King David (1985)

Richard Gere: David

Photos 

Quotes 

• David : Come with me to the sanctuary at Nob. We have a covenant of friendship between us.

  Jonathan : I also have a covenant of honor between my father and myself. I would lay down my life for you willingly, but I cannot break faith with my father *or* with you. You have the love of One far greater than I

  [the Lord of Hosts] 

  Jonathan : to care for you. My father has no one.

• Abner : ...Who are you, David ben Jesse, to shout down at the King of Israel?

  David : Who are *you*, Abner ben Ner, to call yourself commander of the king's army? Why did you not keep watch over my lord the king while he slept? Where is the king's sword that was by his side?

  [holds it up] 

  David : Here, in the hands of a man he calls his enemy.

• Absalom : [at the palace of Akiss, king of the Philistines]  ... My master wishes to see King Akiss.

  Akiss's Captain : He is Israelite?

  Absalom : He is mad.

  Akiss's Captain : Therefore Israelite.

  [laughs and permits them to enter] 

  King Akiss : I apologize for the necessity of your performance, but in our country, madmen are held to be sacred. Grasp that and you have perhaps grasped the very essence of religion... Another Samson? Absalom, I would be obliged if you were to keep well away from those pillars, hmm? Youth is no barrier to strength, as you yourself so ably demonstrated, David.

  David : God's victory, not mine. I was but the means to His end.

  King Akiss : Of Goliath, perhaps. It's the motive of your God that seems less clear. If He can deliver you from a giant, why can He not free you of Saul?

  David : If you grant us refuge, He will have done so.

  King Akiss : What about the god in whose temple you stand? Will not Dagon deserve some measure of thanks? Hmm?

  David : It's you who will have cause to thank him, for we shall be yours to command against any enemy you choose to name.

  King Akiss : Except Saul, of course.

  David : I cannot raise my hand against the Lord's annointed king.

  King Akiss : He's very ready to raise his hand against you, hmm?

  David : He could no sooner rid himself of me than I could ever bring myself to kill him.

  King Akiss : To love one's enemy is a fine sentiment... but for a poet, not for a king.

• Young Solomon : ...Who is Absalom, father?

  David : A boy who was once like you.

  Young Solomon : Is he your enemy?

  David : [thinks before answering]  ... Perhaps I am his enemy, but he could never be mine.

• Joab : ...Every day, he

  [Absalom] 

  Joab : stands in the marketplace, preaching to the people and stealing their affections. The rabble are flocking to his side, David. Some say he's planning a rebellion. I would've thought that was obvious! Absalom is a traitor who must be dealt with...

  David : Absalom is MY SON! Any man who dares to call the king's son a traitor, without the evidence to support such a claim, shall himself meet the fate of a traitor... by my own hand!

  Joab : I am giving you the evidence.

  David : "Some say" is not evidence.

  Joab : Your love blinds you, my friend.

• David : What God chooses to give us, we cannot refuse.