Jesse
Archimandrite Nikifor’s Biblical Encyclopedia
(the LORD exists) (Ruth 4:17) - son of Obed and father of David. He lived in Bethlehem and was already advanced in age, with a large family, when his youngest son David was called by God through the prophet Samuel to be king (1 Sam 16:10-11; 17:12). During Saul's persecution of David, Jesse and the rest of his household were often endangered. First Samuel 22:1-4 shows that his entire family first joined David in the cave of Adullam and afterward lived with the king of Moab. Scripture says no more of him, and he apparently had died before David's solemn accession to the throne. Jesse's name occurs in the genealogies of the Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew 1:5-6 and Luke 3:32.