1 Samuel 16:1-13

Samuel Anoints David

1 The Lord said to Samuel, "How long are you going to mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel?^[a] Fill your horn with oil and go. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem because I have selected a king from his sons."

2 Samuel asked, "How can I go? Saul will hear [about it] and kill me!" The Lord answered, "Take a young cow with you and say, 'I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.'

3 Then invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will let you know what you are to do. You are to anoint for Me the one I indicate to you."^[b]

4 Samuel did what the Lord directed and went to Bethlehem. When the elders of the town met him, they trembled^[c] and asked, "Do^[d] you come in peace?"

5 "In peace," he replied. "I've come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice."^[e] Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

6 When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and said, "Certainly the Lord's anointed one is here before Him."

7 But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or his stature, because I have rejected him. Man does not see what the Lord sees,^[f] for man sees what is visible,^[g] but the Lord sees the heart."^[h]

8 Jesse called Abinadab and presented him to Samuel. "The Lord hasn't chosen this one either," Samuel said.

9 Then Jesse presented Shammah, but Samuel said, "The Lord hasn't chosen this one either."

10 After Jesse presented seven of his sons to him, Samuel told Jesse, "The Lord hasn't chosen any of these."

11 Samuel asked him, "Are these all the sons you have?" "There is still the youngest," he answered, "but right now he's tending the sheep." Samuel told Jesse, "Send for him. We won't sit down to eat until he gets here."

12 So Jesse sent for him. He had beautiful eyes and a healthy,^[i] handsome appearance.^[j] Then the Lord said, "Anoint him, for he is the one."

13 So Samuel took the horn of oil, anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and the Spirit of the Lord took control of David from that day forward.^[k] Then Samuel set out and went to Ramah.

1 Samuel 16:1-13 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO FIRST SAMUEL 16

In this chapter Samuel is ordered to anoint a king among the sons of Jesse of Bethlehem, 1Sa 16:1-5 all whose sons were made to pass before him, excepting David, 1Sa 16:6-10 who being then with his father's sheep, was sent for and was anointed, 1Sa 16:11-13, after which the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and he became melancholy, and it was advised to seek out a musician for him, and David was mentioned to him as a proper person, 1Sa 16:14-18 upon which he was sent for, and acted as a musician to Saul, and also became his armourbearer, which was the first rise of him, 1Sa 16:19-23.

Footnotes

• [a]. 1 Sm 13:13-14; 15:23
• [b]. 1 Sm 9:16
• [c]. LXX reads were astonished
• [d]. DSS, LXX read Seer, do
• [e]. LXX reads and rejoice with me today
• [f]. LXX reads God does not see as a man sees
• [g]. Lit what is of the eyes
• [h]. 1 Kg 8:39; Jr 17:10; Jn 2:24-25
• [i]. Or reddish
• [j]. 1 Sm 17:42
• [k]. Ps 51:10-12; Ezk 36:27; Ac 2:1-17