Episode 2 of Season 1 of "House of David" kicks off with a poignant flashback to young David, hand in hand with his mother, as they embark on their morning pilgrimage to prayer. The serene atmosphere is shattered post-prayers, as a contingent of family members confronts David's mother, accusing her of being Jesse's mistress. Undaunted and unashamed, she stands her ground, her fiery spirit unyielding. Possessed of visions that glimpsed David's destiny long before others, she endeavors to impart her gift—the ability to hear and see God—to her son.
Tragically, her life is cut short by a lion's fatal claws while shielding David from harm. In her dying breath, she whispers to David of a radiant future, though its specifics remain a mystery. Jesse, blinded by grief and anger, casts David aside, banishing him to the hills to tend to sheep. This harrowing backdrop provides context for David's bold confrontation with the lion. Upon his triumphant return, clutching the lion's teeth as proof, Jesse greets him with a resounding slap and a stern warning to never again dishonor him. Only Avva offers David a warm welcome.
Elsewhere, within the confines of Gibeah's Fortress, Saul's health spirals downwards. Mychal, worried sick, watches her father's days turn into a slumberous haze, his waking moments a mere shadow of his former self. Her anxiety is echoed by Abner, Saul's counselor, and the queen, whose collective dread deepens when Saul reveals Samuel's ominous prophecy, commanding them to keep it under wraps.
Abner decries Samuel's actions as treacherous, while the queen seeks to reassure Saul of his regal authority. Saul tasks Abner with tailing Samuel discreetly. In a clandestine aside, the queen instructs Abner to eliminate the next individual Samuel deems worthy, a directive fraught with peril.
In the City of Gath, King Achish strives to unite the five Philistine kings under one banner to confront the Hebrews. Yet, four of the kings refuse to form an alliance, skeptical of Saul posing a genuine threat and suspecting Achish's motives stem from a personal vendetta—Saul slayed Achish's father in battle years prior. Undaunted, Achish persists, embarking on a quest to invoke new deities.
Meanwhile, in Judah, the princess, accompanied by Joab and Eliab, attends a wedding celebration. Mychal endeavors to maintain composure, but Mirab suspects their true mission is to deflect attention from Saul's declining health. At the festivities, Mychal is captivated by David's mesmerizing vocals. As she attempts to engage him in conversation, Joab intervenes, his disdain for David growing. Eliab presents David with a metal knife from the Amalekites, which David promptly discards, further angered Joab. Eliab steps in to broker peace amidst the escalating tensions.
The following morning dawned, and David, eager to demonstrate his prowess with a sling, implored Eliab to accompany him to the battlefield. Reluctantly, yet solely to prevent David from venturing forth alone, Eliab relented. As they journeyed, David inquired after Eliab's mother, his heart warming at the latter's fond recollections of her gentle nature.
Their path led them to a village scorched by flame, prompting them to delve into its charred remnants for answers. It was within these ruins that King Achish ambushed them, leaving Eliab to fend off their attackers with valiant effort. Though they managed to break free, an arrow found its mark in Eliab's flesh, compelling David to escort him back to safety for healing.
Meanwhile, within the stronghold, Abner sought to groom Jonathan for the throne, his heart heavy with concern for Saul's declining health. He offered to lend his support to Jonathan, sharing his anxieties, but their conversation was abruptly halted by Saul's entrance. Insisting on a ride alone with his son, Saul engaged Jonathan in a fierce confrontation, reminding him that his time to reign had not yet arrived.
Jonathan clung to the belief that Samuel's strife with God would pass, and that divine favor would once again be bestowed upon them. Saul, however, accused Samuel of envying his influence and power. Despite his father's doubts of Samuel's integrity, Jonathan steadfastly refused to credit him with self-serving motives.
That very night, Saul's condition worsened, sending him into a furious rampage. The queen, unaccustomed to witnessing such a transformation in her husband, was deeply unsettled. The tumult drew Jonathan into the fray, where he narrowly escaped death at his father's hands. With Abner's assistance, Jonathan managed to quell Saul's fury and persuaded him to seek rest.
