Le Roi David was composed in Mézières, Switzerland, in 1921 by Arthur Honegger, as incidental music for a play in French by René Morax.

Arthur Honegger was commissioned to write incidental music to accompany René Morax's play Le Roi David in 1921.

In 1923 he combined Morax's narrative with his music and created a "symphonic psalm", the form that is familiar today, and titled his work Le Roi David.

In the first part, the Lord directs the prophet Samuel to choose Saul as the ruler of the people of Israel.

In this final section of the piece, David flees Jerusalem, loses his power, manages to restore his position as king then offends God by censusing the people.

An epidemic disease afflicts Jerusalem, and David appoints his son Solomon to succeed him and then dies.

[6] The most significant element of Le Roi David is the combination of different styles of music in one complete work.