1 Samuel 16:14-23

14 Now the Spirit of the LORD departed from Sha'ul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.

15 Sha'ul's servants said to him, See now, an evil spirit from God troubles you.

16 Let our lord now command your servants who are before you, to seek out a man who is a skillful player on the harp: and it shall happen, when the evil spirit from God is on you, that he shall play with his hand, and you shall be well.

17 Sha'ul said to his servants, Provide me now a man who can play well, and bring him to me.

18 Then answered one of the young men, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Yishai the Beit-Hallachmite, who is skillful in playing, and a mighty man of valor, and a man of war, and prudent in speech, and a comely person; and the LORD is with him.

19 Therefore Sha'ul sent messengers to Yishai, and said, Send me David your son, who is with the sheep.

20 Yishai took a donkey [laden] with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a kid, and sent them by David his son to Sha'ul.

21 David came to Sha'ul, and stood before him: and he loved him greatly; and he became his armor bearer.

22 Sha'ul sent to Yishai, saying, Please let David stand before me; for he has found favor in my sight.

23 It happened, when the [evil] spirit from God was on Sha'ul, that David took the harp, and played with his hand: so Sha'ul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.

1 Samuel 16:14-23 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.