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.