The father of King Solomon and the second king of Israel was David.
David first appears in the biblical narrative as a shepherd from Bethlehem and the youngest son of Jesse. He becomes famous after defeating the Philistine warrior Goliath, then serves in the court of King Saul. Following Saul’s death, David is first recognized as king by Judah and later by all the tribes of Israel.
David captures Jerusalem and makes it the capital of his united kingdom. He also brings the Ark of the Covenant to the city and establishes the dynasty later known as the House of David. Although David wants to build a temple, the prophet Nathan says that David’s son will carry out that task.
David’s succession was complicated. Solomon, his son with Bathsheba, eventually becomes king, although Adonijah—David’s eldest surviving son—also claims the throne. The title “second king” follows the traditional sequence of Saul first and David second; biblical chronology and the historical extent of David’s kingdom remain debated.