The Story
Act I
This is the true story of DAVID, King of Israel, from the time of his anointing until his affair with BATHSHEBA, portraying the major events of his life.
The musical play encompasses DAVID’s youth through the greatest catastrophe of his kingship. The action begins with SAMUEL at prayer, having a repartee’ with the unseen GOD (God’s Lament). SAMUEL expresses his frustration with GOD’s assignment, and sneaks off to anoint one of JESSE’s sons (Samuel’s Lament). SAMUEL then travels to Bethlehem and, at GOD’s direction, anoints DAVID as king to replace SAUL (The Anointing). DAVID accepts his new role (Chosen). SAUL, the king, has no idea these events have transpired.
The scene shifts to SAUL, who is tortured by an evil spirit he believes sent from GOD. He seeks remedy in music, and DAVID is summoned to SAUL to soothe him with song, as DAVID is renowned for his beautiful voice (The Meeting). DAVID is so successful at banishing the evil spirit (Wild, Restless Sea), that SAUL requires DAVID to remain at the palace.
The scene shifts to a battle between the Jews and the Philistines (The Philistines). GOLIATH of Gath, a giant, challenges the Jews to send forth one man to do battle with him, and whoever is the victor will win the day, and the loser’s army surrender to the victor. All are afraid, but DAVID steps forth and accepts the challenge, becoming the unlikely victor by killing GOLIATH and routing the Philistine army (Goliath’s Lament).
On their triumphant return to Jerusalem, the Israelites hail DAVID more fervently than SAUL, and a never-ending jealousy between SAUL and DAVID is born (Saul’s Lament). SAUL spends the rest of his life pursuing DAVID to kill him. DAVID flees to the wilderness (Wings Like a Dove), where he forms a loyal band of followers. When SAUL comes to the desert to kill DAVID, DAVID sneaks into the camp of the Israelite army and takes SAUL’s spear, showing SAUL that he could have killed him, but let him live (The Raid). SAUL then temporarily repents of his evil intentions, and begs DAVID to return to Jerusalem, but DAVID wisely declines (The Confrontation).
The scene again changes to the Palace, where SAUL and his advisors are planning yet another campaign against the Philistines. SAUL is seeking a sign from GOD, but none has come. In desperation, he seeks out a WITCH in strict defiance of his own laws (The Witch of Endor). SAUL commands the WITCH to summon the ghost of SAMUEL from the dead. SAMUEL materializes, and mercilessly foretells the death of SAUL and his sons the following day. SAUL is badly shaken, and goes forth to die in battle.
The scene changes, and DAVID is informed of SAUL’s death. DAVID grieves for SAUL, but his people rejoice. His followers proclaim DAVID the new king, and they go off to Hebron to anoint him King of Judah (The New King).
Act II
The second act opens with some time having passed. DAVID is strolling on the roof of the palace, from where he spies the beautiful BATHSHEBA bathing (From the Rooftop). Overcome by her beauty, he inquires of her, and finds she is the wife of URIAH the Hittite, one of his most trusted men. He summons her to the palace, where they fall passionately in love (Come to Me). She spends the night, returning home before dawn. The following morning the lovers sing of the night before (Last Night).
The scene changes to a few weeks later, and BATHSHEBA is very concerned over the fact that she is pregnant with DAVID’s child. She sends a message to DAVID (Bathsheba’s Lament), and he brings her to the palace to comfort and encourage her, and once again pledges his love (A Dream Come True). To solve his dilemma, DAVID proceeds to bring URIAH home from the war so that URIAH will sleep with BATHSHEBA, and URIAH will believe the child to be his own. URIAH is a very loyal soldier, however, and won’t indulge himself romantically while his men are still at war (I Am a Soldier).
DAVID then holds a great feast in order to get URIAH drunk so he will go home to BATHSHEBA (The Feast), but still URIAH stands fast. Frustrated and at his wits’ end, DAVID’s heart turns black, and he plots to have URIAH killed in battle with the Ammonites (Uriah’s Lament). DAVID sends URIAH back to the battlefront, carrying the orders from DAVID for his own death in hand (The Message).
Time passes and the child is born. NATHAN the Prophet comes to visit DAVID with the sordid tale of a rich and evil man, a man who steals for himself the one and only sheep of a poor man, though he has many flocks already (Nathan’s Lament). DAVID calls for the rich man’s death, and Nathan reveals to DAVID that he is in fact the evil man, and he exposes DAVID as URIAH’s murderer. DAVID confesses and repents his sordid deeds, and recommits himself to GOD and country in the final scene (David’s Lament).