1. There is of course much more to David’s story after this point, during the 40 years when he remains king of Israel; and part of the continuing psychological subtlety of the story is that he is by no means shown as remaining flawless in his conduct. He faces further tests of his character, such as the episode involving his adultery with Bathsheba and the ruthless fashion in which he disposes of her husband by ordering him into the front line of battle. But always his moments of weakness are resolved in greater understanding and recognition of his failings. Thus when he eventually dies ‘stricken in years’ (Kings 1), he hands on the kingdom to his son Solomon, who has remained legendary as ‘the wisest king’ of all.

2. In many respects the Disney version echoed a Japanese animated film made 30 years earlier, Kimba The White Lion (1965), although the studio strongly denied that there was any link between the two.