An idealized David

History is written by men. In writing history, men pass judgment on kings and their ministers. At least, this has been the Chinese practice in previous ages. Even anthropologists, who conduct field observations, living in indigenous communities, are not immune from passing judgment on what they observe or choose to observe. Without knowing a bit of background, people will be easily misled into believing an idealized picture painted by historians.

I have no intention of offending Protestant readers. Many of them were told by their pastors that Martin Luther was restoring the true face of the Bible by rejecting several books in the Old Testament because these books were not written in Hebrew, but in Greek. People in ancient Israel spoke Hebrew. What was more logical to do than rejecting these Greek "fake scriptures", Apocrypha? In Luther's time, type printing had not been invented. Books, especially the Bible were copied and difficult to come by. In Luther's time, Bible was available only in Lain Vulgate. The majority of the population was illiterate. Even learned men did not have the opportunity to own a copy of the Bible and study it. Hebrew Scripture and Greek Septuagint were unheard of by most. Even fewer people knew how different books were collected into the Bible. Luther's action was idealized. I have no intention to go into details the history of Bible Canon. Interested readers should do research for themselves.

We have more than enough supply of idealized Chinese kings. Israel has one and he is King David. The Deuteronomist historians wanted to teach the Israelites the disastrous consequences of idolatry. They wrote the Book of Judges, the two Samuel's and two Kings'. Therefore, they did not refrain from recounting the sins of David. The two Chronicles' had a different agenda. David was idealized. Even though the first Jerusalem Temple was built by Solomon, the credits went to David instead. Today, when we read Ben Sirach, the sins of David was lightly grossed over. Beginning in chapter 44, Ben Sirach recounted famous people, beginning with Enoch, then Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses and Aaron etc.
all these were honored in their generations, and were the glory of their times (Ben Sirach 44:7).
Ben Sirach spends 10 verses on David and finishes as follow.
The Lord took away his sins, and exalted his power for ever; he gave him the covenant of kings and a throne of glory in Israel (Ben Sirach 47:11).
David's sins occupied only one quarter of a verse, one fortieth of the whole eulogy! Of course, I should not be too harsh on Ben Sirach. After all, this book is meant for edification, for the education of the youth.
since it is necessary not only that the readers themselves should acquire understanding but also that those who love learning should be able to help the outsiders by both speaking and writing (Ben Sirach 0:1-14).

Returning to David, Ben Sirach recounts famous incidents of David's life, such as killing a lion, defeating Goliath and composing songs for the Lord etc. His interpretation of David's life is summarized in the following verse.
In all that he did he gave thanks to the Holy One, the Most High, with ascriptions of glory; he sang praise with all his heart, and he loved his Maker (Ben Sirach 47:8).
This is the example Ben Sirach wants to impress on his young readers. We do not expect "objective" historical facts but summarized idealized figures to inspire. The Chinese also have a rich culture of educational materials to hand on the tradition to the young such as 三字經、幼學故事瓊林 etc. May the merciful Lord remember us Chinese. Amen.

Dear Lord, allow us to exercise our rationality to dig up the truth. The truth will set us free. Amen.