David is an unassuming teenage boy living in a world ruled by kings, armies and even a few giants.
His brothers mock him. His neighbors ignore him. Even his own father doubts he will ever amount to anything.
David, though, possesses something his brothers lack: courage against overwhelming odds. He also possesses a deep faith in the God of his ancestors -- the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Moses.
"I was meant for more than this," he tells his father. "God speaks to me."
Unfortunately, David has been relegated to a life in the fields, where he tends sheep and spends his days in solitude.
But then a mysterious elderly man approaches David's father, saying he's searching for the future king of God's people and wishes to see his sons. This man passes over David's tallest brother, and then his second tallest brother, and so on.
"Are there no other sons?" the man asks.
Soon, David is summoned. And soon, the course of biblical history -- and world history, too -- is changed forever.
The new Prime Video series House of David retells the story of David, the boy who slayed Goliath and later took the throne as Israel's king.
Here are four reasons families will enjoy it.
Photo Credit: ©Prime Video; Used with Permission
1. It's a Multi-Season Biblical Epic
1. It's a Multi-Season Biblical Epic
The creators behind House of David have outlined multiple seasons for the series, chronicling his rise from a young shepherd boy to his reign as king. The eight episodes of Season 1 cover several biblical stories, including Samuel anointing David, Saul inviting David to play the harp, Saul's fits of rage, and David's triumph over Goliath. The first episode opens with a somber Samuel revealing to Saul that God had rejected him as king.
A new studio, Wonder Project, produced House of David. It was co-founded by Jon Erwin, who previously directed such faith-based movies as I Can Only Imagine and Jesus Revolution. Erwin conceived the idea for the project as a teenager -- although back then, he envisioned only a movie.
Erwin believes the series can attract people of faith and non-faith. If it grows in popularity, he said, then "people who would watch something like Game of Thrones would end up watching this series."
Nearly every culture, he said, knows of the story of David and Goliath.
"You don't have to know anything about the Bible to understand this hero's journey," Erwin told Crosswalk Headlines. "This is a classic hero's journey."
Erwin and Jon Gunn (The Case for Christ) directed it.
Photo Credit: ©Prime Video
2. It's in the Same Mold as 'The Chosen'
2. It's in the Same Mold as 'The Chosen'
The beloved biblical stories about David are part of House of David. He kills a lion. He displays unwavering courage. He serves King Saul. He dons a coat of armor prior to the battle, and then removes it, realizing it hinders him.
But, like the mega-hit The Chosen, House of David employs plenty of creative license, too.
The series honors Scripture while offering a plausible storyline, Erwin said. For example, Jewish tradition and texts suggest David's mother's name was Nitzevet and that she was an outcast in her own community. That storyline is in House of David. Other storylines may have less basis. We watch David and his brother clash with foreign soldiers on a perilous scouting mission. Later, we encounter Goliath's family and visit his home. (Although Jewish tradition does offer hints about Goliath's family.)
Erwin says the series' writers leaned on Christian theologians and Jewish rabbis.
"Every decision we make is out of love and reverence for the Bible itself," Erwin said, joking that the series would span only 25 minutes if it relied solely on the biblical text.
"And so you do have to create plausible storylines and relationships that justify those events," he said. "And you do that with great care and consideration."
Erwin talks often with Dallas Jenkins, the creator and director of The Chosen. Erwin hopes the series leads viewers back to the Bible.
"This is not Scripture. This is a TV show, and it is a love letter to the Bible," he said.
Believers are in "total creative control" of the series, he added.
Photo Credit: ©Prime Video
3. It Showcases the Power of God
3. It Showcases the Power of God
The size and scale of the series is impressive. It's cinematic, with sprawling sets that feel lived-in and authentic, palaces that exude grandeur, and rugged battlefields that pulse with the energy of warfare. You feel as if you've been teleported back in time. Filmed in Greece, House of David is not a low-budget production. It's a visually stunning, meticulously crafted epic.
The series excels in its portrayal of biblical moments. An elderly, gray-haired Samuel radiates wisdom as he examines the sons of Jesse, searching for the boy God has chosen. The towering Goliath taunts the tribes of Israel, sending fear into anyone within earshot -- his every step shaking the ground.
Most significantly, though, the series depicts David as a courageous, God-fearing man who is willing to die for the Lord who chose him to lead. It contrasts the self-serving ways of Saul with the humble, steadfast faith of David. Not insignificantly, the actor chosen to portray David -- Michael Iskander -- is slimmer and less brawny than his counterparts, mirroring what Scripture suggests.
"There is but one God," David tells a member of Saul's court who insists that "truth can be found in many places."
Learning that Goliath had spent 40 days mocking the tribal armies, David says to the Israelite soldiers in righteous anger, "Who is this giant to defy the armies of the living God?!" The David-vs.-Goliath battle -- the pinnacle of Season 1 -- is an awe-inspiring, hair-raising, God-honoring spectacle.
Iskander said "reverence for Scripture" is at the heart of the series. In one scene, David cites a verse from Joshua. Meanwhile, Iskander said he wanted to bring humanity to David's character. "I'm a Christian, but also, I didn't want to make him so much larger than life," Iskander told Crosswalk Headlines.
Old Testament enthusiasts likely will enjoy the series' deep dive into the theories surrounding the Nephilim, the figures mentioned in Genesis 6:1-4 who have been the subject of much debate among scholars and theologians.
Photo Credit: ©Prime Video
4. It's Family-Friendly …with a Caveat
4. It's Family-Friendly …with a Caveat
The Old Testament isn't rated G. House of David isn't either, though it displays much restraint.
Season 1 is free of coarse language and sexuality, although it ventures into PG-13 territory with scenes of battles, terror, and even sorcery (Saul's wife hires a mystic to try and curse Samuel.) Soldiers fight with swords. They dodge spears. Blood is present but not excessive. Once or twice, we see someone stabbed.
The series will drive serious students of the Bible back to Scripture, prompting them to ask, "Was that really in there?" For example, Episode 1 depicts Samuel taking a sword and brutally killing (off-screen) the king of the Amalekites -- a moment I initially questioned as biblical but was surprised to find written in the pages of the Old Testament (1 Samuel 15:32-33).
Not so long ago, a Bible-based series promoted by a major streaming platform would have been unthinkable. Not today. Prime Video even is selling a 30-day House of David devotional (written by Greg Laurie) and a House of David album featuring such artists as Anne Wilson, Chris Tomlin, Lecrae, for King & Country and NEEDTOBREATHE who have penned songs inspired by the story.
We are in the midst of a renaissance of excellent faith-based content driven by a convergence of talented Christian filmmakers who have been given the resources to bring their visions to life.
House of David is the latest milestone in this renaissance.
Rated 13+. Discussion questions for families: Why is David so courageous? Why is he, at times, scared? Why did King Saul fail? What do you admire most about David's character? What scenes did you like most in House of David? What scenes would you have changed? Which scenes were based in Scripture -- and which scenes were not?
Entertainment rating: 4 out of 5 stars.
Family-friendly rating: 4 out of 5 stars.
Photo Credit: ©Prime Video
Originally published February 28, 2025.
