Then Saul sent messengers to Isai, saying: Send me David thy son, who is in the pastures.

And Saul sendeth messengers unto Jesse, and saith, 'Send unto me David thy son, who is with the flock.'

Why Saul sent messengers to Jesse, and said, Send me David your son, which is with the sheep.

So Saul sent his servants to Jesse and said, Send me your son David who is with the sheep.

Therefore, Saul sent messengers to Jesse, saying, "Send to me your son David, who is in the pastures."

Wherefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse,.... For David; not choosing to take him without his leave, though Samuel suggests that kings would do so, 1-Samuel 8:11.
and said, send me David, thy son, which is with the sheep; he had learnt his name, and what was his employment; and which last he mentions not by way of contempt, it not being reckoned mean and despicable even in the sons of great personages, in those times and countries, to attend flocks and herds: so with the Arabs, as Philo (n) testifies, young men and maids of the most illustrious families fed cattle; and with the ancient Romans, the senator (o) fed his own sheep. Paris, son of Priamus, king of Troy, is said (p) to feed his father's oxen and sheep; and Saul himself had done the same; but to describe him particularly.
(n) De Vita Mosis, l. 1. p. 610. (o) "Pascebatque suas", &c. Ovid. Fast. l. 1. (p) Coluthi Raptus Helenae, v. 71, 101.

Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me David--In the East the command of a king is imperative; and Jesse, however reluctant and alarmed, had no alternative but to comply.