Question 22 – How many children did Jesse had? Is it seven or eight?

1 Samuel 16:10-11 NKJV - "Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, "The LORD has not chosen these." And Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all the young men here?" Then he said, "There remains yet the youngest, and there he is, keeping the sheep..."

           1 Chronicles 2:13-15 NKJV - "Jesse begot Eliab his firstborn, Abinadab the second, Shimea the third, Nethanel the fourth, Raddai the fifth, Ozem the sixth, and David the seventh."

Answer:

                The number seven is symbolic for the completeness. So, David, who was selected in this way, was reckoned as seventh one. Ex: - The Lord God created this creation within six days and took rest on seventh day. Even though the Lord God had the strength of many spirits, it is to be considered that he has seven spirits. Even though the Lord God had countless groups of angels, it is said that the Lord had seven angels. Likewise, seven seals, seven plagues, seven voices, seven keys, seven skies, seven altars, seven lamp stands, seven eyes, etc., are the examples appear to us in the Holy Bible. So, the number seven is used as the blessed one. But, this might have happened in 1Samuel 16:10-11, to count the sons serially and historically or the child, who grown up by him, was in his family and reckoned as his son.