Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences Large Type Edition
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The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences 57:M364-M367 (2002)
© 2002 The Gerontological Society of America

Was the Biblical King David Affected by Hypothermia?

Liubov Ben-Nouna

a Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Soroka University, Department of Family Medicine, Kiryat-Gat, Israel

Liubov Ben-Noun, P.O.B. 572, Kiryat-Gat 82104, Israel E-mail: L-bennun{at}zahav.net.il.

Background. The elderly population has suffered from hypothermia for thousands of years.

Methods. This report analyzes the first documented case of hypothermia as described in the Bible.

Results. The sentence "Now King David was old and stricken in years, and they covered him with clothes, but he gained no warmth" indicates that hypothermia afflicted the biblical King David, the second and the greatest of Israel's kings, who ruled the country 3000 years ago. Environmental factors did not play a significant role in the development of hypothermia. Among various diseases, the most likely to cause immobility and subsequent hypothermia are dementia, senile osteoporosis, hyperparathyroidism, and malignancy. Among these diseases, malignancy is the most likely.

Conclusions. Viewed by a modern physician, the story of King David unfolds as possibly the earliest description of a patient affected by hypothermia, features of which have changed little through the ages. This report shows that the roots of contemporary geriatrics lead back to biblical times.




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 History of PsychiatryHome page
L. Ben-Noun
Mental Disorder that Afflicted King David the Great
History of Psychiatry, December 1, 2004; 15(4): 467 - 476.
[Abstract] [PDF]


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