1 Samuel 16
16
Samuel Goes to Bethlehem
1The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you continue to feel sorry for Saul? I have rejected him as king of Israel. Fill your container with olive oil and go. I am sending you to Jesse who lives in Bethlehem, because I have chosen one of his sons to be king.”
2But Samuel said, “If I go, Saul will hear the news and will try to kill me.”
The Lord said, “Take a young calf with you. Say, ‘I have come to offer a sacrifice to the Lord.’ 3Invite Jesse to the sacrifice. Then I will tell you what to do. You must appoint the one I show you.”
4Samuel did what the Lord told him to do. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of Bethlehem shook with fear. They met him and asked, “Are you coming in peace?”
5Samuel answered, “Yes, I come in peace. I have come to make a sacrifice to the Lord. Set yourselves apart to the Lord and come to the sacrifice with me.” Then he set Jesse and his sons apart to the Lord, and he invited them to come to the sacrifice.
6When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab, and he thought, “Surely the Lord has appointed this person standing here before him.”
7But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t look at how handsome Eliab is or how tall he is, because I have not chosen him. God does not see the same way people see. People look at the outside of a person, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
8Then Jesse called Abinadab and told him to pass by Samuel. But Samuel said, “The Lord has not chosen this man either.” 9Then Jesse had Shammah pass by. But Samuel said, “No, the Lord has not chosen this one.” 10Jesse had seven of his sons pass by Samuel. But Samuel said to him, “The Lord has not chosen any of these.”
11Then he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?”
Jesse answered, “I still have the youngest son. He is out taking care of the sheep.”
Samuel said, “Send for him. We will not sit down to eat until he arrives.”
12So Jesse sent and had his youngest son brought in. He was a fine boy, tanned, and handsome.
The Lord said to Samuel, “Go, appoint him, because he is the one.”
13So Samuel took the container of olive oil and poured it on Jesse’s youngest son to appoint him in front of his brothers. From that day on, the Lord’s Spirit worked in David. Samuel then went back to Ramah.
David Serves Saul
14But the Lord’s Spirit had left Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him.
15Saul’s servants said to him, “See, an evil spirit from God is troubling you. 16Give us the command to look for someone who can play the harp. When the evil spirit from God troubles you, he will play, and you will feel better.”
17So Saul said to his servants, “Find someone who can play well and bring him to me.”
18One of the servants said, “I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem play the harp. He is brave and courageous. He is a good speaker and handsome, and the Lord is with him.”
19Then Saul sent messengers to Jesse, saying, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.” 20So Jesse loaded a donkey with bread, a leather bag full of wine, and a young goat, and he sent them with his son David to Saul.
21When David came to Saul, he began to serve him. Saul liked David and made him the officer who carried his armor. 22Saul sent a message to Jesse, saying, “Let David stay and serve me because I like him.”
23When the evil spirit from God troubled Saul, David would take his harp and play. Then the evil spirit would leave him, and Saul would feel better.
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1 Samuel 16: NCV
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The Holy Bible, New Century Version, Copyright © 2005 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.
1 Samuel 16
16
Samuel Anoints David as King
1#1Sa 15:23; 15:35The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him from ruling over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have chosen a king for Myself from among his sons.”
2#1Sa 9:12; 20:29Samuel 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.’ 3#1Sa 9:16; Ex 4:15Call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you will do. And you will anoint for Me him whom I tell to you.”
4#1Ki 2:13; 2Ki 9:22Samuel did that which the Lord spoke, and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, “Do you come in peace?”
5#Ex 19:10; Jos 3:5And he said, “I have come in peace to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice.” And he consecrated Jesse and his sons and called them to the sacrifice.
6#1Sa 17:13When they came, he looked on Eliab, and said, “Surely the anointed of the Lord is before Him.”
7#1Ki 8:39; 1Ch 28:9But 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. For man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
8#1Sa 17:13Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” 9#1Sa 17:13Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” 10So Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen these.” 11#2Sa 7:8; Ps 78:70–71Samuel said to Jesse, “Are these all your young men?”
And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, and there he is shepherding the flock.”
Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him, for we will not sit down until he comes here.”
12#1Sa 9:17; 17:42So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy with beautiful eyes and a good appearance.
And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him, for this is he.”
13#1Sa 10:1; 10:6Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the Lord came on David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah.
David Serves Saul
14#Jdg 9:23; 1Sa 18:10Now the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul and an evil spirit from the Lord terrified him.
15So the servants of Saul said to him, “See, an evil spirit from God troubles you. 16#2Ki 3:15; 1Sa 16:21–23Let our lord now tell your servants, who are before you, that they might seek out a man experienced in playing the lyre. And it will come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is on you, that he will play with his hand, and you will be well.”
17Saul said to his servants, “Find me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me.”
18#1Sa 3:19; 17:32–36Then one from the servants answered, and said, “I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is experienced in playing music, a mighty man of valor, a man of battle, and skillful in words, even a man of fine appearance. And the Lord is with him.”
19#1Sa 16:11; 17:15Therefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse, and said, “Send me David your son, who is with the sheep.” 20#1Sa 10:27; Pr 18:16Jesse took a donkey laden with bread, a bottle of wine, and a young goat and he sent them with his son David to Saul.
21#Ge 41:46; Pr 22:29David came to Saul, and stood before him. And Saul loved him greatly and he became his armor bearer. 22Saul sent to Jesse, saying, “Let David stand before me, for he has found favor in my sight.”
23It happened that when the evil spirit from God came on Saul, David would take the lyre in his hand and play. So Saul was refreshed and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.
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