1 Samuel 16:20

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And Jesse took an ass [laden] with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a kid, and sent [them] by David his son unto Saul.

Complete Jewish Bible:

Yishai took a donkey, loaded it with bread, a bottle of wine and a kid, and sent them with David his son to Sha'ul.

Berean Standard Bible:

And Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a skin of wine, and one young goat, and sent them to Saul with his son David.

American Standard Version:

And Jesse took an ass laden with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a kid, and sent them by David his son unto Saul.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And Jesse^{H3448} took^{H3947} an ass^{H2543} laden with bread^{H3899}, and a bottle^{H4997} of wine^{H3196}, and a^{H259} kid^{{H1423}{H5795}}, and sent^{H7971} them by^{H3027} David^{H1732} his son^{H1121} unto Saul^{H7586}.

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Commentary for 1 Samuel 16:20

1 Samuel 16:20 is a verse set within the broader narrative of the anointing of David as the future king of Israel. This event occurs during a period of transition and turmoil for the nation, as the prophet Samuel, under God's instruction, has already identified David as the one to replace Saul as king, despite Saul's ongoing reign.

In this particular verse, Jesse, David's father, is sending his son to King Saul with provisions. The gifts include an ass (donkey) laden with bread, a bottle of wine, and a kid (a young goat). These were considered valuable and sustaining items, reflecting the customs of hospitality and respect in the ancient Near East, particularly when approaching a king or a person of high status. The act of sending these gifts can be seen as both a gesture of goodwill and a practical measure to support David on his journey to the court of Saul.

The historical context of this verse is rooted in the early monarchy period of Israel's history, when the transition from a tribal confederation to a centralized monarchy was still in process. It reflects the societal norms of the time, including the importance of family connections, the role of the prophet in designating leaders, and the expectations of honor and reciprocity in social interactions.

The themes present in this verse include divine providence, as God's plan for David's rise to kingship unfolds; the importance of familial duty, as Jesse supports his son in this significant transition; and the beginning of David's complex relationship with Saul, which will be marked by both loyalty and enmity. This moment captures the intersection of the mundane and the sacred, as everyday activities (such as sending provisions) become part of the divine narrative leading to the establishment of one of Israel's most significant kings.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H3448
   There are 39 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יִשַׁי
   Transliteration: Yishay
   Pronunciation: yee-shah'-ee
   Description: by Aramaic אִישַׁי; from the same as יֵשׁ; extant; Jishai, David's father; Jesse.
   
2. Strong's Number: H3947
   There are 909 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: לָקַח
   Transliteration: lâqach
   Pronunciation: law-kakh'
   Description: a primitive root; to take (in the widest variety of applications); accept, bring, buy, carry away, drawn, fetch, get, infold, [idiom] many, mingle, place, receive(-ing), reserve, seize, send for, take (away, -ing, up), use, win.
   
3. Strong's Number: H2543
   There are 93 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: חֲמוֹר
   Transliteration: chămôwr
   Pronunciation: kham-ore'
   Description: or (shortened) חֲמֹר; from חָמַר; a male ass (from its dun red); (he) ass.
   
4. Strong's Number: H3899
   There are 277 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: לֶחֶם
   Transliteration: lechem
   Pronunciation: lekh'-em
   Description: from לָחַם; See also בֵּית לְעַפְרָה; food (for man or beast), especially bread, or grain (for making it); (shew-) bread, [idiom] eat, food, fruit, loaf, meat, victuals.
   
5. Strong's Number: H4997
   There are 6 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נֹאד
   Transliteration: nôʼd
   Pronunciation: node
   Description: or נאוֹדlemma נֹאוד vowel, corrected to נאוֹדxlit nôʼwd corrected to nʼôwd; also (feminine) נֹאדָה; from an unused root of uncertain signification; a (skin or leather) bag (for fluids); bottle.
   
6. Strong's Number: H3196
   There are 134 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יַיִן
   Transliteration: yayin
   Pronunciation: yah'-yin
   Description: from an unused root meaning to effervesce; wine (as fermented); by implication, intoxication; banqueting, wine, wine(-bibber).
   
7. Strong's Number: H259
   There are 801 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֶחָד
   Transliteration: ʼechâd
   Pronunciation: ekh-awd'
   Description: a numeral from אָחַד; properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first; a, alike, alone, altogether, and, any(-thing), apiece, a certain, (dai-) ly, each (one), [phrase] eleven, every, few, first, [phrase] highway, a man, once, one, only, other, some, together,
   
8. Strong's Number: H1423
   There are 16 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: גְּדִי
   Transliteration: gᵉdîy
   Pronunciation: ghed-ee'
   Description: from the same as גָּדָה; a young goat (from browsing); kid.
   
9. Strong's Number: H5795
   There are 74 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עֵז
   Transliteration: ʻêz
   Pronunciation: aze
   Description: from עָזַז; a she-goat (as strong), but masculine in plural (which also is used elliptically for goat's hair); (she) goat, kid.
   
10. Strong's Number: H7971
    There are 790 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שָׁלַח
    Transliteration: shâlach
    Pronunciation: shaw-lakh'
    Description: a primitive root; to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications); [idiom] any wise, appoint, bring (on the way), cast (away, out), conduct, [idiom] earnestly, forsake, give (up), grow long, lay, leave, let depart (down, go, loose), push away, put (away, forth, in, out), reach forth, send (away, forth, out), set, shoot (forth, out), sow, spread, stretch forth (out).
    
11. Strong's Number: H3027
    There are 1447 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יָד
    Transliteration: yâd
    Pronunciation: yawd
    Description: a primitive word; in distinction from כַּף, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of applications, both literally and figuratively, both proximate and remote (as follows); a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),; ([phrase] be) able, [idiom] about, [phrase] armholes, at, axletree, because of, beside, border, [idiom] bounty, [phrase] broad, (broken-) handed, [idiom] by, charge, coast, [phrase] consecrate, [phrase] creditor, custody, debt, dominion, [idiom] enough, [phrase] fellowship, force, [idiom] from, hand(-staves, -y work), [idiom] he, himself, [idiom] in, labour, [phrase] large, ledge, (left-) handed, means, [idiom] mine, ministry, near, [idiom] of, [idiom] order, ordinance, [idiom] our, parts, pain, power, [idiom] presumptuously, service, side, sore, state, stay, draw with strength, stroke, [phrase] swear, terror, [idiom] thee, [idiom] by them, [idiom] themselves, [idiom] thine own, [idiom] thou, through, [idiom] throwing, [phrase] thumb, times, [idiom] to, [idiom] under, [idiom] us, [idiom] wait on, (way-) side, where, [phrase] wide, [idiom] with (him, me, you), work, [phrase] yield, [idiom] yourselves.
    
12. Strong's Number: H1732
    There are 911 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: דָּוִד
    Transliteration: Dâvid
    Pronunciation: daw-veed'
    Description: rarely (fully); דָּוִיד; from the same as דּוֹד; loving; David, the youngest son of Jesse; David.
    
13. Strong's Number: H1121
    There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: בֵּן
    Transliteration: bên
    Pronunciation: bane
    Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.
    
14. Strong's Number: H7586
    There are 335 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שָׁאוּל
    Transliteration: Shâʼûwl
    Pronunciation: shaw-ool'
    Description: passive participle of שָׁאַל; asked; Shaul, the name of an Edomite and two Israelites; Saul, Shaul.