¹² Now David was ^(A)the son of an ^(B)Ephrathite of Bethlehem in Judah, ^(C)named Jesse, ^(D)who had eight sons. In the days of Saul the man was already old and advanced in years.^{[a] 13} The three oldest sons of Jesse had followed Saul to the battle. And ^(E)the names of his three sons who went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and next to him Abinadab, and the third Shammah. ^14 (F)David was the youngest. The three eldest followed Saul, ¹⁵ but David went back and forth from Saul ^(G)to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem.

¹⁷ And Jesse said to David his son, “Take for your brothers an ephah^[a] of this parched grain, and these ten loaves, and carry them quickly to the camp to your brothers. ^18 (A)Also take these ten cheeses to the commander of their thousand. ^(B)See if your brothers are well, and bring some token from them.”