There was a time when David was a general in Saul’s army, leading a company of men on various missions against the Philistines (1 Samuel 18:13–14, 1 Samuel 18:30). These are the campaigns and victories that the tribes of Israel remember. This was also the kind of king which the elders had wanted initially (1 Samuel 8:20).
2 In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led out and brought in Israel. And the LORD said to you, ‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over Israel.’”