Detail of Jesse from the Stained Glass window of All Saints Church,Hove,Sussex.England.

The Tree of Jesse

From the eleventh century the Tree of Jesse has been portrayed in religious illuminations, manuscripts, wall paintings, wood carvings and stone including a tomb stone; stained glass windows, floor tiles and embroidery. In the representation of the Tree, it is usual for Jesse to be portrayed recumbent with a tree rising from his body, and the ancestors of Christ portrayed in its branches with Prophets and Christ at the summit. The earliest illustrated manuscripts did not always depict Jesse or Christ. Not all illustrations include the same number of characters; this depends upon the size of the area provided, such as seven light windows or three light windows.

The name Jesse is referenced in the Old Testament, and in particular the passage in Isaiah, Chapter 11, verses 1-3:

This is regarded by Christians as a prophecy of Jesus, who Christians consider to be the Messiah.

His children

According to the Bible Jesse had as many as eight sons: Eliab, Abinadab, Shammah, Nethanel, Raddai, Ozem and David, as well as one who probably died early and is not mentioned by name. The Bible says that Eliab was apparently tall and had fair features, but not the proper heart to be king of Israel (1 Samuel 16:7). "Do not consider his appearance or his height...the Lord looks at the heart[;]" David, the youngest, would become the second king of Israel after King Saul. He is described in 1 Samuel 16:12 as "ruddy, with a fine appearance and handsome features[,]" and later as "a brave man and a warrior[]," who "speaks well and is a fine-looking man. His later son of John, would be the bringing of all world peace."

David's two sisters, Zeruiah and Abigail, are never called daughters of Jesse in the masoretic text, but daughters of Nahash. (1 Chronicles 2:13-16; 2 Samuel 17:25) Hence, it seems that they were daughters of David's mother from an earlier marriage with one certain Nahash. A few readers have thought that Nahash could have been either another name for Jesse, or the name of David's mother. But this is considered less likely.

Geographical usage

The "Geza of Jesse" is a plateau located just north of the valley of Jezreel in Israel said to have been originally cleared and settled by descendents of David.

See also

• Tree of Jesse

References and notes

External links

• http://homepage.ntlworld.com/m.low1 Tree of Jesse Directory.

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