David desires to build a temple to Yahweh, but he is denied because of the bloodshed in his reign. He dies at age 70 and chooses Solomon, his son with Bathsheba, as his successor instead of his eldest son Adonijah.

David was the youngest of eight sons of Jesse, a farmer and sheep breeder of the Israelite tribe of Judah. David likely spent much of his boyhood tending his family's flock. One day he was summoned from the fields by the prophet Samuel, who anointed him king of Israel while Saul was still king.

David was a youth, so he may have been shorter than 5' tall, at an enormous disadvantage in any match of physical strength. Goliath was a Philistine champion, fighting to dominate the territory.

Background and sources. Nearly all evidence for Solomon's life and reign comes from the Bible (especially the first 11 chapters of the First Book of Kings and the first nine chapters of the Second Book of Chronicles).