Editor’s note: The below recap contains spoilers for the House of David finale.
As House of David has been renewed for a second season, we can rest easy knowing that the Season 1 finale, “David and Goliath – Part 2,” is only that: a season, not series, finale. The Prime Video original has been making waves on streaming, and continues to propel the biblical story of David (Michael Iskander) with care and ease. The second part of the infamous “David and Goliath” narrative delivers fully on the title, and we cannot wait to see what Goliath’s (Martyn Ford) defeat means for the Kingdom of Israel going forward. Season 1 may be over, but David’s story is only just beginning.
‘House of David’s Finale Raises the Stakes for Israel

Image via Prime Video

Following the end of the previous episode, Jonathan (Ethan Kai) and his assassins break into the Philistine camp, only for one of the assassins to turn on the group. It turns out, the Philistines had paid him more to betray Jonathan, and soon King Achish (Alexander Uloom) arrives. As he aims a flaming arrow at Jonathan, the young Israelite prince remembers that Achish killed him in his vision, but the Philistine lord shoots it into the sky instead. This signals an attack on the fleeing Tribe of Zebulun, who left the battlefield that day. As Zebulun falls, Mychal (Indy Lewis) and Mirab (Yali Topol Margalith) watch helplessly from afar, still on their way to the Israelite encampment. As Jonathan mourns his people, Achish chastizes him. Though he puts up a good fight, Jonathan is soon captured. The next morning, Goliath addresses the nation once more, demoralizing Israel by tossing the heads of his would-be assassins, noting that Jonathan is among the dead. Adriel (Stewart Scudamore), still angered by the events of “The Wolf and The Lion.” tells Abner (Oded Fehr) that he plans to meet with eight of the tribes, aiming to take control of the kingdom from Saul (Ali Suliman).
In the Philistine camp, Achish speaks with Jonathan. He asks him where his God is, and wonders why the prophet Samuel (Stephen Lang) has abandoned them. Then, Achish tips his hand, telling Jonathan that the armies of Ekron are now on his side, with Goliath’s brothers in tow. It turns out that they have surrounded the Israelite camp. Achish tells Jonathan that the Philistines were made to rule, and that Hebrews were made to serve, but Jonathan replies that he fears God and that he should too. “Your hunger for vengeance makes you weak, Achish,” Jonathan warns the Philistine king, noting that even a giant won’t change that. Achish reveals to Jonathan that tomorrow he will order the death of everyone, and sends the prince back to the camp to convince his father to either surrender or fight Goliath in honor. Achish tells Jonathan that if they fail to surrender, he will be the one to piece Jonathan’s heart.
David’s Arrival at the Valley of Elah Changes Everything in the ‘House of David’ Finale

Image via Prime Video

In Gibeah, Queen Ahinoam (Ayelet Zurer) wonders where her daughters have run off to, only to learn that Mirab and Mychal left the palace to go to the battlefield. She believes that they will be killed, and is soon comforted by Besai (Eden Saban), who tells her that they cannot remain at the palace. However, the queen responds by recounting to the Baal priestess the story of her childhood, going to Egypt and seeing how great a leader she believed Pharaoh to be. When she returned home, she imagined how a king would unify the tribes of Israel, and now that she has tasted that dream, she can see it crumbling beneath her. When they hear a commotion outside, Ahinoam aims to die with her dream, only for Eshbaal (Sam Otto) to arrive instead of any invading forces.
Meanwhile, at the Valley of Elah, Mirab and Mychal arrive at the Israelite encampment. Mychal goes to see her father, who is suffering a horrible vision, but she breaks through by reading the words of Moses from the Book of Deuteronomy. Mychal urges her father to return to both God and his family, demanding that he wake up. When he does, she reassures him that God will save them, as he always does. In the wilderness, David travels to the battlefield. Day and night he moves through the country, sleeping under the stars and remembering the words of his mother, hoping to hear God’s voice. “In the still and quiet, you will hear God,” he recalls Nitzevet (Siir Tilif) telling him. By the time he gets to the Valley of Elah, he witnesses Goliath’s final warning and wonders what the Israelite army is doing, and why nobody has stood up against Goliath. David confronts his brothers, and Eliab (Davood Ghadami) wonders why his brother has come, believing he simply wants to watch the battle. David notes that their father sent him, and that he has Jesse’s (Louis Ferreira) blessing to be there, though he still struggles to see how his family has forgotten that God will protect him.
Soon, Abner arrives to speak with Saul, bringing David with him, but instead of playing for the king, the shepherd says that he will fight Goliath. “You are only a boy, you cannot fight him,” Saul replies, but David insists, recounting having fought and killed a lion in the three-part series premiere. David tells Saul that Goliath is blaspheming God, and that the same God will rescue him from the Philistines. “You speak with great conviction, it fills me with great courage I have not felt since…” Saul begins to say before ordering David to go and fight the giant. “Fight him with the same spirit you bring into this room,” the king says, offering David his own armor and naming him the champion of Israel.

Related

Is ‘House of David’ Connected to ‘The Chosen’?

Are these two biblical streaming shows connected? The answer may surprise you.

The ‘House of David’ Finale Shifts Perspectives and Foreshadows What’s Coming

Image via Prime Video

In Gibeah, Ahinoam and Eshbaal speak of the battlefield. Eshbaal believes that Israel will be defeated and notes that he and his mother must leave Gibeah to ensure that the House of Saul survives. “Mother, if we do not take the throne, someone else will,” Eshbaal tells Ahinoam before revealing his intentions to be king. “You and I are the only two of our line who will survive,” he explains. “I will be your king and your protector.” It’s clear that Eshbaal is a changed man from when we last saw him, but he refuses to recount his adventures in the meantime. By the episode’s end, Ahinoam has Eshbaal crowned King of Israel, an action that will no doubt put her at greater odds with both her husband and with David going forward.
Back in the Valley of Elah, David tries to wear Saul’s armor, but it’s far too large for him. When Mychal steps in, she tells him that he looks like a king. “I don’t feel like one,” he replies, but she responds with words from the Book of Joshua, reminding him to be strong and courageous,” because the Lord will be with him. Mychal says that God chooses the unlikely things, those who are overlooked, because he sees what’s inside. When she asks David if he is afraid, he admits that he’s terrified. Yet, she believes in him, and gives him a quick kiss before he responds with one of his own. “David, you kill that giant, and you come back to me,” she demands. Agreeing to her plea, David strips himself of his armor and goes to find a stream.
Outside, Jonathan returns, having been wounded by the Philistines. Abner reunites with him and wonders how he survived, but Jonathan tells Abner that Achish sent him back. However, when Jonathan learns that Saul has chosen a champion — a decision that infuriates Adriel — he goes to find David. Having found a stream, David picks five smooth stones from the river. Jonathan finds him there and questions who David is. Though the prince admires the shepherd’s courage, he doesn’t believe that he can defeat Goliath. “It’s not about the greatness of the giant,” David replies, “it’s about the greatness of God.” David believes that the Lord is with them when they face their fears, not when they run from them. When Jonathan asks how David could beat Goliath with no armor or training, he changes his tone when he learns that David is from Bethlehem. He asks David if Samuel had visited him, only to realize that he is the next anointed king.
David Defeats Goliath in the ‘House of David’ Finale

Image via Prime Video

On the battlefield, Goliath speaks to Israel once more as Adriel and Saul argue over David being chosen as champion. But when David returns, he goes out to face the giant, despite his brothers’ wishes. Eliab asks why David isn’t afraid, and the shepherd admits that he is. Still, he presses onto the battlefield and calls out Goliath, who believes that this is a joke and an insult. “You come to me with a sword, a spear, and javelins, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts,” David says, telling the giant that he is as good as dead. Though Goliath laughs at him, that all changes when David begins to run at him. Suddenly, the giant launches spears at David, who evades two of them before being hit by a third, and sent to the ground.
All of Israel holds its breath as David lies in the dust. The giant laughs as the Israelites begin to mourn, unsure of what will happen next. When Eliab tries to fight back against Goliath, Jonathan stops him, knowing that the battle isn’t over yet. As Samuel watches from above, no doubt in prayer over the battlefield, David gets back up and retrieves his sling and rocks. The spear has just pierced his side, but he isn’t out of the fight yet. Goliath throws another spear, but David dodges it, slinging a smooth stone right into the giant’s forehead. As it embeds itself into Goliath’s skull, the champion of Gath falls down dead. After he falls, David claims Goliath’s sword and uses it to chop off the giant’s head. Lifting Goliath’s decapitated head above his own, David rallies the army of Israel to war against the distraught Philistines. House of David Season 1 ends with Israel attacking their enemies as David looks out over the battlefield, victorious over the giant who towered over his people.
House of David Season 1 is available for streaming in its entirety on Prime Video.

House of David

This epic finale pushes David into the spotlight as Saul begins to lose his grip on the throne.

Release Date

February 27, 2025

Network

Prime Video

Cast

Pros & Cons

David’s battle with Goliath is quite engaging, even if not fully biblically accurate.
It’s hard not to root for David and Mychal.
Jonathan continues to shine as one of the show’s best characters.

Eshbaal seems like an entirely different person, a change that feels far too quick.