David
is a central character in biblical tradition. Although he was not the first
king (this honor belongs to Saul), he was the one who established a lasting
dynasty in Jerusalem and he figures prominently in the literature that
became the core of historical and poetic books canonized by the ancient Jews
and transmitted to the Christian and Muslim traditions. In Western tradition,
David is the paradigmatic pious king by the grace of God, slayer of Goliath, singer of Psalms, and antecedent of the Messiah.
David's choice of Urusalim/Jebus as his residence may have been motivated by the need to unify the two disparate groups constituting his small empire, i.e., the later states of Judah and Israel. Urusalim and its environs not only separate the two major tribal areas but also constitute the only remaining significant area in the central parts of Canaan not yet loyal to David.
Far from a bloody conquest, David's take-over of the city seems based on a recognition of David's leadership by the local elite. David, in turn, rewards their loyalty by recruiting some of the most important personages of his administration from the local aristocracy, including his prophets, priests, and military commanders. This friendly attitude toward the locals is reflected (and legitimized) in the story narrated about the great ancestor Abraham (Gen 14) who is shown as loyal to the priest-king of Salem, Melkizedek.