jesse Summary and Overview

firm, or a gift, a son of Obed, the son of Boaz and Ruth (Ruth 4:17, 22; Matt. 1:5, 6; Luke 3:32). He was the father of eight sons, the youngest of whom was David (1 Sam. 17:12). The phrase "stem of Jesse" is used for the family of David (Isa. 11:1), and "root of Jesse" for the Messiah (Isa. 11:10; Rev. 5:5). Jesse was a man apparently of wealth and position at Bethlehem (1 Sam. 17:17, 18, 20; Ps. 78:71). The last reference to him is of David's procuring for him an asylum with the king of Moab (1 Sam. 22:3).

(wealthy), the father of David, was the son of Obed, who again was the fruit of the union of Boaz and the Moabitess Ruth. His great-grandmother was Rahab the Canaanite, of Jericho. #Mt 1:5| Jesse's genealogy is twice given in full in the Old Testament, viz., #Ru 4:18-22| and 1Chr 2:5-12 He is commonly designated as "Jesse the Bethlehemite," #1Sa 16:1,18; 17:58| but his full title is "the Ephrathite of Bethlehem Judah." ch. #1Sa 17:12| He is an "old man" when we first meet with him, #1Sa 17:12| with eight sons, ch. #1Sa 16:10; 17:12| residing at Bethlehem. ch #1Sa 16:4,5| Jesse's wealth seems to have consisted of a flock of sheep and goats, which were under the care of David. ch. #1Sa 16:11; 17:34,35| After David's rupture with Saul he took his father and his mother into the country of Moab and deposited them with the king, and there they disappear from our view in the records of Scripture. (B.C. 1068-61.) Who the wife of Jesse was we are not told.

JES'SE (strong), the father of David, and the grandson of Ruth. His genealogy is twice given in the 0. T.. Ruth 4:18-22; 1 Chr 2:5-12, and twice in the N.T. Matt 1:3, 1 Chr 6:5; Luke 3:32-34. He is usually called "Jesse the Bethlehemite," 1 Sam 16:1, 1 Sam 16:18; 1 Sam 17:58, but his full and proper designation is Jesse "that Ephrathite of Bethlehem Judah." 1 Sam 17:12. This latter verse calls him "an old man" at the time of David's fight with Goliath. He was the affectionate father of eight sons, and a man of wealth and position. 1 Sam 17:17-18. It is remarkable that David is called "the son of Jesse" after his own fame was established. 1 Chr 29:26; Ps 72:20. Jesse was through David the ancestor of the Judaic kings, and thus of Christ. The prophets announced this in so many words. Isa 11:1, Neh 11:10.

Obed's son, father of David; sprung from the Moabitess Ruth and the Canaanite Rahab of Jericho; and from Nahshon, at the exodus chief of Judah, and so from the great house of Pharez, through Hezron. His designation "the Ephrathite of Bethlehem Judah" (1 Samuel 17:12) implies that he was of a very old family in the place. He was elderly and had eight sons when we first read of him. The Targum on 2 Samuel 21:19 makes him a weaver of veils for the sanctuary. (On his removal to Moab in David's flight from Saul see DAVID , also see ABIGAIL on Jesse's