against Saul."

Saul has an evil spirit
sent from Yahweh to torment him.

But I have Joab,
son of my sister.

Well, uncle...

at least send spies
to number Saul's camp

and discover his plans.

Some sneaky, slippery fellow

who could wriggle on his belly
like a snake.

[CHUCKLES]

[HORSE WHINNIES]

[MUMBLING]

[♪]

He's your enemy.

Yahweh gave him into your hand.

No.

Someday--

Someday, Yahweh will strike him.

Or he'll go into battle
and be swept away.

But not by my hand.

No.

[♪]

DAVID:
Abner!

Abner!

Abner, where are you, war chief?

You have not kept guard
over the anointed one.

Abner.

You deserve to die.

Where is Saul's spear
that was at his head?

Abner.

Here is the water jug
that was at his hand.

Seize him!

No!

[♪]

[WHISPERS]
David.

David.

David.

Lord.

[SOBBING]
Why do you hunt me, lord?

What have I done to you?

If any man has made you
to be angry at me,

let him be cursed!

For I am driven out

and away from the inheritance
the Lord gave Abraham:

the land that is Israel.

I am forced to go
and serve other gods.

Lord,

do not let me die a stranger
somewhere.

My blood to run into the earth

away from the presence
of Yahweh.

David.

David, my son.

Saul!

King of Israel!

Why do you hunt me like
a partridge in the mountains?

Here!

Here is the king's spear!

Yahweh gave you into my hands,
Saul.

But I would not raise it
against you.

Saul.

Here is your spear.

David.

My son.

David.

[♪]

Yahweh,

what is there left for me to do?

I must escape into the land
of the Philistines

or I shall be swept away
by the hand of Saul.

[LAUGHTER]

Go on. Go on, David.
Where did you raid next?

Then, into the southern lands
of Judah, lord.

The wilderness of the Negev.
[CHORTLES]

Judah? Your own tribe, eh?

[CHUCKLES]

What a delightful irony.

The sword of Achish
the Philistine,

carried into the land of Saul
by David of Judah.

Well, well. I am a good judge
of mercenaries, eh?

For three years,
the city of Gath

has had full measure
for your pay.

And now loyal service
should have a reward.

And I have one for you, David.

Revenge.

On your enemy.

What enemy, lord?

Saul.

King of Israel.

We're joining forces with all
five cities of Philistia.

And this time,
not a small raid but a war.

A hundred chariots from Gath,
4000 spearmen,

the same from Gaza and Ashkelon,
Ekron and Ashdod.

And you and your men,

you will be
our personal bodyguard.

This is your chance, David.

The destruction of Saul.

This is what
you've been waiting for.

I know you, David.

If you know me, lord,
you know what I will do.

So we raided
the seven parts of Judah.

You know we never set foot
in Saul's land.

Suppose he finds out we raided
his own allies in the Sinai.

No, he won't.
We left no witnesses, remember?

Yes, but this time
there will be witnesses.

You wouldn't let me kill Saul
in his tent with his own spear,

but you promised to march with
the Philistines against him.

I did not promise.

But you just said--

I said, "If you know me, lord,
you know what I will do."

Ah.

Who knows you, David?

Who knows what you'll do?

Do you know?

Do even you know what you'll do?

Hup!

[HORSE WHINNIES]

[GRUNTS]

[♪]

I--

I was not born to be a king.

I did the best I knew,
you understand.

I did the best I could.

Samuel!

Show me what to do.

[THUNDER RUMBLING]

[GRUNTS]

Yahweh

is gone from you.

He said that

I heard the voice

of Samuel.

Yahweh has torn

your kingdom from you.

And I-- I remember.

Samuel's robe tore in my hands.

No. No. No, that was--

That was long ago.

And he-- He said:

"Yahweh will give Israel

"into the hand
of the Philistines.

"And tomorrow each of you

"and your sons

will be in death with me."

KING:
No, you're unreasonable.

David is my captain.

He's made his people abhor him.

Therefore he shall be my servant
forever.

He is a Hebrew.

I know.

You remember what happened
at Michmash.

The Hebrew mercenaries
deserted us.

Joined the enemy.
My father died there

because a Hebrew dog
betrayed him.

Well, why would he desert?
Saul longs for his blood.

In this battle,

I want all the Hebrews
in front of me,

facing my spear.

I would put my life
in David's hands.

I have. He and his men
are my bodyguards.

Have you forgotten the song?

"Saul has slain his thousands.

And David his tens
of thousands."

KING:
No. I have the right to choose

my own men.

David marches with me
against Saul.

There are five kings
of the Philistines.

Four of us say

send the Hebrew back.

I am sorry, David.

I cannot let you go
into the battle against Israel.

But, lord, what have I done?

Am I not to be allowed to fight
against the enemies

of my lord, the king?

There's nothing I can do.

At first morning light,

leave with your men.

Don't misunderstand me, David.
I do trust you.

But I cannot keep you
in the battle against Saul.

[MOCKINGLY]
"Lord, what have I done?"

[SCOFFS]

You lie like an Egyptian
with a stone face.

"Am I not to be allowed
to fight against the--?"

[LAUGHS]

Have those donkeys
ready to move by first light.

Joab, are your men ready?

They will be.

Get that tent down.
What are you waiting for?

[JONATHAN IMITATING BIRDSONG]

[WHISTLING]

[WHISPERS]
Brother.

Jonathan.

[SIGHS]

You're safe here. You're safe.

The Philistines have gone
to the north.

Jonathan, why have you come?

To see my brother.

Before we fought
against each other.

We won't fight
against each other, brother.

The Philistine princes
don't trust me in the battle.

We're on our way to Ziklag.

Were they right, brother?

Would you have fought
against Israel?

Well, Yahweh is with you.

Will you fight tomorrow?

There are too many of them.

The Philistine cities
are sending their thousands.

I know.

When the-- When the spearmen
charge tomorrow,

they will turn and run
as if they're frightened.

Don't follow too closely,
Jonathan.

The chariots will be there

waiting for you
behind the ridge.

How many men have you?

Nine thousand.

About 2000 of them

sick with the running flux.

Put your slingers up front and
try to break the first charge.

I will.

David,

you will be king over Israel.

No.

My father knows that.

You will be king.

No.

He sits in his tent
and waits for death.

David,

when you are king,

do not destroy my seed.

We made a covenant
before Yahweh.

Do not kill my children

to protect your throne.

Yahweh is between you and me

and between your seed
and my seed

forever.

Jonathan.

[♪]

JOAB:
David?

Lord?

What is it?

We are free of the battle
against our own people.

The Philistines will smite
your enemy

and you will have
no bloodguilt.

Go.

Yahweh,

put your hand out over Jonathan.

And Saul.

[SHOUTING IN FOREIGN DIALECT]

[♪]

[GROANS]

[SHOUTING IN FOREIGN DIALECT]

Saul!

[SOBBING]
Why?

Why?

[DAVID SOBBING]

DAVID:
Thy beauty, oh, Israel.

Upon thy high places is slain.

How are the mighty fallen.

Tell it not in Gath.

Publish it not in the streets
of Ashkelon,

lest the daughters
of the Philistines rejoice.

Ye mountain of Gilboa,

let there be no dew
or rain upon you.

Neither fields of choice fruits

for there the shield of the
mighty was vilely cast away.

The shield of Saul
not anointed with oil.

Saul and Jonathan.

The beloved and pleasant
in their lives.

Even in their death
they were not divided.

They were swifter than eagles.

They were stronger than lions.

Ye daughters of Israel,
weep over Saul,

who clothed you in scarlet
with other delights.

Who put ornaments of gold
upon your apparel.

How are the mighty fallen
in the midst of battle.

Jonathan,
upon thy high places, is slain.

I mourn for you,
my brother Jonathan.

Very pleasant
have you been to me.

Wonderful was your love for me,
passing the love of women.

How are the mighty fallen

and the weapons of war
perished.

JOAB:
David.

David!

David.

David the king!

King David!

King!

David!

King!

[♪]

[♪]

[♪]

NARRATOR:
This is David,

the young shepherd boy

immortalized by Michelangelo.

And this is David, the king,
come to life.

That is within the power
of the king.

NARRATOR:
The story of David,

the second king of Israel,

less than 3000 years ago.

After Saul,
the first king of Israel

and his son Jonathan
were killed by the Philistines.

David is king of his own tribe
of Judah.

But the northern tribes
still follow Saul's son, Ishvi.

[HORN BLOWS]

Fighting has gone on
for six years.

[TRUMPETS]

One day, Joab,
David's war chief,

receives a message from Abner,

war chief of Saul's son.

Joab, peace in the name
of Ishvi, son of Saul,

the one king of Israel.

Abner, there is no peace

in the name of David,
the anointed king.

The chosen ruler of Judah
and all the south.

[HISSES]

Anointed?

Is that what you call
your pretender?

Your King David?

The oil was poured on his head
by Samuel, the old prophet.

[LAUGHS]

You pour oil on an onion
before you eat it,

but that doesn't make it king.

It was your runner
called me here to Gideon.

There are only 10 armed men.

And how many in the wadi
beyond the village?

No more than you have
behind the rocks on that ridge.

[SNICKERS]

Well, did you call me here
to talk or to fight?

Joab, you and I know
it takes more

than a prophet's horn of oil
to make a king.

Now, we know that it takes
spear points and politics

and lies.

David and Ishvi,

they've been fighting each other
now since the old king died.

Are you tired, old man?

Yes.

When Saul was alive,
there was one king

over Judah and Israel.

And you were his war chief.

Is that why you hauled
his gutless son to Gideon

and stuffed him with straw

and propped him up
with your spear

to keep him from falling over?

Ishvi is a son of Saul.

If you've something to say,
say it.

They won't keep a truce
for long.

[ALL SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY]

Ah...

Ah, we'll all be fighting
before high sun.

They have been for six years.

Abner, in time, David will win,

and he will hang Ishvi's body
on the wall at Hebron.

Maybe, in time.

But now it is we
who have the northern tribes.

Who knows who will hang

on whose wall.

[ALL SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY]

Joab, brother.

[♪]

Abner.

[CHUCKLES]

Now listen,

Asahel,

brother of Joab.

[♪]

[LAUGHS]

Find someone else.

[WAR GRUNT]

Take someone else's armor.

Now, turn away.

I want no blood feud with Joab.

[BOTH GRUNTING]

[♪]

[HUFFS]

[DAVID SINGING
IN FOREIGN DIALECT]

DAVID:
♪ Got me in his fear ♪

♪ And I do not harbor ♪

♪ He brings me ♪

♪ To the soft new grass ♪

♪ And the clear water ♪

♪ Of the pool ♪

♪ He raises up my spirit ♪

♪ He shows me the path
Of righteousness ♪

♪ So I ♪

♪ May worship him ♪

♪ Though I walk
In the low places ♪

♪ Where is the darkness
Of death ♪

♪ I will fear no harm ♪

♪ For you are with me ♪

♪ Your strong shepherd's staff ♪

♪ Gives me... ♪

[BABY WHIMPERS]

♪ ...peace ♪

My son.

My son.
[CRIES]

Oh, whose child is this?

Mine, lord.

Oh, yes, Adonijah.

Ephraim, lord.

Adonijah is my son, lord.

Oh, yes. Of course.

[BABY WHIMPERING]

Lord, this is your
firstborn son, Amnon, remember?

Get up, fool.
It's the king.

Sit. How far did you run?

Through the village of Karesh
in Benjamin, lord.

Do you have a scroll?
No, lord. The war chief

told me the message and made me
say it back to him three times.

From Abner, son of Ner, to
David, son of Jesse at Hebron,

who's is the land.

Make your alliance with me.

I can bring all Israel
and the north with me.

Is that all?

Yes, lord.

I can say it again
word for word.

Why would he break
with Ishvi now?

You can't trust him.

All right,
those are Abner's words.

But there's always a message
hidden under a message.

You remember a woman Saul had,
Weisbar, the concubine?

So did Abner, and he took her.

Oh, lord, everyone knows
the women of a dead king

belong to his successor.

Ishvi scolded Abner
like a small boy

caught stealing a cheese.

Ishvi is a fool.

But now, Abner,
he's an empty wineskin.

I heard the war chief
shout.

He swore to Yahweh he would
pull down the house of Saul

and set up the throne of David
from Dan to Beersheba.

It's too simple.

What will he want from you?

The question is,
what do I demand of Abner?

If I offer him anything,
he'll think I need him.

Tell Abner I will meet him.

But before I see his face,

he must bring me Michal,
daughter of Saul.

David, Saul gave her
to another man.

You can't--
Do you understand?

Say it back to me three times.

I want Michal,

daughter of Saul,

who is my wife.

PALTIEL:
No, there is a mistake.

You do not understand.

Why do you bring soldiers
to my house?

What have we got to do
with soldiers?

Are you ready, Michal,

daughter of Saul,
wife of David of Judah?

PALTIEL:
No, that's not right.

That was all changed.

She was given to me by Saul,
by the king.

Paltiel, please.

No. No, let me explain.

It's a simple mistake.

She was the wife of David,

but we are married now
for years.

Michal, the wife of Paltiel.

If there's anything you want
to take,

I have pack donkeys.

Abner,

my father's war chief,
he wants me?

[SIGHS]

He was a beautiful man.
His hair was red.

Is it still red?

They say so.
I haven't seen him.

I was 14.

I loved him.

And I loved my father

and my brother Jonathan.

And they are dead.

War chief,

it's very hard to remember
how a girl loves when she is 14

when she's lived
as another man's wife

all these years.

Abner,

why does he want Michal?

The wife of Paltiel?

No, he wants the daughter
of Saul.

When we were married,
I wondered,

"Why does he love me?"

I thought it was
for my eyes.

Which were bright,
weren't they, Abner?

Yes.

Now my eyes are not so bright.

They've seen 5000 days
and nights

in my husband's house.

There is still one thing left
David can love.

I am still the daughter of Saul

who was king of all the tribes
of Israel.

Abner...

[SOBS]
...you cannot send her to him.

Now,

David is king in Hebron,

and, uh, if he and I
come to a bargain,

he'll be king of all Israel,

and you will be the first wife
of a king.

I am already the daughter
of a king,

and it's not done much
for me.

Michal!

[♪]

Stay!

[♪]

Do you remember, David,
the first time

that I took you
to Saul's room?

Do you remember
what you said?

You said, "Lord, there is a goat

that my father sent
as an offering."

And you said, "Saul has a goat."

[LAUGHS]

Were you afraid of Saul, David?

I was a shepherd, he was a king.

When Yahweh's sickness was
upon him when his eyes burned,

yes.

Hm. And when you to played
for him

like a man falling asleep

in the arms
of an Egyptian whore.

♪ You will not fear ♪

♪ The terror of night ♪

♪ Nor the arrows
That fly by day ♪

♪ Nor the plague of darkness ♪

♪ Nor the blight ♪

♪ That waits at noonday ♪

Yes.

It was high sun when
the Philistines found Saul

with his own sword in his belly

and cut off his head.

Your friend, Akish.

My hand was never raised
against Saul.

I loved him.

And I was his war chief,

and here we are alive.

You planning
to take Saul's throne,

me to help you
by betraying his last son.

[SNICKERS]

Saul, laugh with us.

King, live forever.

Have you spoken to the elders
of Benjamin?

Mm.

Will they recognize me as king?

David.

King.

I brought you Michal,
the daughter of Saul.

Now you want me to--?
To bring you the--?

The elders of Benjamin

and the powers of Ephraim
and all of Israel in the north?

And what am I receiving?

Just a piece of old roast goat.

What do you want to go
with your meat, Abner?

There be one king
and one power and an army

and a war chief.

I have Joab, son of my sister.

He's a good man
for fighting in the mountains,

stealing geese from farmers.

But what can he say to
the elders of Asher and Benjamin

about leaving the house of Saul
for a David?

You need me, David,
son of Jesse,

king in Judah only.

Take the meat, Abner.

We'll find some spice
to go with it.

[LAUGHS]

Abner is here.

Abner!

With my brother's blood
on his head,

and you let him go in peace?

You fed him

with roast meat and oil
and honey,

and you let him go in peace.

Joab.
You let Abner

come into your house
and count your men

and see how the gates are built
and where the walls are weak,

and you let him go in peace.

Uncle, you are a fool.

Abner was Saul's war chief.

Without him, Ishvi is no king.

He's a gelded sheep.

I need Abner.

The tribes of Benjamin
and Ephraim follow him.

He can bring me
the whole of the north.

And he is to go in peace.

Well, what did he say,
brother?

[♪]

Send a runner north to the well
at Borsora

where Abner will camp
for the night.

The king wants him
to return here.

[♪]

Wait! My men are outside!

[ALL SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY]

[POUNDING ON DOOR]

[GRUNTS]

[MEN GRUNTING]

I had them.

After six years, I had them all.

The elders of Benjamin, Ephraim,
Asher, Jesuit, Judah.

I had them all.

And you.

You stupid bloody fool!

You murdered him.

You sent for him in my name
and you murdered him.

And who will believe
it was not my order?

All the tribes in the north
will say

that David brought Abner
to his house,

gave him bread and salt

and butchered him like an ox.

And they will go to Ishvi again,

and they will call him king.

My enemies I can fight,

but when my servants
are bloody stupid fools...

My brother, Asahel's blood,
cried out against Abner.

I had the blood right--

You?

Abner's blood will drown me.

David's name will stink
in the nose of Israel

like a dog dead in the sun
for three days.

There would've been one king
over all Yahweh's people

from Dan to Beersheba,

without war, without fighting.

What blood will be spilled
on the ground now?

Oh.

What bloodguilt
will you have, Joab?

Yahweh will call for a life
to pay for Abner's life.

A butcher must be butchered,

and the people will know
that I had no part of this.

King, I am your servant.

Kill me.

I have killed for you.

When Saul hunted you
in the mountains

when you fought in the army
of Achish the Philistine,

I killed for you.

For six years,

I killed the men that Abner
sent after you

in the name of Ishvi.

I made you an army

that brought you from
the wilderness here to Hebron.

The tribe of Benjamin
and Ephraim and Asher

followed Abner.

But your army

follows Joab.

But

if Yahweh calls for my death,

kill me.

Joab,

when Abner's body is washed,

when it is carried
to the burial cave,

you and your people

will tear your clothes
and gash your face.

And you will follow his body,

howling and wailing
like pregnant widows.

No!

Wrong, David.

He was my blood enemy.

Listen to me, son of my sister!

I need you and your army.

Ishvi will fall.

I must take the walled cities
one by one.

I want the Jebusite town
of Jerusalem for my own city

because it stands
on neutral ground

between north and south.

All this I have planned
but you,

you blundering stupid fool.

Now,

follow Abner's body

or follow Abner.

[MEN CHANTING INDISTINCTLY]

[SPEAKING FOREIGN DIALECT]

[SHOUTING IN FOREIGN DIALECT]

[♪]

Listen to me,

people of Israel
and Judah.

I am David,

king.

Before Yahweh,

I swear

I had no part
in the blood of Abner,

son of Ner.

Let the blood fall
on Joab.

Yahweh's curse is on his house.

MAN:
Stone him!

ALL [CHANTING]:
Stone him! Stone him!

Please, don't.

Let the Lord
punish the crime of Joab.

I turn my face from him.

He's war chief of my army
no more.

So that the people may know

that David, king,

had no part in the killing
of Abner,

son of Ner.

[♪]

[INAUDIBLE]

There.

Behind the brush. Stay down.

They have sharp eyes
on the city wall.

Joab, why take the risk?

David made you eat dirt
before Abner's body.

But I'll spit it out.

I know David.

If I give him the city
of the Jebusites up there,

I'll be his war chief again.

He swore he would never
turn his face to you.

He never will
turn his face to me,

until he needs me.

And then he will make a song
which says

he swore to make the man who
took this city his commander,

then everybody will sing it
and believe it,

and David will believe
his own song.

Because the truth for a king
is what he needs.

And David needs Jerusalem.

BROTHER:
Are you sure the tunnel

leads all the way?

JOHAB:
Last night, I crawled
up the shaft.

It goes through the mountain,

rising about 400 cubits

to the water pool
then straight up the well shaft

to just inside the walls
of the city

no more than 20 cubits
from the caravan gate.

BROTHER:
You make it sound easy,
brother.

What about the men?

JOHAB:
Take them to below
the caravan gate.

I'll open it from the inside.

[♪]

[MEN SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY]

David, king,

the city is yours!

Jerusalem, the fortress.

David's city.

[♪]

MAN:
David, rejoice

in the eyes of Yahweh!

Hey, David the king,

in the eyes of Yahweh!

Rejoice!

MAN:
David, king in the eyes
of Yahweh and Jerusalem.

[ALL CHANTING]

Rejoicing Yahweh,

rejoice.

[INDISTINCT CHANTING]

Rejoicing Yahweh,

rejoice.

[♪]

Clap your hands

all you people.

Shout to on high,

in the voice of God.

[♪]

[ALL CHANTING INDISTINCTLY]

[ALL CHANTING]

This is the bread blest
by Yahweh's peace to the Ark.

I brought it to you.

Give it to
one of your other wives,

great king.

Michal, I chose you

because this is a night
of blessing.

Tonight, my enemies
seem far away.

I wanted to remember

Saul, your father,

and Jonathan, your brother.

Do you remember
how you and I and Jonathan

would sit in the cool of
the dark on the roof at Cabaya.

I would look at you
and we'd smile secretly,

because we loved Jonathan,

but if only he would grow tired
and go to bed,

then we could go to bed.

My brother Jonathan is dead.

Saul is dead.

I still mourn for him.

And for Jonathan.

I tore my clothes.

I made a death song for them.

But you are alive,

and you sit
in my father's place

and you took me from my husband
as a sign for Israel.

"See? David is legitimate.

He has the daughter of Saul."

Michal.

When we were young,
we loved one another.

Michal.

All Israel is at peace.

Today, I--

I put the Ark of the Covenant
into my city

and Yahweh blessed me
with honor.

What honor?
I saw you today

jumping before the people
like a slave girl.

Is that honor?

Uncovering yourself
before the women.

Robes flapping,
showing your root

and your buttock
like a priest of Sodom.

My father was not
a king like that.

Saul was a man.

[GASPS]

If I uncovered myself,
it was before my God, Yahweh,

who chose me over your father

and all his house
to rule Israel.

And if Yahweh calls me,

I will be more vile
than that in your eyes.

Michal.

Your eyes are like Jonathan's.

Let me go.

There are too many years
between us.

David, let me go back
to my husband, Paltiel.

He wept for me.

No.

A king cannot
let anything go that is his.

You have no heart.

When you were young,
you could love.

Can you love anyone now, David?

You can conquer,

you can rut among
the women like a randy goat.

But can you love?

Well. Here am I.

I am the king's.

But if we have a son,

remember he will have
the blood of Saul.

Will you not be afraid

that he will turn out
to be another David

to your Saul?

[♪]

Now, you are the wife
of the king,

but you will have no more sons.

[♪]

♪ Yahweh ♪

♪ Yahweh ♪

Are you there?

With those stones,

the laws you gave to Moses,

that our people carried
into Canaan to battle?

To the Ark of Yahweh.

Yahweh,

you brought me
to this mountaintop.

You took me from
my father's sheep,

to Saul,
to Jonathan and to Michal.

It is now lost to me.

So many are dead,

and I live,

and I am king.

Why?

Yahweh,

they came to me

and they said,

"You must not leave
one of the seed of Saul alive

as a danger to you."

Now, that is said.
Any fool knows that.

They brought before me a boy,
Jonathan's son,

who was crippled in both feet,

and he was sure he would die
after the custom of all nations.

But I looked at him

and I saw the face of Jonathan.

And I raised him up

and sat him beside me,

and I restored the lands
of Saul to him.

Now, why did I do that?

No king from Egypt
to the land of Hazor

would have done so.

Tell me, Yahweh,

which is David?

The warrior who wades
in the blood of his enemy,

or the fool who weeps
because he sees Jonathan's eyes

in a crippled boy?

Yahweh, to be king,

to see the blood
of your enemy...empty.

What is it I search for?

And I play the same phrase
over and over,

and I know that somewhere
there is music

that is more beautiful.

[♪]

Who am I, Lord,

that you have brought me
thus far?

You know my soul, Lord.

Be a father to me.

If I'm weak,

if I sin,

let enemies work your punishment
upon me in the ways of men.

But Lord,

Yahweh, God,

do not take your mercy
from me and my house

as you did
from the house of Saul.

Let me not fear for my sons.

Yahweh,

let the house of David,

servant,

be blest forever.

[♪]

SCRIBE:
Now we are writing down
the holy words

in the way of the Phoenicians.

Here.

What have you written today,
Seriah?

When Kenan was 70 years old,
he begot Mahalalel.

After the birth of Mahalalel,

Kenan lived 840 years
and begot--

Scribe, we will run out of sheep

for skins to write
your begettings.

But, lord,
we must show the people

that the house of David
is blest through Yahweh

and in a legitimate line,
from Abraham, who begot Isaac,

who begot Jacob, who beg--

Scribes.

When I was a boy
in my father's house,

and the old men of the tribe
chanted the holy stories

and beat us with sticks
if we did not remember,

my skin crawled with wonder.

I could see Abraham, our father,

and the Angel of Death
killing the firstborn of Egypt,

and Joshua
taking the city of Jericho.

I warn you, scribes,

let that wonder

come through your Phoenician
chicken tracks on sheep skin.

Do not let the singers
and the storytellers

and the dreamers be lost

in your priestly begetting
of the generations.

And do not bleach out
the souls of our fathers

to a fish-belly white.

Write down their sin,

their stubbornness,

their weakness.

For that makes them men.

"From taxes on caravans
on the way of the sea.

"Silver, weighing 4 talents.

"Grain, barley, 1000 measures.

"Rye, 750 measures.

"Egyptian linen
of middle-grade bolts,

to the value
of 1 talent of silver."

How long has the hot wind
blown off the Sinai?

JEHOSEPHAT:
Seven days, lord.

It began on the day
of the driving out

of the sin-goat
into the wilderness.

Do you know the law
of the Amalekites

in the desert of the Negev?

After four days of the hot wind

there is no bloodguilt
if a man commits murder.

[SIGHS]

Where is the cool wind
from the north?

In the mouth of Yahweh, lord.

"Iron bars, weighing 50 talents.

"Purple dye from Tyre,
50 measures.

"Cinnabar, a hundred weight.

"Tanned leather hides,
first grade, a hundred.

"Middle grade, 150.

"Copper from the western
islands. In bars, 100.

"Smelted with tin, 50 bars.

"Earrings to the weight
of 5 talents.

[♪]

"Log wood dye, 50 measures.

"Similar bonds, treated within
the harbor of Tyre, 500.

Slings, taken from the city
of Moab..."

[JEHOSEPHAT SPEAKING
INDISTINCTLY]

...Siege of the city
of Amman..."

[JEHOSEPHAT SPEAKING
INDISTINCTLY]

Lord, what will you do?

Lord?

Joab asks for harems,
builders and stone

to make a ramp for him
to storm the wall of Rabbah.

Send them.

But, lord, they're still working
here on your great house.

If Joab doesn't take Rabbah,

we do not rule the way
of the eastern caravan

and I will not need
a great house in Jerusalem.

Send the builders.

Jehosephat.

Lord.

There was a woman on that roof.

Who is she?

JEHOSEPHAT:
That is the house of Uriah.

The woman would be his wife,
Bathsheba.

Uriah.

A foreigner, lord, a Hittite,
but he follows Yahweh now.

He is with the fighting men
at Rabbah.

[♪]

[PLAYING, HUMMING]

Come into the light.

[PLAYS, HUMS]

So you are Bathsheba.

Did you wonder
why I sent for you?

But you came.

I am your servant, lord.

Your handmaiden.

[STRUMMING]

[HUMS]

I couldn't sleep.

The hot wind.

No one sleeps
when the hot wind comes, lord.

A man's soul is parched.

The linen he wears is hot

and rough.

Like Canaan cloth.

I saw you on your rooftop.

When you bathed.

I have seen you often, lord.

David.

Mm, my heart's love?

When you took Michal to wife,

did you choose her every night?

I was younger then.

When Ahinoam was young,
was she more beautiful than I?

Did Michal please
her lord more than I?

Bathsheba, my heart,

I'm trying to read
the report of Joab

of the battle of Rabbah.

You have six wives, lord,
and concubines.

When your eyes close and your
face is buried in my hair,

do you know which I am?

I know that you are Bathsheba,

my heart.

Even if my eyes were blind,
I would know you.

You are written on my heart.

On a scroll which lists
the things a king desires:

gold, cities, slaves.

My heart.

I would love you,

care for you and protect you,
even if I were a shepherd.

Lord,

I am with child.

Can you be sure?

It is four weeks past my time.

There are many reasons
for a woman to be late.

This is my 10th year.

I have been
with the moon always.

Your seed is growing, lord.

By Yahweh.

[CHUCKLES]

I am a mighty ram.

A bull.

[LAUGHS]

[GROWLS]

[LAUGHS]

Rejoice.

You carry the seed of David.

Lord, my husband,
your captain, Uriah,

has been at the war
in Rabbah four months.

Well?

When my belly grows

with the seed of David,

will there be anyone
in Jerusalem foolish enough

not to count upon their fingers?

[SCOFFS]

It will be nothing.

It will be adultery,
proven,

and the punishment for that
is the death of heavy stones.

I am the king.

Who will dare
make such a charge?

No one, lord.

No one will make
a charge against you,

but a woman with her belly
carrying a bastard--

The priests will drag her,
me, to trial.

Nathan, the prophet,

would thunder
and threaten Yahweh's curse.

The law is hard on women, lord.

Even a king could not save a
woman who is proved adulterous.

I will not let them.

Can even you go against
the priests

and Nathan, the prophet?

No, not now.

With the new taxes
for the war at Rabbah,

and the numbering of the people
for the army,

if I go against
the custom of Israel,

the priests will pull me down.

Has Samuel turned against Saul?

But there are always other ways.

You are with child
only two months.

Why should it not
be your husband's child?

Because Uriah, my husband,
has been at Rabbah four months.

That is within
the power of the king.

[♪]

Uriah, the Hittite,

captain of a hundred.

King, live forever
in Yahweh's blessing.

King, li--

Captain.

I have called you from
the fighting to report to me.

Me, lord?

How does the fighting
go against Rabbah?

I don't know, lord.

Well, you have just
come from there.

The dust of the road
is still on your feet.

Lord, I am not called
to the tent of the war chief

or the council.

I just command a hundred
in one corner of the wall

near the reed swamp.

Well, how does the fighting go
in your corner of the wall

near the reed swamp?

Very well.

Well, that is,

uh, they shoot down arrows,

we wait.

Good. Very, very good.

How are your fighting men,
captain?

Like all fighting men.

Some run away

but steal what they can.

Some are brave.

They all complain.

[SIGHS]

Captain, your report
is very important.

It is?

DAVID:
You have the favor of the king.

Now, go down to your own house

and wash the dust
from your feet.

Rest.

Refresh yourself.

I will send food to you
from my table.

[♪]

Lord David.

What are you doing here?

You're supposed to be down there
with your husband.

That would be very difficult,
lord.

That fool is camping outside

in the courtyard
with his troops.

I am lying on my bed naked,

anointed with oil of myrrh,

and he is sleeping on the stones

with 50 soldiers
with sweaty feet.

[CHUCKLES]

And they roll heavy stones
off the walls

which hit the base,
which slants up, so the--

The stones bounce
and crush our men.

You're very clear.

Most valuable.

Oh...

Last night, they tell me,

you slept on the stones
outside with your soldiers.

Yes, lord.

DAVID:
Well, why didn't you

go into your house?

The law.

The law?

Yahweh's law.

Joab of my lord's army
is at war,

living in the field.

Shall I go into my house

and eat and drink
and lie with my wife?

Most men would.

It is Yahweh's law.

No soldier in battle
shall touch a woman,

his wife, or concubine,
or follower of the camp.

Oh, that law.

[SIGHS]

But, Uriah,
that is a law of ancient days.

I mean, a little refreshment
makes a man fight better.

Lord, I was born a Hittite.

I followed false gods

till I was brought
to the way of Yahweh.

The Ark of the Lord
is at the battle.

Can I be impure
and sleep with my wife

when the law of Yahweh is clear?

Surely the king would not tell
anyone to break holy law.

No, no. Of course not.

Captain, you are more pious
and scrupulously righteous

than a man born to Yahweh's law.

I commend you.

Tomorrow, I will let you return
to your fighting.

To victory.

[♪]

DAVID:
Uriah, go down to your house.

You deserve comfort and joy.

URIAH:
Bathsheba?

Bathsheba?

[URIAH CHUCKLES]

Bathsheba?

[KNOCKS]

[KNOCKING PERSISTS]

Open!

Open to the master of the house.

Bathsheba, I'm here.

I'm here, Bathsheba.

The lion of Catushar.

The stallion of the Hittites.

[KNOCKING]

Let me in,
or by Yahweh who lives--

Who said "Yahweh"?

Yahweh.

What am I doing?

Oh, Yahweh, I swear I did not
mean to break your law.

Yahweh, keep me from sin.

I-- I call you to witness.

I did not go in to my wife.

I did not go in.

I am pure, Yahweh.

I am pure in your sight.

I am pure

in your s-sight...

Yahweh.

[♪]

The king put this
in your hand?

Yes, war chief.

Do you know what he writes here?

No, war chief.

Captain...

Uriah.

You're a good fighting man.

You may go back
to your hundred.

The west gate
of the city

where they send out sallies.

Put Uriah the Hittite there.

Give him orders to follow
any man back to the gate.

To the gate?

Do not ask questions.

Never ask questions.

[♪]

MESSENGER:
They sent spearmen out

from the west gate of the city,

and our hundreds
drove them back,

and pursued them to the gate,

and they threw heavy rocks
from the wall and arrows.

And some of your fighting men
were killed.

Your captain, Uriah the Hittite,

is dead also.

[WOMEN SCREAMING]

[ALL HOWLING]

[SCREAMING]

[GROANING]

The baby is in breech.

[MEN LAUGHING]

Yurmate, Banco,
what are you listening for?

They will blow the ram's horn
from the woman's house

when the child is born,
lord.

YURMATE:
When David's son is born,

he'll raise the ram's horn
and blow it himself.

Nathan, prophet.

Welcome to the house
of David.

Bring water to wash
the prophet's feet.

Come, sit at my right hand.

David, son of Jesse.

I come with a matter
for the king's justice.

This is no time
for ordinary matters

of law and judgment.

We're waiting for the birth
of the son of David, the king.

The prophet speaks
in the name of Yahweh.

Here is the case
for the judgment of the king.

There were two men:

One, rich.

Many sheep,
donkeys and goats.

The other, poor.

He had nothing
but a little ewe lamb.

He raised that lamb.
He fed it with his hand.

He loved it
as his children.

And there came a traveler
to visit the rich man.

The rich man did not take
any animal from his own herd

to feast the stranger,

but he took the poor man's lamb

and killed it,

and roasted it
to serve the traveler.

This is the case.

Make a judgment, David. King.

Aye, Yahweh.

This man deserves to die.

Judgment:

The man shall be fined

four times
the value of the lamb

because he had no pity.

You are that man.

This says Yahweh:

I anointed you king of Israel,

and saved you
from the hand of Saul.

Why have you
despised the word of Yahweh

to do evil in my sight?

Prophet,
you are before the king.

The king of Israel is not like
the kings of other lands.

He is the servant of Yahweh.

Uriah the Hittite,
you have killed with a sword,

and therefore the sword shall
never depart from your house.

For you have taken the wife
of Uriah to be your wife.

Behold.

I will raise up evil against
you out of your own house,

for this you did secretly,

but I will do this thing before
all Israel and before the sun.

Joab!

I have sinned

against Yahweh.

Yahweh hears you.

But by this thing,

you have blasphemed Yahweh.

You will not die.

But the child
that is born to you

will surely die.

[♪]

My love.

David, my own king.

[SOBBING]

Well, you can have
another son.

Oh, my beloved.

[INDISTINCT CHATTERING]

Must all
speak at once?

Your firstborn, lord,
Amnon, my son.

You promised him rule over
three villages in Benjamin.

Look at him, lord. Absalom.

The people follow him and say,

"The lion of Judah
is born again."

WOMAN:
He has your blood too, lord,

my son, Adonijah.

Should he be made small for
the sons of Ahinoam and Maachah?

Now, hear me.

All the sons of my wives
are in my heart.

DAVID:
Amnon, Absalom, Adonijah

and all the others

ever as Yahweh lives.

If I can rule all Israel
from Dan to Beersheba,

I can rule the women
of my house.

Amnon is my firstborn.

He is my right hand.

He is first after me,

and he will rule over
the three villages in Benjamin.

And all men will obey him

when he speaks in my name.

[INDISTINCT WHISPERING]

Abigail.

Lord?

[SIGHS]

Why have I not seen you
for so long?

I have been here, lord.

But you have many wives,

and you must see to them.

Woman,

you were wise
when you came to me from Nabal.

Tell me,

why is there no peace
in my house?

ABIGAIL:
Lord, when they were young

they had power over you
through their bodies.

But there are always
younger wives

brought into the house
of the king.

So now, their whole world
is their sons.

And they plan
and they whisper in their ears,

and they scratch and they claw

to gain power
over all the others.

And they know,
Yahweh let it not happen

that when the king dies,

only one son will rule.

And it is the way of all kings

that he will feel safe

only when he sees the blood
of all his brothers.

So there can never be peace
in my house?

I am at peace, lord.

I have no son
to send out into the race.

I am like you, lord.

I am alone.

DAVID:
♪ Hear my cry ♪

♪ Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh ♪

♪ Yahweh ♪

♪ Listen to my prayer ♪

[GROANS]

When I was a boy,

lying in the high grass
above Bethlehem,

watching my father's sheep...

[SIGHS]

...a song came into my heart

like water bubbling up
out of the earth.

There are many things
that are not as they were

when we were young, uncle.

Your son Amnon--

I do not wish to hear.

He judges in your name
these past three years,

but he sells your justice and--
Joab.

--in your name, and he makes
the name of David a stench--

He is my son.
Uncle, listen to me.

No!

After all, am I without sin?

He's my son, he's my firstborn.

He has my blood.

He has your blood.

[♪]

Tamar.

You mean she's the one?

Beautiful.

MAN:
You can't.

She's your father's daughter.

Your brother Absalom's sister.

Your father,
do you know what he will do?

I am my father's firstborn.

He will deny me nothing.

[MEN LAUGHING]

AMNON:
Sister.

The king, our father, said
I was to bring you some cakes

because you were ill, Amnon.

Tamar, come in.

Uh, Jonadab,
let you and my men leave me.

Brother?

Come, sister.

Bring me the cakes.

[GASPS]

No.
Tamar, it is for you

that I am ill.

No. No, brother,
you must not do this evil.

No!

[♪]

[GROANING]

[WHIMPERS]

[SOBBING]

Sister.

And after,
he called his people

and he said:

"Put this whore
out of my house."

Where will I go?

One of my own brother's--

You will stay here with me,
sister,

and we will be silent.

He is his firstborn.

[SNIFFLES, CRIES]

Wait, sister.

Wait.

[MEN LAUGHING]

[ALL CHANTING INDISTINCTLY]

[ALL GUFFAWING]

[♪]

Absalom.

Brother.

[METAL SLICES]

[SCREAMING]

My son!

Amnon, my son.

He's dead.

Your son.

He killed him.

Absalom murdered him!

He killed my son.

[BOTH GRUNTING]

[SCREAMS]

[CLATTERING, SCREAMING]

[WAILING]

Your son is dead and mine lives.

Absalom lives
and he will be king.

He is safe
in my father's city.

He lives

and he will be king.

Woman,

I am king.

And after me,

I will say who will be king.

Now, I am bereft
of my firstborn.

He has been struck down.

My son, my beautiful Amnon,
is dead,

and Absalom is fled into exile.

And in exile
he will stay.

[♪]

[INDISTINCT CHATTERING]

Help. Grant me justice,
oh, king.

Help me.

What is your trouble,
woman?

My husband is long dead, lord.

I had two sons,

and they fought
with each other in the fields,

and there was none
that could part them.

And one of them struck the other
and killed him.

And now the family has risen up
against me and said:

"Give me your son

who has killed his brother, that
we may kill him for his murder."

If my last son dies,

my husband's name will be gone
from the face of the earth.

Lord,

protect my son.

You are protected.

The king's judgment.

Do you swear, lord,

by Yahweh,

that my son
shall not be destroyed?

As Yahweh lives.

Your son is safe.
I have given judgment.

Then you are in violation
of your own judgment, lord.

If my son is forgiven

and called home,

why does the king not call home

his own banished son, Absalom?

We all die, lord.

We are as water
spilled on the ground,

but cannot be gathered up again.

Yahweh himself finds the way
to forgive the outcast.

Silence, woman!

Who has paid you?

Who gave you those words
to say?

Joab.

Was it my war chief, Joab?

Yes, lord.

You go too far, war chief.

You always go too far.

Uncle, your heart calls for your
son.

For Absalom.

He's been in exile three years.

Call him home.

I...

I will grant your request,
son of my sister.

Go. Bring my son Absalom back.

But let him stay

in his own house,

that he won't see my face.

[♪]

Two years.

Two years since he called me
back to Jerusalem,

and he has not looked upon me.

Why?

Why did he
call me back?

Listen, Joab, go to him.

Tell him I cannot
live this way.

If he finds guilt in me,

then let him kill me.

Absalom--

I am his son.

Tell him.

[♪]

[♪]

I have come, Absalom,
as you requested.

You are counselor to the king,
Ahithophel.

You live at his court and you
know the evil which the king,

my father,
has invited into his house.

Tell me, Ahithophel.

Let me hear your advice.

Are the people with me?

The people yearn for you

and will be with you,

even as they were
with David the shepherd

when he fled
from the wrath of Saul.

I go now, with my
father's permission, to Hebron,

where men of his own tribe
of Judah will support me.

When I send the word, be ready.

Blow the ram's horns
and light the signal fires

so that all will know,
from Dan to Beersheba.

Israel has a new king.

[BLOWING HORN]

[MAN SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY]

JOAB:
David!

David, David awaken!

I know, I know.
Saul is the only--

Wake up, wake up.

Joab--
Listen to me.

It's cold.
Listen.

Absalom has declared
himself king in Hebron.

Absalom? You lie.

There are signal fires in every
high place in the north.

The tribal militia are coming to
him from Benjamin and Ephraim.

Where is he now?
At Hebron still.

But our army is across
the Jordan to the east.

He can reach the city here

before they.
You sent runners?

Yes, lord.

Bring me my armor,
my sword.

Jehosephat.

I am ready to go with you, lord,
into the wilderness.

No, no.
You will stay here.

You will crawl to Absalom
when he enters the city.

No.
You will serve him.

You will be of his counsel

and you will tell him

what I will send you to tell him
by my priests.

King, live forever.

We have a thousand men
in your guard.

We can hold the city
till the army reach us.

And be caught like a sheep
with his tail in the gate? No.

We'll leave Jerusalem to him.

Leave him Jerusalem?
Mm.

If he can keep it,
let him be king.

But I was dreaming of Saul.

I loved Saul, yet we were not
of the same blood.

Why cannot my sons love me?

Saul drove you away
to the mountains

and you became a rebel.

You drove Absalom away.
I tried to warn you.

If there was love,

it soured in the years

when you would not
let him see your face.

Well...

Back to the mountains

to be hunted
like a partridge.

[♪]

[MURMURING INDISTINCTLY]

Uncle?

The runner has come
from Jerusalem.

Listen--
From Zadok the priest.

Listen. It's a Nahorean moan.

Hear it?

It goes out the end
of the phrase.

He called the elders
in and before them all

he took your concubines.

He is the most beautiful
of my sons.

When I was a young man,
women loved me as they do him.

But love has little
to do with it.

He did it to show that he
was king and you were dead.

Hm.
And so you would've been

if he'd come after us
before we crossed the Jordan.

By Yahweh, it was close.

Some tried to convince him
to move quickly.

But another counseled, "Wait.

"Wait until you have
your men gathered.

"Your father is an old,
wounded bear

"hiding in the brush.

Surround him."

How do you
know that?

The runner
just brought the word.

Because I left good friends
behind me in Jerusalem

to counsel my son.

[CHUCKLES]
Oh, lord,

you are a fox.

A serpent.

Let your enemy
be a fool.

We'll divide the force
into three parts.

You will command
the left.

The mercenaries
from the Negev

and the Philistines
on the right.

And I will lead
the center.

No, lord, you will not.

You will not be
at the battle.

Battles are in the hands
of Yahweh.

If we run
before Absalom's 12,000,

then some will die
and the war will go on.

But if you are killed
in the first charge,

stow the lucky owl,

then the war is over,

and your enemy is king.

Not my enemy.

He is my son.

Do you remember the prophet

when he spoke
in the voice of Yahweh?

"I will raise up evil
against you

out of your own house."

Lord, I have nothing to do
with priests and prophets.

But Absalom
will cross the Jordan tomorrow.

In the battle,
deal gently, for my sake,

with the young man.

With Absalom.

[SHEEP BLEATING]

[SCREAMING, SWORDS CLANGING]

[HORSE WHINNYING]

[MEN SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY]

[HORSE WHINNYING]

[PANTING]

Lord, all is well.

Blest by Yahweh, our God,
who struck down all those

who sought to raise their hand
against the king, our lord.

Is it...

well with the young man,
Absalom?

Is it well with the young man,
Absalom?

Absalom.

Lord,
Yahweh has avenged you today

against all those
who rose up against you.

Absalom.

At the enemies of my lord,
the king,

and all those who rise up
against you...

be as that young man is.

Absalom!

Oh! Oh, my son!

[CRYING]
Absalom.

My son.

My son, Absalom.

Would I have died for you?

My son.

My son.

Oh, son.

Lord.

Who's there?

Bathsheba.

[GRUNTS]

What do you want?

Lord, would you speak
with me?

Go. Go.

Beautiful child.

What? Oh, yes.

Oh, I feel cold.
I'm always cold.

They sent her to me for sure

and...

Yes, it is for sure.

Beautiful.

Do you remember, lord?

What?

When I was young...

Mm.

...I was not as thin
as this Yemenite.

Not as pale.

You were the color of the stones
of Jerusalem when the sun sets

across the valley of Kidron.

Golden.

Do you remember
what you said to me, lord?

"Do you wonder
why I sent for you?"

Mm.

And I said:

"I am your handmaiden, lord."

Lord,

I am afraid for my child.

They cannot touch him.

I am the king.

I will bring your husband
from Rabbah.

No one will know.

Lord, Uriah the Hittite
has been dead 25 years.

I know.

Lord,

do you remember when you wept
on my breast for our firstborn

and I said:

"You will have another son."

He is Solomon,

your son.

And I am afraid for him.

Why?

Oh, lord, live forever,
but you are old.

Your power slips
from the weak hand.

I am still the king.

Your war chief is in the house
of your son, Adonijah.

Joab.

He goes to power
like an ant to honey.

Adonijah calls himself king.

Adonijah calls himself king

while I am still alive?

Lord, did you not know?

Did you not say,

"Adonijah will rule
after me and sit upon my chair?"

No, no.

I will say who will rule
after me,

and who will sit on the chair
of David.

Guard.

Bring me Nathan the prophet,

and Zadok the priest,

and Benaiah,
the commander of the guard,

and Solomon.

I want my son, Solomon.

[♪]

And, Solomon, my son.

Ride upon my own horse
to Gideon

and let Nathan the prophet

and Zadok the priest
anoint him

their king of Israel.

And sound the horn and say:

"After David,

Solomon shall be king."

Joab.

Do you know what he did?

Abner,

Absalom, your brother.

[WHISPERS]
Kill Joab.

He is in the house of Adonijah,

and you will not be safe.

He has taught me this.

If Joab was Solomon,

he would kill Joab.

Mm.

[SIGHS]

Solomon, my son.

I go the way of all earth.

Keep the law of Yahweh
and his commandments

that are written
in the law of Moses.

Be strong.

Show yourself

a man.

[♪]

[♪]