1The Lord said to Samuel, ‘How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.’2But Samuel said, ‘How can I go? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me.’ The Lord said, ‘Take a heifer with you and say, “I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.”3Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate.’4Samuel did what the Lord said. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town trembled when they met him. They asked, ‘Do you come in peace?’5Samuel replied, ‘Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me.’ Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.6When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, ‘Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.’7But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.’8Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, ‘The Lord has not chosen this one either.’9Jesse then made Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, ‘Nor has the Lord chosen this one.’10Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, ‘The Lord has not chosen these.’11So he asked Jesse, ‘Are these all the sons you have?’ ‘There is still the youngest,’ Jesse answered. ‘He is tending the sheep.’ Samuel said, ‘Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.’12So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the Lord said, ‘Rise and anoint him; this is the one.’13So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah.
David in Saul’s service
14Now the Spirit of the Lord had departed from Saul, and an evil[1] spirit from the Lord tormented him.15Saul’s attendants said to him, ‘See, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you.16Let our lord command his servants here to search for someone who can play the lyre. He will play when the evil spirit from God comes on you, and you will feel better.’17So Saul said to his attendants, ‘Find someone who plays well and bring him to me.’18One of the servants answered, ‘I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the lyre. He is a brave man and a warrior. He speaks well and is a fine-looking man. And the Lord is with him.’19Then Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, ‘Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.’20So Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a skin of wine and a young goat and sent them with his son David to Saul.21David came to Saul and entered his service. Saul liked him very much, and David became one of his armour-bearers.22Then Saul sent word to Jesse, saying, ‘Allow David to remain in my service, for I am pleased with him.’23Whenever the spirit from God came on Saul, David would take up his lyre and play. Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him.
1 Samuel 16
English Standard Version
David Anointed King
1The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.” (1Sa 10:1; 1Sa 15:23; 1Sa 15:26; 1Sa 15:35; Ps 78:70; Ps 89:19; Ac 13:22)2And Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me.” And the Lord said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ (1Sa 9:12; 1Sa 20:29)3And invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do. And you shall anoint for me him whom I declare to you.” (1Sa 9:16)4Samuel did what the Lord commanded and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling and said, “Do you come peaceably?” (1Sa 21:1; 1Ki 2:13; 2Ki 9:22)5And he said, “Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice.” And he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. (Jos 3:5)6When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before him.” (1Sa 17:13)7But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” (1Ki 8:39; 1Ch 28:9; Ps 7:9; Ps 147:10; Jer 11:20; Jer 17:10; Jer 20:12; Ac 1:24)8Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” (1Sa 17:13)9Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” (1Sa 16:8)10And Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen these.”11Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest,[1] but behold, he is keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and get him, for we will not sit down till he comes here.” (1Sa 17:13; 2Sa 7:8; 2Sa 13:3; 1Ch 2:13; Ps 78:70)12And he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy and had beautiful eyes and was handsome. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him, for this is he.” (1Sa 9:17; 1Sa 17:42)13Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah. (Jud 3:10; 1Sa 10:1; 1Sa 10:6; 1Sa 10:10; 1Sa 11:6; 1Sa 16:1; Ps 89:20)
David in Saul’s Service
14Now the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and a harmful spirit from the Lord tormented him. (Jud 9:23; Jud 16:20; 1Sa 18:10; 1Sa 18:12; 1Sa 19:9; 1Sa 28:15)15And Saul’s servants said to him, “Behold now, a harmful spirit from God is tormenting you.16Let our lord now command your servants who are before you to seek out a man who is skillful in playing the lyre, and when the harmful spirit from God is upon you, he will play it, and you will be well.” (1Sa 16:21; 1Sa 18:10; 1Sa 19:9; 1Ki 10:8; 2Ki 3:15)17So Saul said to his servants, “Provide for me a man who can play well and bring him to me.”18One of the young men answered, “Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a man of good presence, and the Lord is with him.” (1Sa 3:19; 1Sa 17:32; 1Sa 17:34; 1Sa 18:12; 1Sa 18:14)19Therefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me David your son, who is with the sheep.” (1Sa 16:11; 1Sa 17:15; 1Sa 17:34)20And Jesse took a donkey laden with bread and a skin of wine and a young goat and sent them by David his son to Saul. (1Sa 17:18)21And David came to Saul and entered his service. And Saul loved him greatly, and he became his armor-bearer. (1Sa 16:16)22And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, “Let David remain in my service, for he has found favor in my sight.”23And whenever the harmful spirit from God was upon Saul, David took the lyre and played it with his hand. So Saul was refreshed and was well, and the harmful spirit departed from him. (1Sa 16:14; 1Sa 16:16)