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. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.”
2But Samuel said, “If I go, Saul will hear the news. And he 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 show 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. Make yourselves holy for the Lord and come to the sacrifice with me.” Then he made Jesse and his sons holy for the Lord. And he invited them to come to the sacrifice.
6When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab. Samuel 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. Don’t look at how tall he is. 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. He is the one.”
13So Samuel took the container of olive oil. Then he poured oil on Jesse’s youngest son to appoint him in front of his brothers. From that day on, the Lord’s Spirit entered David with power. Samuel then went back to Ramah.
David Serves Saul
14But the Lord’s Spirit had gone out of 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. We will look for someone who can play the harp. When the evil spirit from the Lord enters you, he will play. Then the evil spirit will leave you alone. And you will feel better.”
17So Saul said to his servants, “Find someone. If he plays well, bring him to me.”
18One of the servants said, “Jesse of Bethlehem has a son who plays the harp. I have seen him play it. He is a brave man and fights well. He is a good speaker and handsome. And the Lord is with him.”
19Then Saul sent messengers to Jesse. The message said, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.” 20So Jesse loaded a donkey with bread and a leather bag full of wine. He also took a young goat. He sent them all with his son David to Saul.
21When David came to Saul, he began to serve him. Saul loved David very much. And David became the officer who carried Saul’s armor. 22Saul sent a message to Jesse. He said, “Let David stay and serve me. I like him.”
23When the evil spirit from God entered Saul, David would take his harp and play. Then the evil spirit would go out of him. And Saul would feel relief. He would feel better again.
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1 Samuel 16: ICB
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Copyright © 2015 by Tommy Nelson™, a Division of Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
1 Samuel 16
16
Samuel Anoints David
1The Lord said to Samuel, “How long are you going to mourn for Saul,#1Sm 15:35 since I have rejected him as king over Israel?#1Sm 13:13–14; 15:23 Fill your horn with oil#1Sm 9:16; 10:1; 2Kg 9:1 and go. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem#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.’#1Sm 20:29 3Then invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will let you know what you are to do.#Ex 4:15; Ac 9:6 You are to anoint for me the one I indicate to you.”#Dt 17:14–15; 1Sm 9:16
4Samuel did what the Lord directed and went to Bethlehem.#Gn 48:7; Lk 2:4 When the elders of the town met him, they trembled#16:4 LXX reads were astonished and asked, “Do#16:4 DSS, LXX read “Seer, do you come in peace?” #1Kg 2:13; 2Kg 9:22; 1Ch 12:17–18
5“In peace,” he replied. “I’ve come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves#Gn 35:2; Ex 19:10 and come with me to the sacrifice.”#16:5 LXX reads and rejoice with me today Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. 6When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab#1Sm 17:13 and said, “Certainly the Lord’s anointed one is here before him.”
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.”#1Kg 8:39; Jr 17:10; Lk 16:15; Jn 2:24–25
8Jesse called Abinadab#1Sm 17:13 and presented him to Samuel. “The Lord hasn’t chosen this one either,” Samuel said. 9Then Jesse presented Shammah,#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,”#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.” 12So Jesse sent for him. He had beautiful eyes and a healthy,#16:12 Or ruddy handsome appearance.#1Sm 17:42
Then the Lord said, “Anoint him, for he is the one.”#1Sm 9:17 13So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him#1Sm 10:1 in the presence of his brothers, and the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully on David from that day forward.#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,#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. 16Let our lord command your servants here in your presence to look for someone who knows how to play the lyre. Whenever the evil spirit from God comes on you, that person can play the lyre, and you will feel better.”#1Sm 18:10; 19:9; 2Kg 3:15
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,#1Sm 17:32–36 a warrior, eloquent, handsome, and the Lord is with him.”#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.#1Sm 10:4,27; Pr 18:16 21When David came to Saul#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,#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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