Although a Muslim and a loyal vassal of the Safavid dynasty of Iran, he failed to ensure his kingdom's security and most of his reign was marked by razzias (called Lekianoba) - incessant inroads by the Dagestani mountainous clansmen.

He was born and raised at the shah’s court at Isfahan and installed as wali (viceroy) of Kakheti upon his father's retirement to Iran in 1703.

After the death of his father in 1709, Erekle was ordered to Isfahan to receive investiture from Shah Husayn, leaving his younger brother Teimuraz and mother Anna in charge of the government.

He made an alliance with Jesse, ruler of the neighboring Georgian kingdom of Kartli, and marched against Dagestan, but he suffered defeat and failed to prevent settlements of the Lesgians in the Kakhetian borderlands.

Early in 1720, reinforcements sent by Vakhtang under the command of Prince Erasti Kaplanishvili arrived in Kakheti, but David refrained from another expedition and sent the Kartlian army back home.