Samuel Anoints David
1The Lord said to Samuel, “How long are you going to mourn for Saul,16:1 1Sm 15:35 since I have rejected him as king over Israel?16:1 1Sm 13:13–14; 15:23 Fill your horn with oil16:1 1Sm 9:16; 10:1; 2Kg 9:1 and go. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem16:1 Ru 4:17–22 because I have selected for myself a king from his sons.”
2Samuel asked, “How can I go? Saul will hear about it and kill me!”
The Lord answered, “Take a young cow with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’16:2 1Sm 20:29
3Then invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will let you know what you are to do.16:3 Ex 4:15; Ac 9:6 You are to anoint for me the one I indicate to you.”16:3 Dt 17:14–15; 1Sm 9:16
7But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or his stature because I have rejected him. Humans do not see what the Lord sees,16:7 LXX reads God does not see as a man sees for humans see what is visible, but the Lord sees the heart.”16:7 1Kg 8:39; Jr 17:10; Lk 16:15; Jn 2:24–25
8Jesse called Abinadab16:8 1Sm 17:13 and presented him to Samuel. “The Lord hasn’t chosen this one either,” Samuel said.
9Then Jesse presented Shammah,16:9 1Sm 17:13 but Samuel said, “The Lord hasn’t chosen this one either.”
10After Jesse presented seven of his sons to him, Samuel told Jesse, “The Lord hasn’t chosen any of these.”
11Samuel asked him, “Are these all the sons you have?”
“There is still the youngest,”16:11 1Sm 17:12; 2Sm 13:3 he answered, “but right now he’s tending the sheep.” Samuel told Jesse, “Send for him. We won’t sit down to eat until he gets here.”
Then the Lord said, “Anoint him, for he is the one.”16:12 1Sm 9:17
13So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him16:13 1Sm 10:1 in the presence of his brothers, and the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully on David from that day forward.16:13 Ps 51:10–12; Ezk 36:27; Ac 2:1–17 Then Samuel set out and went to Ramah.
David in Saul’s Court
14Now the Spirit of the Lord had left Saul,16:14 1Sm 11:6; 18:12; 28:15 and an evil spirit sent from the Lord began to torment him,
15so Saul’s servants said to him, “You see that an evil spirit from God is tormenting you.
17Then Saul commanded his servants, “Find me someone who plays well and bring him to me.”
18One of the young men answered, “I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the lyre. He is also a valiant man,16:18 1Sm 17:32–36 a warrior, eloquent, handsome, and the Lord is with him.”16:18 1Sm 3:19; 18:12–14
19Then Saul dispatched messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.”
20So Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a wineskin, and one young goat and sent them by his son David to Saul.16:20 1Sm 10:4,27; Pr 18:16
21When David came to Saul16:21 Gn 41:46; Pr 22:29 and entered his service, Saul loved him very much, and David became his armor-bearer.
22Then Saul sent word to Jesse: “Let David remain in my service, for he has found favor with me.”
23Whenever the spirit from God came on Saul,16:23 1Sm 16:14–16 David would pick up his lyre and play, and Saul would then be relieved, feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him.
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