Final answer:
David selected Jerusalem as his capital for its neutral status and central location to promote unity, and he established it as the spiritual center by moving the Ark and planning a temple, elevated later by Solomon's actual temple construction.
Step-by-step explanation:
King David chose Jerusalem as the capital of his kingdom for several strategic and religious reasons. As a city that was previously a neutral or Jebusite territory, not belonging to any particular Israelite tribe, it represented a unifying choice that could reduce tribal jealousies and conflicts. Its location on the border between the northern and southern tribes also made it a politically and geographically strategic choice for unifying the kingdom. Additionally, David established Jerusalem as a spiritual center by moving the Ark of the Covenant there and planning the construction of the First Temple, asserting Yahweh's divine favor and centralizing religious worship in the newly formed kingdom. Jerusalem's significance was further cemented by David's son, King Solomon, who constructed the Temple, reinforcing the city's status as the economic, religious, and political hub of the kingdom. After the division of the kingdom following Solomon's death, Jerusalem remained the capital of Judah and continued to play a critical role throughout biblical history and beyond, due to its religious significance to Jews, and later to Christians and Muslims.