12 Now David was ^hthe son of an ⁱEphrathite of Bethlehem in Judah, ^jnamed Jesse, ^kwho had eight sons. In the days of Saul the man was already old and advanced in years.¹ 13 The three oldest sons of Jesse had followed Saul to the battle. And ^lthe names of his three sons who went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and next to him Abinadab, and the third Shammah. 14 ^mDavid was the youngest. The three eldest followed Saul, 15 but David went back and forth from Saul ⁿto feed his father’s sheep at Bethlehem. 16 For forty days the Philistine came forward and took his stand, morning and evening.

17 And Jesse said to David his son, “Take for your brothers an ephah² of this parched grain, and these ten loaves, and carry them quickly to the camp to your brothers. 18 ^oAlso take these ten cheeses to the commander of their thousand. ^pSee if your brothers are well, and bring some token from them.”