Comparing King Arthur with King David

Throughout the entirety of British literature, one of the most popular figures is that of King Arthur. Thought to be based on the mysterious King Riothamus, who arrived in post-Roman Britain around the 5th century A.D. (Curin). His kingship developed into legend and, eventually, into a pseudo-religion. The eventual development of Christianity in the British world influenced literature and religion in the area. The Arthur legends were no exception to this. The ensuing effects were obvious parallels between the story of Arthur and his court and the themes and element of the Bible. One of the more obvious similarities between some of the stories of the Bible and of Arthur is that of King David in the Old Testament. The Arthur legends seemed to take on similar elements of the story of King David in aspects of content, theme, character parallels, and morals. These links can be summarized in a few elements.

First, one of the more obvious similarities between Arthur and David is that of their coming of age. Both David and Arthur had to go through their right of passage to prove themselves worthy; even though both were destined to become a great king. In some Arthurian legends, Arthur was not treated like a prince (Malory 9); however, destined to be king by a higher power. Similarly, David was just a Sheppard as a young man (English Standard Version, 1 Samuel 16.19). Both position are humbling and they contribute to their characters as a king. In the Book of Samuel; chapter 17, David is already anointed to be king by Samuel, but proves himself to Saul by defeating the giant Philistine named Goliath(English Standard Version). Inversely, Arthur has already been chosen to be king by Merlin, but proves his worth by removing the sword from the stone (Malory 9-10). Each events come about supernaturally, but the outcome of both were predestined to propagate the events of the rest of their kingship.

As I mentioned earlier, King David was anointed king by Samuel (English Standard Version,1 Samuel 16:13). Samuel can be paralleled to Merlin in many ways. Like Merlin, Samuel was born by supernatural means. He was conceived by an older, baron woman named Hannah. God allowed her to conceive, and destined Samuel to do great things for his chosen people (English Standard Version, 1 Samuel 1-20). Merlin was the son of an Incubus; that is, a devil(Bulfinch 296). Samuel was the spiritual leader of Israel for many years, and was the hand that God used to set the nation straight. God used Samuel to turn the nation away from their infirmities and put them on a righteous path. The Wizard Merlin led a similar life. In later, Christian-synchronized, tales; Merlin was the builder of the Round Table (de Boron 106). Showing how he was the instrument of the establishment of a near perfect kingdom of England. In earlier, non-Christian, tales; Merlin does not accompany Arthur through his kingship (Phillips). By the time of Thomas Malory's contribution, Merlin is an instrumental figure in the Court of King Arthur.

It can even be suggested that the role of Nathan, as a prophet and advisor for David, was incorporated into the Arthur tales. This would explain the prolonging of Merlin's story into Arthur's kingship. The earlier Merlin can be paralleled to Samuel, and the later Merlin can be paralleled to Nathan. This is even more evident when Merlin told Arthur the whole truth of his lineage and who his father was, and how his recent foul deed of incest would one day destroy him and his realm. This is quite similar to the passage in the 2nd book of Samuel; chapter 12. In this passage the prophet Nathan rebukes David in saying:

Thus says the LORD, 'Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house. And I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel and before the sun. David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." And Nathan said to David, "The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die. Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the LORD, the child who is born to you shall die."

Later in the book we find that the insects of his son Amnon is the inciting incident that leads to the strive within the house of David (2 Samuel 13).

In an effort to connect the immediately triumphant rein of David, and the wise rule of Solomon; Arthurian legends began to combine both of them into the kingship of Arthur. In the prologue of Le Morte d'Arthur; Arthur is produced by the rape of Igraine by King Uther (Malory 5). This seems to be an effort to show that Arthur will contain the wise characteristics of Solomon, but also the fallen traits of lust and neglect.

A common theme within both the Arthurian legends and the story of King David is that of a correlation between the kings' actions and their dominions' state. It can be said that as the King goes, so does the land. At the beginning of both Arthur's rein and David's; both immediately began to conquer surrounding kingdoms (1 Samuel 5: 6-25)(Malory 16-17). King David did this through divine right (1 Samuel 5), and so does King Arthur. Merlin advises Arthur to fight many times (Malory 16-17).

The Ark of the Covenant was the vessel that contained the Ten Commandments that Moses received from God (Exodus 20). It was often carried into battle. The most popular story being that of Jericho when it was carried around the city walls for days before God brought the walls down after a trumpet call (Joshua 6). David is famous for returning the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem (1 Samuel 6:1), and Solomon is quite famous for creating the very majestic Temple of Solomon where the Ark was contained (1 King 6: 19). The Mighty sword Excalibur is representative to this in some respects.

No other King was able to retrieve the Ark like David, nor contain it once it was in his possession. Likewise; Arthur was the only person who could pull the sword from the stone, and was the only king who could wield it. In the first book of Le Mort d'Arthur, King Arthur unsheathes the sword in his first battle. The power of the sword blinds his opponents and allows an easy victory over King Lot. These acts summarize how the magic sword of Excalibur is a representation of the mighty Ark of the Covenant (Malory 17).

The tale of King Arthur has gone through many changes and revisions. Throughout the course of its history, it has evolved into the tale we now know. It can easily be said that throughout its history, it has been strongly influenced by neighboring literary ideas, and the Bible has been the strongest influence. Now that we can look at everything in a broader scope, we can see the overall picture. The story of King Arthur is very Christian-synchronized. King Arthur has been compared to King David of the Old Testament with some ease. His Court and surrounding history is very similar to King David's kingdom and surrounding history. The characters, elements, morals, themes, and content are paralleled in several respects to show that while Christianity was developing in the British Island, it shaped lore and pagan believes, and to show that neither can be totally separated from one another once introduced.

Work Cited

Bulfinch, Thomas. Bulfinch's Mythology. New York: Dell Publishing, 1965.

Currin, Nathan. "Merlin the Magician." King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. 2001. The Camelot Project, The University of Rochester. 01 Oct. 2008 http://www.kingarthursknights.com/others/merlin.asp.

De Boron, Robert. Merlin and the Grail. DS Brewer, 2008.

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Wheaton, Illinois: Good News Publishing, 2003.

Malory, Thomas. Le Morte D'Arthur. Michigan: J.M. Dent & co., 1910.

Phillips, Graham Phillips. "Merlin - The Man behind the Myth." The Official Graham Phillips Website. 01 Oct. 2008 .