for, under the Law, priesthood and kingship were strictly separate, and High Priest Joshua never ruled as king over Israel.​—Zec 6:11-13.

5. The head of a Levitical house, some of whom returned from Babylonian exile with Zerubbabel in 537 B.C.E. (Ezr 2:40; Ne 7:43) If not another person by the same name, a representative of Jeshua’s house signed the “trustworthy arrangement” entered into by the priests, princes, and people to walk in God’s law. He was the son of Azaniah (Ne 9:38; 10:1, 9) and probably the same as the Jeshua mentioned at Nehemiah 12:8, 24.

“Jozabad the son of Jeshua,” one of the Levites to whom Ezra turned over the silver, gold, and vessels for the house of God, was probably a member of this Jeshua’s house.​—Ezr 8:33.

Ezer son of Jeshua, a prince of Mizpah, who worked under Nehemiah in repairing Jerusalem’s wall, may have been of the same family.​—Ne 3:19.

6. One of the Levite supervisors of the temple rebuilding.​—Ezr 3:9.

7. One of the Levites reading and explaining the Law to the people and taking the lead in worship, under Ezra’s direction. Perhaps of the same house as No. 5.​—Ne 8:7; 9:4, 5.

8. A town in the southern part of Judah where some of the repatriated Jewish remnant dwelt. Its site is identified by some scholars as Tell es-Saʽweh (Tel Yeshuʽa), about 15 km (9 mi) ENE of Beer-sheba. (Ne 11:25, 26) It may be the Shema of Joshua 15:26, and possibly the Sheba of Joshua 19:2.

(Jeshʹu·run) [Upright One].

An honorary title for Israel. In the Greek Septuagint “Jeshurun” becomes a term of affection, it being rendered “beloved.” The designation “Jeshurun” should have reminded Israel of its calling as Jehovah’s covenant people and therefore of its obligation to remain upright. (De 33:5, 26; Isa 44:2) At Deuteronomy 32:15 the name Jeshurun is used ironically. Instead of living up to its name Jeshurun, Israel became intractable, forsook its Maker, and despised its Savior.

(Je·simʹi·el) [May God Set (Appoint); God Has Set (Appointed)].

One of the Simeonite chieftains who, in King Hezekiah’s day, extended their territory to the E of the Valley of Gedor.​—1Ch 4:24, 34-41.

(Jesʹse) [shortened form of Isshiah, meaning “Jehovah Makes Forget”; or, possibly, a shortened form of Abishai].

Father of King David of the tribe of Judah; grandson of Ruth and Boaz and a link in the genealogical line from Abraham to Jesus. (Ru 4:17, 22; Mt 1:5, 6; Lu 3:31, 32) Jesse fathered eight sons, one of whom apparently died before producing any sons of his own, which may account for the omission of his name from the genealogies of Chronicles. (1Sa 16:10, 11; 17:12; 1Ch 2:12-15) The two sisters of David, Abigail and Zeruiah, are nowhere called Jesse’s daughters, but one is called “the daughter of Nahash.” (1Ch 2:16, 17; 2Sa 17:25) It may be that Nahash was the former husband of Jesse’s wife, making her girls half sisters to Jesse’s sons, unless Nahash is another name for Jesse, or even the name of his wife, as some have suggested.

Jesse was a sheep owner living at Bethlehem. After King Saul turned away from true worship, Jehovah sent Samuel to Jesse’s home to anoint one of his sons as king. Jesse brought in the seven older boys, but when Jehovah chose none of these Jesse was obliged to call his youngest son David from pasturing the sheep; this son was Jehovah’s choice.​—1Sa 16:1-13.

When Saul summoned David to play the soothing harp for him, aged Jesse sent along a generous gift and later granted permission for David to remain some time in attendance at Saul’s court. (1Sa 16:17-23; 17:12) Later, when it appears that David was back again tending the sheep, Jesse sent him with some provisions for the three oldest boys, who were in Saul’s army. (1Sa 17:13, 15, 17, 18, 20) During the time David was outlawed by Saul, Jesse and his wife were given asylum in Moab.​—1Sa 22:3, 4.

Often David is called “the son of Jesse,” disparagingly, by persons such as Saul, Doeg, Nabal, and Sheba (1Sa 20:27, 30, 31; 22:7-9, 13; 25:10; 2Sa 20:1; 1Ki 12:16; 2Ch 10:16), but more respectfully in other instances, for example, by David himself, Ezra, and Jehovah God.​—1Sa 16:18; 17:58; 2Sa 23:1; 1Ch 10:14; 12:18; 29:26; Ps 72:20; Lu 3:32; Ac 13:22.

The prophetic promise that “the root of Jesse” would ‘stand up as a signal for the peoples’ and would judge in righteousness finds fulfillment in Christ Jesus, the one who, because he is immortal, keeps the genealogical line of Jesse alive.​—Isa 11:1-5, 10; Ro 15:8, 12.

(Jeʹsus) [Lat. form of the Gr. I·e·sousʹ, which corresponds to the Heb. Ye·shuʹaʽ or Yehoh·shuʹaʽ and means “Jehovah Is Salvation”].

Jewish historian Josephus of the first century C.E. mentions some 12 persons, other than those in the Bible record, bearing that name. It also appears in