Reference: Jesse
Hastings
A Bethlehemite, best known as the father of David. The earliest historical mention of him (1Sa 17:12; see David,
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The LORD told Samuel, "How long will you grieve over Saul, since I've rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go. I'm sending you to Jesse from Bethlehem because I've chosen for myself one of his sons as king."
One of the young men answered: "Look, I've seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who is skilled in playing. The man is a valiant soldier, gifted in speech, and handsome. And the LORD is with him."
David was the son of that Ephrathite man named Jesse from Bethlehem in Judah. He had eight sons; at the time when Saul was king he was old, having lived to an advanced age.
David went from there to Mizpah of Moab, and he told the king of Moab, "Please let my father and mother come and stay with you until I know what God is going to do for me." David left them with the king of Moab, and they stayed with him all the time David was in the stronghold.
"A shoot will come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch will bear fruit from his roots.