1 Samuel 16:13-16

13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and ¹anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and ²the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon David from that day forward. And Samuel arose and went to Ramah.

14 ³Now the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and ⁴an 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 ⁵he shall play the harp with his hand, and you will be well."

1 Samuel 16:13-16 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. 1 Samuel 10:1
• 2. Numbers 27:18; 1 Sam 10:6, 9, 10
• 3. Judges 16:20; 1 Samuel 11:6; 1 Samuel 18:12; 1 Samuel 28:15
• 4. Judges 9:23; 1 Samuel 16:15, 16; 1 Samuel 18:10; 1 Samuel 19:9; 1 Kings 22:19-22
• 5. 1 Samuel 18:10; 1 Samuel 19:9; 2 Kings 3:15