1 Samuel 16:12-23

David Anointed

12 So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with ¹beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance. And the LORD said, "²Arise, anoint him; for this is he."

13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and ³anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and ⁴the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon David from that day forward. And Samuel arose and went to Ramah.

14 ⁵Now the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and ⁶an evil spirit from the LORD terrorized him.

15 Saul's servants then said to him, "Behold now, an evil spirit from God is terrorizing you.

16 "Let our lord now command your servants who are before you. Let them seek a man who is a skillful player on the harp; and it shall come about when the evil spirit from God is on you, that ⁷he shall play the harp with his hand, and you will be well."

17 So Saul said to his servants, "Provide for me now a man who can play well and bring him to me."

18 Then one of the young men said, "Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who is a skillful musician, ⁸a mighty man of valor, a warrior, one prudent in speech, and a handsome man; and ⁹the LORD is with him."

19 So Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, "Send me your son David who is with the flock."

20 Jesse ¹⁰took a donkey loaded with bread and a jug of wine and a young goat, and sent them to Saul by David his son.

21 Then David came to Saul and ¹¹attended him; and Saul loved him greatly, and he became his armor bearer.

22 Saul sent to Jesse, saying, "Let David now stand before me, for he has found favor in my sight."

23 So it came about whenever ¹²the evil spirit from God came to Saul, David would take the harp and play it with his hand; and Saul would be refreshed and be well, and the evil spirit would depart from him.

1 Samuel 16:12-23 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.

Cross References

• 1. Genesis 39:6; Exodus 2:2; Acts 7:20
• 2. 1 Samuel 9:17
• 3. 1 Samuel 10:1
• 4. Numbers 27:18; 1 Sam 10:6, 9, 10
• 5. Judges 16:20; 1 Samuel 11:6; 1 Samuel 18:12; 1 Samuel 28:15
• 6. Judges 9:23; 1 Samuel 16:15, 16; 1 Samuel 18:10; 1 Samuel 19:9; 1 Kings 22:19-22
• 7. 1 Samuel 18:10; 1 Samuel 19:9; 2 Kings 3:15
• 8. 1 Samuel 17:32-36
• 9. 1 Samuel 3:19
• 10. 1 Samuel 10:4, 27; Proverbs 18:16
• 11. Genesis 41:46; Proverbs 22:29
• 12. 1 Samuel 16:14-16

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "stood before him"
• [b]. Lit "he"