Expert: Thurman C. Petty, Jr. - 2/9/2009

Question
QUESTION: we are taught king david had 7 older brothers but only 6 are named...i've thought anywhere from well maybe he was childless and therefore never named or maybe they ment there were 7 all together

ANSWER: Dear Ray,

Thank you for your question.

The text that gives us the information for which you seek is this:

1 Sam 16:10  Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, "The LORD has not chosen these."
1 Sam 16:11  So he asked Jesse, "Are these all the sons you have?" "There is still the youngest," Jesse answered, "but he is tending the sheep." Samuel said, "Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives."
1 Sam 16:12  So he sent and had him brought in. He was ruddy, with a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the LORD said, "Rise and anoint him; he is the one."

Although it seems that David was the 8th son, since he was called after the others had passed before Samuel, the Bible often gives the complete number, including the one that seems to be in addition. In this case, the number 7 would include David. So David evidently had 6 brothers, and he was the 7th.* (Imagine being a mother of 7 sons! There may have been daughters as well.)

David made many mistakes, and even committed crimes. But when he came to his senses, he always repented. An example of this is Psalm 51, which was written after Nathan the prophet revealed that David had committed a great sin in committing adultery with Bathsheba and then killing her husband by having his army put him in a dangerous spot so he would be killed.

Ps. 51:1 (NIV) . . . Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.
Ps 51:2  Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.
Ps 51:3  For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.
Ps 51:4  Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, . . .
Ps 51:7  Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. [This was the way lepers were pronounced clean after they got well (Lev. 14:1-8)]
Ps 51:8  Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
Ps 51:9  Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity.
Ps 51:10  Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. . . .

This is a beautiful illustration of how we should go to the LORD when we realize that we’ve committed sin (the hyssop, etc., is no longer needed.)

God loved David and called him a man after His own heart (1 Sam 13:14)—because David was humble, and like Jesus, he depended upon the LORD to lead him. In this way, David is considered a type of Christ.

We too, need to humble ourselves before the LORD, confess our sins so that God can forgive us (1 John 1:9). If we do this, we will always be ready for Jesus to come (Matt 24:44; 1 Thess 4:16, 17).

Thurman C. Petty, Jr.
petty@hyperusa.com
www.PettyPress.com (I’ve posted 20 e-books, 40 Bible study guides, and much more—a free library from which you can enjoy many hours of pleasant reading.)

*An similar example of this—but opposite—is the mention of the 12 tribes of Israel. There were actually 13 tribes. There is no tribe of Joseph—which would have been the 12th—but Jacob adopted Joseph’s two sons in his place. So there were tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh which made the total number 13. But the tribe of Levi was not counted among the tribes, because they were the priestly tribe, and were not numbered with the others. Thus, there were 12 tribes of Israel—plus the priestly tribe of Levi.


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I can understand where you might think there be only 7 but upon futher reading, 1samual chap. 17 v. 12
it clearly tells us he had 8 sons

Answer
Dear Ray,

Thank you for setting me straight about the number of Jesse's sons. I evidently failed to find that verse when I sought for an answer to your first question.

But that doesn't change the rest of the letter I wrote. Please read it again. David's example is much more important than the number of siblings in his family.

Thurman C. Petty, Jr.