New American Standard Bible 1995

1 Samuel 16

Samuel Goes to Bethlehem

1Now the Lordיְהוָ֜הYah.wehH3068saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to Samuelשְׁמוּאֵ֗לshe.mu.'ElH8050, “Howמָתַי֙ma.TaiH4970longעַד־'ad-H5704will you grieveמִתְאַבֵּ֣לmit.'a.BelH56overH413Saulשָׁא֔וּלsha.'UlH7586, sinceI have rejectedמְאַסְתִּ֔יוme.'as.TivH3988him from beingH4427kingH4427overעַל־'al-H5921Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElH3478?Fillמַלֵּ֨אma.Le'H4390your hornקַרְנְךָ֜kar.ne.ChaH7161with oilשֶׁ֗מֶןShe.menH8081and goוְלֵ֤ךְve.LekhH1980;I will sendאֶֽשְׁלָחֲךָ֙'esh.la.cha.KhaH7971you toJesseיִשַׁ֣יyi.ShaiH3448the BethlehemiteH1022, for I haveselectedרָאִ֧יתִיra.'I.tiH7200a kingמֶֽלֶךְ׃Me.lekhH4428for Myself among his sonsבְּבָנָ֛יוbe.va.NavH1121.”

2But Samuelשְׁמוּאֵל֙she.mu.'ElH8050saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “Howאֵ֣יךְ'eikhH349can I goאֵלֵ֔ךְ'e.LekhH1980?When Saulשָׁא֖וּלsha.'UlH7586hearsוְשָׁמַ֥עve.sha.Ma'H8085of it,he will killוַהֲרָגָ֑נִי סva.ha.ra.Ga.niH2026me.” And the Lordיְהוָ֗הYah.wehH3068saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “Takeתִּקַּ֣חti.KachH3947a heiferעֶגְלַ֤ת'eg.LatH5697with you and sayוְאָ֣מַרְתָּ֔ve.'A.mar.taH559, ‘I have comeבָּֽאתִי׃Ba.tiH935to sacrificeלִזְבֹּ֥חַliz.Bo.achH2076to the Lordלַֽיהוָ֖הla.Yah.wehH3068.’

3You shall inviteוְקָרָ֥אתָve.ka.Ra.taH7121Jesseלְיִשַׁ֖יle.yi.ShaiH3448to the sacrificeבַּזָּ֑בַחba.Za.vachH2077, andI will showאוֹדִֽיעֲךָ֙'o.di.'a.KhaH3045you whatאֲשֶֽׁר־'a.Sher-H834you shall doתַּעֲשֶׂ֔הta.'a.SehH6213; andyou shall anointוּמָשַׁחְתָּ֣u.ma.shach.TaH4886for Me the one whomאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834Idesignateאֹמַ֖ר'o.MarH559to you.”

4So Samuelשְׁמוּאֵ֗לshe.mu.'ElH8050didוַיַּ֣עַשׂvai.Ya.'asH6213whatאֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834the Lordיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068saidדִּבֶּ֣רdi.BerH1696,and cameוַיָּבֹ֖אvai.ya.Vo'H935toBethlehemH1035.And the eldersזִקְנֵ֤יzik.NeiH2205of the cityהָעִיר֙ha.'IrH5892cameH2729tremblingH2729to meetלִקְרָאת֔וֹlik.ra.ToH7122him and saidוַיֹּ֖אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “Do you comeבּוֹאֶֽךָ׃bo.'E.khaH935in peaceשָׁלֹ֥םsha.LomH7965?”

5He saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶר׀vai.Yo.merH559, “In peaceשָׁל֗וֹםsha.LomH7965;I have comeבָּ֔אתִיBa.tiH935to sacrificeלִזְבֹּ֤חַliz.Bo.achH2076to the Lordלַֽיהוָה֙la.Yah.wehH3068.Consecrateהִֽתְקַדְּשׁ֔וּhit.ka.de.ShuH6942yourselves and comeוּבָאתֶ֥םu.va.TemH935with me to the sacrificeבַּזָּ֑בַחba.Za.vachH2077.”He also consecratedוַיְקַדֵּ֤שׁvay.ka.DeshH6942Jesseיִשַׁי֙yi.ShaiH3448and his sonsבָּנָ֔יוba.NavH1121and invitedוַיִּקְרָ֥אvai.yik.Ra'H7121them to the sacrificeלַזָּֽבַח׃la.Za.vachH2077.

6When they enteredבְּבוֹאָ֔םbe.vo.'AmH935,he lookedוַיַּ֖רְאvai.Yar'H7200atEliabאֱלִיאָ֑ב'e.li.'AvH446and thoughtוַיֹּ֕אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “Surelyאַ֛ךְ'akhH389the Lord’sיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068anointedמְשִׁיחֽוֹ׃me.shi.ChoH4899is beforeנֶ֥גֶדNe.gedH5048Him.”

7But the Lordיְהוָ֜הYah.wehH3068saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to Samuelשְׁמוּאֵ֗לshe.mu.'ElH8050, “Do not lookתַּבֵּ֧טta.BetH5027at his appearanceמַרְאֵ֛הוּmar.'E.huH4758or at the heightH6967of his statureקוֹמָת֖וֹko.ma.ToH6967,becauseH3588I have rejectedמְאַסְתִּ֑יהוּme.'as.Ti.huH3988him; forGodH430seesnot as manהָאָדָ֔םha.'a.DamH120seesיִרְאֶה֙yir.'EhH7200,for manהָֽאָדָם֙ha.'a.DamH120looksיִרְאֶ֣הyir.'EhH7200at the outwardH5869appearanceH5869,but the Lordוַיהוָ֖הva.Yah.wehH3068looksיִרְאֶ֥הyir.'EhH7200at the heartלַלֵּבָֽב׃la.le.VavH3824.”

8Then Jesseיִשַׁי֙yi.ShaiH3448calledוַיִּקְרָ֤אvai.yik.Ra'H7121Abinadabאֲבִ֣ינָדָ֔ב'a.Vi.na.DavH41and made him passוַיַּעֲבִרֵ֖הוּvai.ya.'a.vi.Re.huH5674beforeלִפְנֵ֣יlif.NeiH6440Samuelשְׁמוּאֵ֑לshe.mu.'ElH8050.And he saidוַיֹּ֕אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “The Lordיְהוָֽה׃Yah.wehH3068has not chosenבָחַ֥רva.CharH977thisH2088oneבָּזֶ֖הba.ZehH2088eitherגַּם־gam-H1571.”

9Next Jesseיִשַׁ֖יyi.ShaiH3448madeShammahשַׁמָּ֑הsha.MahH8048passוַיַּעֲבֵ֥רvai.ya.'a.VerH5674by. And he saidוַיֹּ֕אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “The Lordיְהוָֽה׃Yah.wehH3068has not chosenבָחַ֥רva.CharH977thisH2088oneבָּזֶ֖הba.ZehH2088eitherגַּם־gam-H1571.”

10Thus Jesseיִשַׁ֛יyi.ShaiH3448made sevenשִׁבְעַ֥תshiv.'AtH7651of his sonsבָּנָ֖יוba.NavH1121passוַיַּעֲבֵ֥רvai.ya.'a.VerH5674beforeלִפְנֵ֣יlif.NeiH6440Samuelשְׁמוּאֵ֑לshe.mu.'ElH8050.But Samuelשְׁמוּאֵל֙she.mu.'ElH8050saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to Jesseיִשַׁ֔יyi.ShaiH3448, “The Lordיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068has not chosenבָחַ֥רva.CharH977theseבָּאֵֽלֶּה׃ba.'E.lehH428.”

11And Samuelשְׁמוּאֵ֣לshe.mu.'ElH8050saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to Jesseיִשַׁי֮yi.ShaiH3448, “Are these allהֲתַ֣מּוּha.Ta.muH8552the childrenהַנְּעָרִים֒ha.ne.'a.RimH5288?”And he saidוַיֹּ֗אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “There remainsשָׁאַ֣רsha.'ArH7604yetע֚וֹדodH5750the youngestהַקָּטָ֔ןha.ka.TanH6996,and beholdוְהִנֵּ֥הve.hi.NehH2009,he is tendingרֹעֶ֖הro.'EhH7462the sheepבַּצֹּ֑אןba.TzonH6629.”Then Samuelשְׁמוּאֵ֤לshe.mu.'ElH8050saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to Jesseיִשַׁי֙yi.ShaiH3448, “Sendשִׁלְחָ֣הshil.ChahH7971andbringוְקָחֶ֔נּוּve.ka.Che.nuH3947him; for we will not sitנָסֹ֖בna.SoH5437down untilעַד־'ad-H5704he comesבֹּא֥וֹbo.'OH935hereפֹֽה׃FohH6311.”

David Anointed

12So he sentוַיִּשְׁלַ֤חvai.yish.LachH7971and broughtוַיְבִיאֵ֙הוּ֙vay.vi.'E.huH935him in. Now he was ruddyאַדְמוֹנִ֔י'ad.mo.NiH132, withbeautifulיְפֵ֥הye.PehH3303eyesעֵינַ֖יִם'ei.Na.yimH5869and a handsomeוְט֣וֹבve.TovH2896appearanceרֹ֑אִי פRo.'iH7210.And the Lordיְהוָ֛הYah.wehH3068saidוַיֹּ֧אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “Ariseק֥וּםkumH6965,anointמְשָׁחֵ֖הוּme.sha.Che.huH4886him; for thisזֶ֥הzehH2088is he.”

13Then Samuelשְׁמוּאֵ֜לshe.mu.'ElH8050tookוַיִּקַּ֨חvai.yi.KachH3947the hornקֶ֣רֶןKe.renH7161of oilהַשֶּׁ֗מֶןha.She.menH8081andanointedוַיִּמְשַׁ֣חvai.yim.ShachH4886him in the midstבְּקֶ֣רֶבbe.Ke.revH7130of his brothersאֶחָיו֒'e.ChavH251; andthe Spiritרֽוּחַ־Ru.ach-H7307of the Lordיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068cameH6743mightilyH6743upon Davidדָּוִ֔דda.VidH1732from that dayמֵהַיּ֥וֹםme.hai.YomH3117forwardוָמָ֑עְלָהva.Ma.'e.lahH4605.And Samuelשְׁמוּאֵ֔לshe.mu.'ElH8050aroseוַיָּ֣קָםvai.Ya.komH6965and wentוַיֵּ֖לֶךְvai.Ye.lekhH1980to Ramahהָרָמָֽתָה׃ סha.ra.Ma.tahH7414.

14Now the Spiritוְר֧וּחַve.Ru.achH7307of the Lordיְהוָ֛הYah.wehH3068departedסָ֖רָהSa.rahH5493from Saulשָׁא֑וּלsha.'UlH7586, andan evilרָעָ֖הra.'AhH7451spiritרֽוּחַ־Ru.ach-H7307from the Lordיְהוָֽה׃Yah.wehH3068terrorizedוּבִֽעֲתַ֥תּוּu.vi.'a.Ta.tuH1204him.

15Saul’sשָׁא֖וּלsha.'UlH7586servantsעַבְדֵֽי־'av.dei-H5650then saidוַיֹּאמְר֥וּvai.yo.me.RuH559to him, “Beholdהִנֵּה־hi.neh-H2009nowנָ֧אna'H4994,an evilרָעָ֖הra.'AhH7451spiritרֽוּחַ־Ru.ach-H7307from Godאֱלֹהִ֛ים'E.lo.HimH430is terrorizingמְבַעִתֶּֽךָ׃me.va.'i.Te.khaH1204you.

16Let our lordאֲדֹנֵ֙נוּ֙'a.do.Ne.nuH113nowנָ֤אna'H4994commandיֹאמַר־yo.mar-H559your servantsעֲבָדֶ֣יךָ'a.va.Dei.khaH5650who are beforeלְפָנֶ֔יךָle.fa.Nei.khaH6440you. Let them seekיְבַקְשׁ֕וּye.vak.ShuH1245a manאִ֕ישׁ'ishH376who is a skillfulיֹדֵ֖עַyo.De.a'H3045playerמְנַגֵּ֣ןme.na.GenH5059on the harpבַּכִּנּ֑וֹרba.ki.NorH3658;and it shall comeH1961about when the evilרָעָ֔הra.'AhH7451spiritרֽוּחַ־Ru.ach-H7307from Godאֱלֹהִים֙'E.lo.HimH430is on you, thathe shall playוְנִגֵּ֥ןve.ni.GenH5059the harpwith his handבְּיָד֖וֹbe.ya.DoH3027,and you will be wellH2895.”

17So Saulשָׁא֖וּלsha.'UlH7586saidוַיֹּ֥אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to his servantsעֲבָדָ֑יו'a.va.DavH5650, “Provideרְאוּ־re.'u-H7200for me nowנָ֣אna'H4994a manאִ֚ישׁ'ishH376who can playלְנַגֵּ֔ןle.na.GenH5059wellמֵיטִ֣יבmei.TivH3190and bringוַהֲבִיאוֹתֶ֖םva.ha.vi.'o.TemH935him to me.”

18Then oneאֶחָ֨ד'e.ChadH259of the youngמֵהַנְּעָרִ֜יםme.ha.ne.'a.RimH5288menH5288saidוַיֹּ֗אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “Beholdהִנֵּ֨הhi.NehH2009,I have seenרָאִ֜יתִיra.'I.tiH7200a sonבֵּ֣ןbenH1121of Jesseלְיִשַׁי֮le.yi.ShaiH3448the BethlehemiteH1022who is a skillfulיֹדֵ֣עַyo.De.a'H3045musicianנַ֠גֵּןNa.genH5059,a mightyוְגִבּ֨וֹרve.gi.BorH1368manH1368of valorחַ֜יִלCha.yilH2428,a warriorמִלְחָמָ֛הmil.cha.MahH4421,one prudentוּנְב֥וֹןu.ne.VonH995in speechדָּבָ֖רda.VarH1697,and a handsomeתֹּ֑אַרTo.'arH8389manH376; andthe Lordוַיהוָ֖הva.Yah.wehH3068is with him.”

19So Saulשָׁא֛וּלsha.'UlH7586sentוַיִּשְׁלַ֥חvai.yish.LachH7971messengersמַלְאָכִ֖יםmal.'a.KhimH4397to Jesseיִשָׁ֑יyi.ShaiH3448and saidוַיֹּ֕אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “Sendשִׁלְחָ֥הshil.ChahH7971me your sonבִּנְךָ֖bin.KhaH1121Davidדָּוִ֥דda.VidH1732whoאֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834is with the flockבַּצֹּֽאן׃ba.TzonH6629.”

20Jesseיִשַׁ֜יyi.ShaiH3448tookוַיִּקַּ֨חvai.yi.KachH3947a donkeyחֲמ֥וֹרcha.MorH2543loaded withbreadלֶ֙חֶם֙le.chemH3899and a jugוְנֹ֣אדve.NodH4997of wineיַ֔יִןYa.yinH3196and a youngוּגְדִ֥יu.ge.DiH1423goatעִזִּ֖ים'i.ZimH5795,and sentוַיִּשְׁלַ֛חvai.yish.LachH7971themto Saulשָׁאֽוּל׃sha.'UlH7586by Davidדָּוִ֥דda.VidH1732his sonבְּנ֖וֹbe.NoH1121.

21Then Davidדָוִד֙da.VidH1732cameוַיָּבֹ֤אvai.ya.Vo'H935to Saulשָׁא֔וּלsha.'UlH7586andattendedלְפָנָ֑יוle.fa.NavH6440him; andSaul lovedוַיֶּאֱהָבֵ֣הֽוּvai.ye.'e.ha.Ve.huH157him greatlyמְאֹ֔דme.'OdH3966,and he becameוַֽיְהִי־vay.hi-H1961his armorכֵלִֽים׃khe.LimH3627bearerנֹשֵׂ֥אno.Se'H5375.

22Saulשָׁא֔וּלsha.'UlH7586sentוַיִּשְׁלַ֣חvai.yish.LachH7971to Jesseיִשַׁ֖יyi.ShaiH3448,sayingלֵאמֹ֑רle.MorH559, “Let Davidדָוִד֙da.VidH1732nowנָ֤אna'H4994standיַעֲמָד־ya.'a.mod-H5975beforeלְפָנַ֔יle.fa.NaiH6440me, for he has foundמָ֥צָאMa.tza'H4672favorחֵ֖ןchenH2580in my sightבְּעֵינָֽי׃be.'ei.NaiH5869.”

23So it cameוְהָיָ֗הve.ha.YahH1961about whenever the evilspiritרֽוּחַ־Ru.ach-H7307from Godאֱלֹהִים֙'E.lo.HimH430cameבִּֽהְי֤וֹתbih.YotH1961to Saulשָׁא֔וּלsha.'UlH7586,Davidדָּוִ֛דda.VidH1732would takeוְלָקַ֥חve.la.KachH3947the harpהַכִּנּ֖וֹרha.ki.NorH3658and playוְנִגֵּ֣ןve.ni.GenH5059itwith his handבְּיָד֑וֹbe.ya.DoH3027;and Saulלְשָׁאוּל֙le.sha.'UlH7586would be refreshedוְרָוַ֤חve.ra.VachH7304and be wellH2895,and the evilהָרָעָֽה׃ פha.ra.'AhH7451spiritר֥וּחַRu.achH7307would departוְסָ֥רָהve.Sa.rahH5493from him.

Samuel Goes to Bethlehem

David Anointed

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 16