Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary

Adam Clarke Commentary

Seven of his sons - This certainly was not done publicly; Samuel, Jesse, and his children, must have been in a private apartment, previously to the public feast on the sacrifice; for Samuel says, 1 Samuel 16:11, We will not sit down till he (David) come.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible

Seven - i. e., including the three who had already passed. It appears that Jesse had eight sons; but in 1 Chronicles 2:13-15, only seven are ascribed to him.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

Again Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel,.... Not seven more, for he had but eight sons in all with David, 1 Samuel 17:12 but four more, which with the other three made seven; three of these four are mentioned by name, Nathanael, Raddai, and Ozem, 1 Chronicles 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.

Wesley's Explanatory Notes

Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen these.

Seven — There are but seven named, 1 Chronicles 2:13-15, because one of them was either born of a concubine: or, died immediately after this time.

John Trapp Complete Commentary

1 Samuel 16:10 Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen these.

Ver. 10. Again, Jesse made seven of his sons.] For he had eight in all, [1 Samuel 17:12] though one of them likely died without issue, and is not therefore reckoned. [1 Chronicles 2:13]

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible

1 Samuel 16:10. Again, Jesse made seven of his sons— Thus Jesse made, &c. Waterland.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

Seven of his sons, i.e. the rest of his sons, which were seven, besides David; for in all he had eight, 1 Samuel 17:12. It is true, there are but seven of them named 1 Chronicles 2:13-15, but that may be because one of them was either born of a concubine, or an obscure person; or one that died immediately after this time.

Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

10.The Lord hath not chosen these — This statement made to Jesse implies that Samuel had already, as we have remarked on 1 Samuel 16:5, privately informed him of the object of his coming.

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments

1 Samuel 16:10. Again (or rather, Thus) Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel — Not all at once, but seven in all, one after another, in order, David being the eighth. See 1 Samuel 17:12. Probably, however, one of these was either only an adopted son, or was born of a concubine, and therefore is not noticed 1 Chronicles 2:13; 1 Chronicles 2:15, where only seven of Jesse’s sons are named, and David is said to have been the seventh. Samuel said unto Jesse, The Lord hath not chosen these — These words show that Samuel had acquainted Jesse with his business.

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

Seven. David was absent. Isai had eight sons, chap. xvii. 12. Yet only seven are mentioned, 1 Paralipomenon ii. 13. Perhaps one of those whom he produced on this occasion, might be a grandson, or one is omitted in Chronicles [Paralipomenon]. (Calmet)

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

Again = So.

seven. See note on 1 Samuel 16:5.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(10) Seven of his sons.—These seven, with David, the youngest, make eight. In 1 Chronicles 2:13-15 only seven of the family are recorded: one apparently of that bright band of youths died young.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

seven

1 Chronicles 2:13-15