<P> Historians of the Ancient Near East agree that David probably existed around 1000 BCE, but that there is little that can be said about him as a historical figure . There is no direct evidence outside of the Bible concerning David, but the Tel Dan Stele, an inscribed stone erected by a king of Damascus in the late 9th / early 8th centuries BCE to commemorate his victory over two enemy kings, contains the phrase ביתדוד ‬, bytdwd, consisting of the Hebrew words "house" and "David", which most scholars translate as "House (Dynasty) of David". Ancient Near East historians generally doubt that the united monarchy as described in the Bible existed . </P> <P> David is richly represented in post-biblical Jewish written and oral tradition, and is discussed in the New Testament . Early Christians interpreted the life of Jesus in light of the references to the Messiah and to David; Jesus is described as being descended from David . David is discussed in the Quran and figures in Islamic oral and written tradition as well . The biblical character of David has inspired many interpretations in fictional literature over centuries . </P> <P> The first book of Samuel portrays David as the youngest of the eight sons of Jesse of Bethlehem . His mother is not named in any book of the Bible, but the Talmud identifies her as Nitzevet daughter of Adael . When the story was retold in 1 Chronicles (4th century BCE) he was made the youngest of seven sons and given two sisters, Zeruiah and Abigail . The Book of Ruth (possibly also 4th century BCE) traces his ancestry back to Ruth the Moabite . </P> <P> David is described as cementing his relations with various political and national groups through marriage . He is described as having eight wives: Michal, the second daughter of King Saul; Ahinoam the Jezreelite; Abigail the Carmelite, previously wife of Nabal; Maachah, daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur; Haggith; Abital; Eglah; and Bathsheba . </P>

In the bible who was david's father