Jesse (jĕs'se), wealthy. The father of David, the son of Obed, and grandson of Boaz and the Moabitess Ruth. He was also a descendant of Rahab the Canaanite, of Jericho. Matthew 1:5. Jesse's genealogy is twice given in full in the Old Testament, viz., Ruth 4:18-22 and 1 Chronicles 2:5-12. He is commonly designated as "Jesse, the Bethlehemite," 1 Samuel 16:1; 1 Samuel 16:18; 1 Samuel 17:58; but his full title is "the Ephrathite of Bethlehem Judah." 1 Samuel 17:12. He was an "old man" when noticed in 1 Samuel 17:12, with eight sons, 1 Samuel 16:10; 1 Samuel 17:12, residing at Bethlehem. 1 Samuel 16:4-5. Jesse's wealth seems to have consisted of sheep and goats, which were under the care of David. 1 Samuel 16:11; 1 Samuel 17:34-35. After David was compelled to leave the court of Saul, he took his father and his mother into the country of Moab, and there they disappear from the records of Scripture, b.c. 1068-61.