ABSTRACT
This chapter mainly focuses on David's great popularity; having first appeared in the text as a young servant of Saul, David is shown as becoming popular among the people through his military exploits, and influential within the royal family itself. What is emphasised quite strongly, and perhaps would explain the reason for the duplication, is that the main concern of the narrative is again to demonstrate David's innocence with regard to Saul's death. The chapter demonstrates that this narrative is part of political propaganda supported by theological interpretation of events, showing that David's accession was lawful and guided by Yahweh. McCarter has demonstrated that this narrative of David's rise is similar to the Hittite apology called 'The Apology of Hattushillish III' which was written for the Hittite king Hattushillish III who usurped the throne in the thirteenth century BCE. There are various similarities between the apology of Hattushillish and the story of David's rise. The chapter draws attention to the close resemblance of the Samson story to that of Saul in the book of Samuel.
