David is one of the figures portrayed most fully and vividly in the Bible. He is shown with all his contradictions, whether as the tough combatant, the astute statesman, or as the loving husband and father. He is also portrayed as passionate and unruly at times, yet sensitive to love, beauty, poetry and music. He could be full of courage, yet also humble of spirit and all these characteristics fuse together to form a most interesting and complex man. It was during David’s reign that the Hebrew nation reached the pinnacle of its political and military might. This empire split into the 2 rival kingdoms of Israel and Judah after Solomon’s death.