Kings

Watched the series premiere of NBC's Kings last night. About halfway through I realized that the entire show is a modern-day retelling of the story of King David from the Old Testament. Given that that was the entire premise of the show, it seems odd that they never mentioned this in any of the early marketing for the show. Admittedly, the show opens with King Silas giving a speech that starts with "These days, God is not a popular subject" - so I suppose the marketing department thought the same thing.

But it totally geeked me out, so I tried to brush up on my 1st Samuel, and here's all the parallels I could find. I'll leave out any TV specific spoilers or changes, only the OT version, which I think is past the spoiler statute of limitations by a few millenia.


King Silas Benjamin:

King Saul, of the tribe of Benjamin. Ian McShane seems spot on for what I would expect of Saul. Admirable, yet flawed.

He had a son named Saul, an impressive young man without equal among the Israelites—a head taller than any of the others. (1 Sam 9:2 NIV)


David Shepherd:

soon-to-be-King David, youngest son of Jesse, from the town of Bethlehem (also the birthplace of Christ). Originally brought to Saul as a musician when Saul is suffering from panics, but is also a soldier and shepherd. He steps up and slays Goliath when he happens to be at the front line playing for Saul.

"I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the harp. He is a brave man and a warrior. He speaks well and is a fine-looking man. And the LORD is with him." Then Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, "Send me your son David, who is with the sheep." (1 Sam 16:18-19 NIV)

Jack Benjamin:

Saul's eldest son, Jonathan. Becomes fast friends (some have argued, lovers) with David. Was a strong soldier himself, sneaking across enemy lines and routing the Philistines with just his armor-bearer. Later helps protect David from Saul.

The Philistines fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer followed and killed behind him. In that first attack Jonathan and his armor-bearer killed some twenty men in an area of about half an acre. (1 Sam 14:13-14 NIV)

And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt. (1 Sam, 18:3-4 NIV)


Michelle Benjamin:

Saul's younger daughter, Michal. Marries David, later protects David from Saul. Wins grossest wedding-gift award.

Now Saul's daughter Michal was in love with David, and when they told Saul about it, he was pleased. "I will give her to him," he thought, "so that she may be a snare to him and so that the hand of the Philistines may be against him." (1 Sam 18:20-21 NIV)

David and his men went out and killed two hundred Philistines. He brought their foreskins and presented the full number to the king so that he might become the king's son-in-law. Then Saul gave him his daughter Michal in marriage. (1 Sam 18:27 NIV)


Reverend Ephramm Samuels:

The prophet Samuel frem Ephraim. He gets 2 whole books in the Bible. Anoints Saul as King, declares that God has forsaken him, and then anoints David as King.

"Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you as king." (1 Sam 15:23 NIV)


Gath's Goliath Tanks:

Goliath of Gath, a giant warrior. David slays him with a sling.

A champion named Goliath, who was from Gath, came out of the Philistine camp. He was over nine feet tall. (1 Sam 17:4 NIV)

For forty days the Philistine came forward every morning and evening and took his stand. (1 Sam 17:16 NIV)


Shiloh:

The city where the Ark of the Covenant was kept until it was stolen by the Philistines. This was before Saul was King, however, and I don't think Shiloh is mentioned anytime during Saul's reign. I'm not even sure if the Ark is returned to Shiloh after the Philistines return it.

"Let us bring the ark of the LORD's covenant from Shiloh, so that it may go with us and save us from the hand of our enemies." (1 Sam 4:3 NIV)