The relationship between Jesse and David parallels the biblical figures of the same name—Jesse was a farmer and shepherd and his son David was a king who killed Goliath, the champion of the Philistines. As Jesse Bentley views the other farmers in Ohio as philistines and traitors, he hopes that David will take over his legacy and conquer those he perceives to be enemies of God. While Jesse is wholly possessed by a perception of himself and David as holy servants, his expression of this vision only serves to confuse and terrify his grandson. Rather than seeing the error of his ways and reevaluating his outlook, Jesse assumes that God must be punishing him.