And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.
The youngest ... he keepeth the sheep. Jesse, having evidently no idea of David's wisdom and bravery, spoke of him as the most unfit; as one not to be taken into account in the conduct of any public affairs. God, in His providence, so ordered it that the appointment of David might the more clearly appear to be a divine purpose, and not the design either of Samuel or Jesse.
Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down until he come hither, х lo'
(H3808) naacob (H5437)] - we will not come around, we will not surround - i:e., by sitting at table (cf. Psalms 128:3). The ancient Hebrews sat around a low table, with their legs crossed, as the modern Orientals do; because the luxurious practice of reclining was not introduced into Judea until a late period in the Old Testament history. David had not been sanctified with the rest of his family, because, owing to his absence from home, be had not been invited to the sacrifice; and it is probable that he returned to his pastoral duties the moment the special business on which he had been summoned was done.