Saul is made king 1095 Dies 1055 Rules over Israel about 40 years David born 1085 Kills Goliath 1062 Reigns in Hebron 1055 King over Israel 1048 Dies 1016 Rules over Israel about 40 years Solomon is born 1036 Is crowned king 1015 Lays foundation of Temple 1012 Dedicates the Temple 1004 Worships idols 985 Dies 975 Rules over Israel about 40 years These figures may not be accurate. They are as near as the dates can be had. Josephus gives the dates as follows: Saul reigned with Samuel 18 years After the death of Samuel 22  ,,   David lived 70  ,,   Reigned in Hebron 7 yrs 6m   ,,    ,, Jerusalem 33 years Solomon lived 94  ,,   Having reigned 80  ,,   There is a discrepancy somewhere. Something is wrong in dates, like most other facts in the Bible. David was twenty-three years old when he killed Goliath. Solomon was twenty-one years old when he was crowned king; according to Josephus, fourteen years of age. We have no further interest in the dates of those men, but more in their acts and character. Being the rulers of God's own chosen people--with Jehova for a pilot, protector, and guide--with the wooden Box, the ark, with all its mysterious secrets and its holy enchantments; priests, prophets, and sacrifices, with all their secret necromantic performances, these three men, with all their godly professions, were no better than they should have been, even for the age in which they lived. They were brutal, gross, and licentious. Barbarous crimes were committed by them, with the sanction of their preposterous imaginary God--who is lauded at this present day to the very echo, but the most stupendous piece of folly that ever was palmed off on civilized humanity. Saul, the first king, in exercising his terrible cruelty towards his enemies perhaps only followed the practices and customs of other nations. Why this bloodthirsty man caused 385 persons to be murdered; why he slaughtered all the inhabitants of Nob, men, women, and children, because Abimelech the priest supplied David with food, are some of those things that pulpit orators can best explain. The life of the priest was not sufficient to expiate the offense he had committed, but Saul had his whole family exterminated. The ark was no longer available. Jehova had taken the juvenile David in hand. The priestly oracle refused to be consulted. He, Saul, had recourse to a fortune-telling woman of Endor, who was employed to call up the spirit of Samuel.