Names of Jesse's Seven Sons in 1 Samuel

Jesse, a descendant of Judah through Perez, Hezron, Ram, Amminadab, Nahshon, Salmon, Boaz, and Obed, was the father of eight sons, the youngest of whom was David ^{[4, 11, 12]}. While 1 Samuel 16:10 states that Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, and 1 Samuel 17:12 confirms Jesse had eight sons, the biblical texts do not provide a complete list of all eight names in a single passage ^{[3, 4, 11]}.

The names of Jesse's three eldest sons are consistently given in 1 Samuel as Eliab, Abinadab, and Shammah ^{[1, 2, 9]}. These three sons were old enough to follow King Saul into battle ^{[1, 2]}.

The book of 1 Chronicles provides additional names, though it lists David as the seventh son, implying one son is not accounted for in that particular genealogy ^{[6, 7, 8, 10]}. According to 1 Chronicles 2:13-15, Jesse's sons were:

Eliab (the firstborn)
Abinadab (the second)
Shimma (the third)
Nathanael (the fourth)
Raddai (the fifth)
Ozem (the sixth)
David (the seventh) ^{[7, 8, 10]}

The discrepancy between the eight sons mentioned in 1 Samuel and the seven listed in 1 Chronicles has led to various interpretations. Some scholars suggest that one son may have died early without leaving issue, or was by a different mother, and therefore not included in the Chronicler's specific genealogy ^{[7, 8, 10]}. John Gill notes that the fourth son mentioned in 1 Samuel 16:10, who is not named in the 1 Chronicles list, might have been an obscure person or died shortly after the events ^[5]. Another tradition, mentioned by Kimchi, suggests the unlisted son's name was Elihu ^{[7, 8]}. The Chronicler's choice to list David as the seventh son might also carry symbolic significance, with the number seven often representing perfection or divine selection ^[6].

Sources

1 Samuel “1 Samuel 17:13 (NASB) — The three older sons of Jesse had gone after Saul to the battle. And the names of his three sons who went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and the second to him Abinadab, and the third Shammah.”
I Samuel “I Samuel 17:13 (BSB) — The three older sons of Jesse had followed Saul into battle: The firstborn was Eliab, the second was Abinadab, and the third was Shammah.”
I Samuel “I Samuel 16:10 (BSB) — Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel told him, “The LORD has not chosen any of these.””
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Jesse — 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).”
1 Samuel (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Samuel 16:10: Again Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel,.... Not seven more, for he had but eight sons in all with David, Sa1 17:12 but four more, which with the other three made seven; three of these four are mentioned by name, Nathanael, Raddai, and Ozem, Ch1 2:14, but the fourth we nowhere read of; perhaps he died quickly after this, was an obscure person, and of no fame and note, or might be by another woman: and Samuel said unto Jesse, the Lord hath not chosen these; not anyone of them.”
1 Chronicles (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Chronicles 2:14: 2:14-15 The Chronicler lists David as the seventh son of Jesse, while Samuel makes him the eighth (1 Sam 16:6-13; 17:12). Samuel does not provide the names of David’s fourth, fifth, or sixth brothers (Nethanel, Raddai, and Ozem). Later, the Chronicler lists a brother named Elihu, who might or might not have been an additional son (see study note on 1 Chr 27:18). The number seven (the “perfect” number) perhaps symbolizes that David was chosen by God to rule.”
1 Chronicles (Lutheran) “Keil & Delitzsch on 1 Chronicles 2:8: And Jesse begat his firstborn Eliab, and Abinadab the second, and Shimma the third, Nathanael the fourth, Raddai the fifth, Ozem the sixth, David the seventh. But Jesse had eight sons, Sa1 16:10, one of them therefore is not reckoned, either because he was by another woman, and the writer only mentions those that were of the same mother with David; this is the opinion of Aben Ezra and Kimchi; some say he was dead before David came to the kingdom; Kimchi mentions a Midrash, or exposition of theirs, according to which his name was Elihu, and was younger than”
1 Chronicles (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Chronicles 2:8: And Jesse begat his firstborn Eliab, and Abinadab the second, and Shimma the third, Nathanael the fourth, Raddai the fifth, Ozem the sixth, David the seventh. But Jesse had eight sons, Sa1 16:10, one of them therefore is not reckoned, either because he was by another woman, and the writer only mentions those that were of the same mother with David; this is the opinion of Aben Ezra and Kimchi; some say he was dead before David came to the kingdom; Kimchi mentions a Midrash, or exposition of theirs, according to which his name was Elihu, and was younger than David,”
Targum Jonathan (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Targum Jonathan, Targum Jonathan on I Samuel 17:13: The three eldest sons of Jesse went, they went after Saul to wage war; and the names of his three sons who went in battle were Eliab the first born, and his second Abinadab and the third Shammah.”
1 Chronicles (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Chronicles 2:15: CHILDREN OF JESSE. (Ch1 2:13-17) David the seventh--As it appears (Sa1 16:10; Sa1 17:12) that Jesse had eight sons, the presumption is from David being mentioned here as the seventh son of his father, that one of them had died at an early age, without leaving issue.”
1 Samuel (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Samuel 17:12: Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehemjudah, whose name was Jesse,.... Before made mention of, Ch1 16:1. and he had eight sons; seven only are mentioned, Ch1 2:13 one of them being, as is thought by some, a grandson, perhaps Jonadab the son of Shammah; or was a son by another woman, or died without children, as Jarchi, and therefore not mentioned: and the man went among men for an old man in the days of Saul; the phrase, "among men", either signifies that he was ranked among old men, infirm and unfit for war, and so excused, and his sons went in ”
Ruth (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ruth 4:21: And Obed begat Jesse,.... The Bethlehemite, the father of David: and Jesse begat David; the Targum adds, the king of Israel; and so the Syriac and Arabic versions add, the king; from whence it is by some concluded that this book was written by Samuel, not only after the birth of David, but after he had been anointed king by him: here being but four generations mentioned, from the coming of the Israelites into Canaan, to the birth of David, which was three hundred and sixty years, each of the four persons, Salmon, Boaz, Obed, and Jesse, must beget a son when one hundre”

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