1 Samuel 16

Samuel Goes to Bethlehem

1Now the Lord said to Samuel, “1How long are you going to mourn for 2Saul, since 3I have rejected him from being king over Israel? 4Fill your horn with oil and go; I will send you to 5Jesse the Bethlehemite, because I have 6chosen a king for Myself among his sons.” 2But Samuel said, “How can I go? When Saul hears about it, he will kill me.” But the Lord said, “7Take a heifer 8with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ 3And you shall invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and 9I will let you know what you shall do; and 10you shall anoint for Me the one whom I 11designate to you.” 4So Samuel did what the Lord told him, and he came to 12Bethlehem. Then the elders of the city came trembling to meet him and said, “13Do you come in peace?” 5And he said, “In peace; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. 14Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” He also consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

6When they entered, he looked at 15Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is standing before Him.” 7But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for 16God does not see as man sees, since man looks at 17the outward appearance, 18but the Lord looks at the heart.” 8Then Jesse called 19Abinadab and had him pass before Samuel. But he said, “The Lord has not chosen this one, either.” 9Next Jesse had 2021Shammah pass by. And he said, “The Lord has not chosen this one, either.” 10So Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen these.” 11Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Are these all the boys?” And he said, “22The youngest is still left, but behold, he is tending the sheep.” So Samuel said to Jesse, “Send word and bring him; for we will not take our places at the table until he comes here.”

David Anointed

12So he sent word and brought him in. Now he was 23reddish, with 24beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance. And the Lord said, “25Arise, anoint him; for this is he.” 13So Samuel took the horn of oil and 26anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and 27the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel set out and went to Ramah.

1428Now the Spirit of the Lord left Saul, and 29an evil spirit from the Lord terrified him. 15Saul’s servants then said to him, “Behold now, an evil spirit from God is terrifying you. 16May our lord now command your servants who are before you. Have them search for a man who is a skillful musician on the harp; and it shall come about whenever the evil spirit from God is upon you, that 30he shall play the harp with his hand, and you will become well.” 17So Saul said to his servants, “Now select for me a man who can play well, and bring him to me.” 18Then one of the young men responded and said, “Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who is a skillful musician, 31a valiant mighty man, a warrior, skillful in speech, and a handsome man; and 32the Lord is with him.” 19So Saul sent messengers to Jesse 33to say, “Send me your son David, who is with the flock.” 20And Jesse 34took a donkey loaded with bread and a jug of wine, and he took a young goat, and sent them to Saul by his son David. 21Then David came to Saul and 3536attended him; and Saul greatly loved him, and he became his armor bearer. 22So Saul sent word to Jesse, saying, “Let David now 37be my attendant for he has found favor in my sight.” 23So it came about whenever 38the evil spirit from God came to Saul, David would take the harp and play it with his hand; and Saul would feel relieved and become well, and the evil spirit would leave him.