1 Samuel Chapter 16

David Anointed King

¹ Yahveh said to Samuel,

“How long are you going to grieve over Saul? I’ve set him aside from being king. Fill your horn with olive oil and go to Jesse of Bethlehem. I’ve selected a king from his sons.”

² Samuel said, “How can I go there? When Saul hears about it, he’ll kill me.”

“Take a heifer with you and say you’ve come to sacrifice to Yahveh. ³ Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I’ll show you what to do. Anoint the one I specify.”

⁴ Samuel went to Bethlehem. The city elders came trembling, “Are you coming in peace?”

⁵ “Yes, I’ve come to sacrifice to Yahveh. Consecrate yourselves and go with me to the sacrifice.” He consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

1 Sam 16:1-5

⁶ When they came in, Samuel looked at Eliab and thought, “Surely that’s Yahveh’s anointed.”

⁷ But Yahveh said, “Don’t look at his height or appearance. I haven’t chosen him. I don’t see like people do. They look at appearance; I^Y look at hearts.”

⁸ Then Jesse called Abinadab and presented him to Samuel.

He said, “Yahveh hasn’t chosen this one either.”

⁹ Next, Jesse presented Shammah.

He said, “Yahveh hasn’t chosen this one either.”

¹⁰ Jesse presented seven of his sons, but Samuel told Jesse, “Yahveh hasn’t chosen any of these. ¹¹ Are they all your young men?”

“There’s still the youngest. He’s tending sheep.”

 “Send for him; we won’t sit down till he gets here.”

¹² He sent and brought him in, a barefaced young man with bright eyes and handsome features.

Yahveh said, “Anoint him; he’s the one.”

¹³ Samuel took the horn of olive oil and anointed David in front of his brothers, and the Spirit of Yahveh stirred him powerfully from then on. Samuel went to Ramah.

1 Sam 16:6-13

David in Saul’s Service

¹⁴ The Spirit of Yahveh left Saul, and a tormenting spirit from Yahveh started coming on him. ¹⁵ His servants told him. “A tormenting spirit from God is coming on you. ¹⁶ Have us look for a man that’s good at playing a harp so you’ll feel better.”

¹⁷ So Saul said, “Bring me a man like that.”

¹⁸ One young man answered, “I’ve seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem that’s a good musician as well as a brave man, a soldier, prudent in speech, and a handsome fellow. Yahveh is with him.”

¹⁹ Saul sent messengers to Jesse, “Send me your son David that tends your flock.”

²⁰ Jesse took a young goat, a donkey loaded with bread, and a jug of wine, and sent them to Saul with David. ²¹ He went to Saul and became his attendant. Saul liked him and made him his armor bearer.

²² Saul sent to Jesse, “Let David remain with me. I like him.” ²³ Whenever a tormenting spirit from God came over Saul, David would take his harp and play it. Saul would be refreshed and feel better. The tormenting spirit would go away.         

1 Sam 16:14-23