King David’s Fatherhood – the Bright and Dark Sides

Abstract

Being a father is an important task in a man’s life. This does not refer only to physical participation in the conception and birth of offspring, but also to the question of upbringing. That’s why, in many cultures there are texts giving advice on how to do it. In the Bible, we cannot find any instructions on how to be a good father, but there are characters who try to fulfill this role. One of them was King David who had many children and loved them very much, although his attitude toward them was not always fully responsible. Thanks to the biblical texts, it is possible to observe how David fulfilled his role as a father.