Shlomo Skulsky (1912–1982)

Surprisingly readable stories about King David for children, so Batsheva and David's deathbed speech are not included. What is included are midrashim "from various collections of Midrashim" and "a reworking of the narrative poem 'David's Tomb' by A.K. Shapiro. The illustrations are sketches with one color in the background; they make to book feel dated.

1. "David and His Sheep" - When the pasture for his flocks has "sparse and coarse grass," David lets them eat in the order that ensures that the young, old, and then strong are all fed. God is so impressed that he decides to make David King of Israel.

2. "The Pitchers of Honey" - A widow hides her gold coins in earthenware jars of honey and leaves them with a neighbor as she flees a powerful man who wants to marry her. The neighbor discovers the gold when he needs more honey for a celebration and replaces it with honey. When the woman returns she discovers his deception, but cannot prove it. At last, David, a young boy at this time, offers to help the widow. He smashes the jars and shows that coins have stuck to the inside of them. This story is also in the book, The Money in the Honey.

3. "David is Anointed King" - After Saul is found unworthy, God tells Samuel to anoint a son of Jesse of Bethlehem king. When the oil in Samuel's horn disappears as he tries to pour it over each of Jesse's six eldest sons, he realizes that the youngest son must be the rightful king. This story is based on the biblical account in I Samuel 16:1-13 (which seems to mention seven sons plus David).

4. "David Slays Goliath" - The story follows 1 Samuel 17 with the additional dialogue and descriptions and a backstory of David killing a lion while working as a shepherd.… (más)