Chronology of David Becoming King

During Jesus' day, many people called Him by the title "Son of David".

Matt 1:1 A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham.

Even though the Pharisees disputed the idea that Jesus was the Christ, they believed that the Christ was the son of David.

Matt 22:41 - While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 “What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?” “The son of David,” they replied.

The significance of the term "Son of David" is that David had been the king of Israel and it was believed that the Christ would inherit the throne of David. We can probably learn something about Christ's kingship by examining David's kingship. This will take multiple posts.

Here is a brief chronology of the kingship of David. First of all David was chosen by God to be king of Israel.

1Sam 16.1 - The LORD said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.” ... 12 So [Jesse] sent and had [David] brought in. He was ruddy, with a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the LORD said, “Rise and anoint him; he is the one.” 13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came upon David in power.

As best can be determined by the text, David was probably a teenager when he was anointed king. For the next decade and a half, David did not where a crown. He looked after sheep, assisted King Saul, and then was a fugitive from Saul. During that time, people who believed in David gathered around him and became his faithful followers. Also during that time, David did part of the work of a king by fighting against Israel’s enemies.
It was not until David was 30 years old, was he officially become king, but first it was only over the house of Judah. Seven years later, after much war, he became king over all the tribes of Israel.

2Sam 2.3 - David also took the men who were with him, each with his family, and they settled in Hebron and its towns. 4 Then the men of Judah came to Hebron and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah.

2Sam 5.3 - When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, the king made a compact with them at Hebron before the LORD, and they anointed David king over Israel. 4 David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years. 5 In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years.

After securing the kingship over the 12 tribes of Israel, David fought against and conquered all Israel’s enemies. 1Chron 18, 19, & 20 lists these nations as ones that David subdued: Philistines, Zobah, Moab, Aram, Edom, and Ammon.

Tou the King of Hamath (1Chron 18.9-10) and Hiram king of Tyre (1Chron 14.1) recognized David’s strength and chose to pay tribute to him rather than fight against him.

So eventually David became king over all the land that God had promised to give to Israel.