1
The LORD said to Shemu'el, How long will you mourn for Sha'ul, seeing I have rejected him from being king over Yisra'el? fill your horn with oil, and go: I will send you to Yishai the Beit-Hallachmite; for I have provided me a king among his sons.
2
Shemu'el said, How can I go? if Sha'ul hear it, he will kill me. The LORD said, Take a heifer with you, and say, I am come to sacrifice to the LORD.
3
Call Yishai to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do: and you shall anoint to me him whom I name to you.
4
Shemu'el did that which the LORD spoke, and came to Beit-Lechem. The Zakenim of the city came to meet him trembling, and said, Come you peaceably?
5
He said, Peaceably; I am come to sacrifice to the LORD: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. He sanctified Yishai and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.
6
It happened, when they had come, that he looked at Eli'av, and said, Surely the LORD's anointed is before him.
7
But the LORD said to Shemu'el, "Don't look on his face, or on the height of his stature; because I have rejected him: for [the LORD sees] not as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."
8
Then Yishai called Avinadav, and made him pass before Shemu'el. He said, Neither has the LORD chosen this.
9
Then Yishai made Shammah to pass by. He said, Neither has the LORD chosen this.
10
Yishai made seven of his sons to pass before Shemu'el. Shemu'el said to Yishai, the LORD has not chosen these.