Husband to Edna. Jesse is David`s father as well as his seven brothers. Jesse is a poor and simple man. He is also harsh. He lives in Bethlehem in the country with his family. He shows favoritism towards his older sons whom are King Saul`s soldiers. He doesn`t pay David much attention and judges him as a youth without much potential in becoming a warrior. This is why he assigns him the task of herding his sheep, a task deemed indignant at the time.