Brain Snacks: Tasty Tidbits of Knowledge
In a standard deck of playing cards, the King of Spades is sometimes called King David. This dark-haired king has a sword in his hand, but is sometimes portrayed with a harp instead. These accessories obviously symbolize David's two great loves—music and killing people. (Source)
Solomon's Pools (one of the ancient tourist sites in Bethlehem) weren't actually built by Solomon at all. Scholars think that they actually went up closer to the 2nd Century BCE (when Solomon was long gone), but folks just couldn't resist giving credit to the wise king anyhow. (Source)
The Star of David is Judaism's most recognizable symbol today, but the six-pointed star was probably never used by Israel's favorite king. It was around the 12th century CE that the star was first called "Magen David" or "shield of David." The king's name stuck and has been with it ever since. Magen David Adom, "Red Shield of David" is the official Israeli version of the Red Cross medical and emergency organization. (Source)
The Apostle Paul was named Saul at birth. Jews of Paul's time often had a Roman name as well. After he began preaching to the Gentiles, Saul changed his name to Paul, which may have been his Roman one, maybe more accepting to the Gentiles (the Bible describes him as "Saul, who was also called Paul"). (Source)