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Bible Encyclopedias
Jesse
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
or (Heb. Yishay', יַשִׁי , perhaps firm, otherwise living; once אַשִׁי, Ishay', either by prosthesis, or manly, 1 Chronicles 2:13; Sept. and N.T. Ι᾿εσσαί; Josephus ῾Ιεσσαῖος, Ant. 6, 8, 1), a son (or descendant) of Obed, the son of Boaz and Ruth (Ruth 4:17; Ruth 4:22; Matthew 1:5-6; Luke 3:32; 1 Chronicles 2:12). He was the father of eight sons (1 Samuel 17:12), from the youngest of whom, David, is reflected all the distinction which belongs to the name, although the latter, as being of humble birth, was often reproached by his enemies with this parentage (1 Samuel 20:27; 1 Samuel 20:30-31; 1 Samuel 22:7-8; 1 Samuel 25:10; 2 Samuel 20:1; 1 Kings 12:16; 2 Chronicles 10:16). "Stem of Jesse" is used poetically for the family of David (Isaiah 11:1), and "Root [ i.e. root-shoot, or sprout from the stump, i.q. scion] of "Jesse" for the Messiah (Isaiah 11:10; Revelation 5:5; comp. Revelation 22:16). He seems to have been a person of some note and substance at Bethlehem, his property being chiefly in sheep (1 Samuel 16:1; 1 Samuel 16:11; 1 Samuel 17:20; comp. Psalms 78:71). It would seem from 1 Samuel 16:10, that he must have been aware of the high destinies which awaited his son, but it is doubtful if he ever lived to see them realized (see 1 Samuel 17:12). The last historical mention of Jesse is in relation to the asylum which David procured for him with the king of Moab (1 Samuel 22:3). B.C. cir. 1068-1061. (See DAVID).
"According to an ancient Jewish tradition, recorded in the Targum on 2 Samuel 21:19, Jesse was a weaver of the vails of the sanctuary; but as there is no contradiction, so there is no corroboration of this in the Bible, and it is possible that it was suggested by the occurrence of the word oregim, ‘ weavers,' in connection with a member of his family. (See JAARE- OREGIM). Who the wife of Jesse was we are not told. The family contained, in addition to the sons, two female members — Zeruiah and Abigail; but it is uncertain whether these were Jesse's daughters, for, though they are called the sisters of his sons (1 Chronicles 2:16), yet Abigail is said to have been the daughter of Nahash (2 Samuel 17:25). Of this, two explanations have been proposed.
(1.) The Jewish: that Nahash was another name for Jesse (Jerome, Quoest. Hebr. on 2 Samuel 17:25, and the Targum on Ruth 4:22).
(2.) Prof. Stanley's: that Jesse's wife had formerly been wife or concubine to Nahash, possibly the king of the Ammonites (Jewish Church, 2, 5, 51)." (See NAHASH).
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McClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Jesse'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/tce/j/jesse.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.
