1 Samuel 16
16
Samuel anoints David
1The LORD said to Samuel, “How long are you going to grieve over Saul? I have rejected him as king over Israel. Fill your horn with oil and get going. I’m sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem because I have found#16.1 Or seen my next king among his sons.”
2“How can I do that?” Samuel asked. “When Saul hears of it he’ll kill me!”
“Take a heifer with you,” the LORD replied, “and say, ‘I have come to make a sacrifice to the LORD.’ 3Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will make clear to you what you should do. You will anoint for me the person I point out to you.”
4Samuel did what the LORD instructed. When he came to Bethlehem, the city elders came to meet him. They were shaking with fear. “Do you come in peace?” they asked.
5“Yes,” Samuel answered. “I’ve come to make a sacrifice to the LORD. Now make yourselves holy, then come with me to the sacrifice.” Samuel made Jesse and his sons holy and invited them to the sacrifice as well.
6When they arrived, Samuel looked at Eliab and thought, That must be the LORD’s anointed right in front.
7But the LORD said to Samuel, “Have no regard for his appearance or stature, because I haven’t selected him. God#16.7 LXX; MT lacks God. doesn’t look at things like humans do. Humans see only what is visible to the eyes, but the LORD sees into the heart.”
8Next Jesse called for Abinadab, who presented himself to Samuel, but he said, “The LORD hasn’t chosen this one either.” 9So Jesse presented Shammah, but Samuel said, “No, the LORD hasn’t chosen this one.” 10Jesse presented seven of his sons to Samuel, but Samuel said to Jesse, “The LORD hasn’t picked any of these.” 11Then Samuel asked Jesse, “Is that all of your boys?”
“There is still the youngest one,” Jesse answered, “but he’s out keeping the sheep.”
“Send for him,” Samuel told Jesse, “because we can’t proceed until he gets here.”#16.11 MT; LXX we won’t sit down (that is, to eat)
12So Jesse sent and brought him in. He was reddish brown, had beautiful eyes, and was good-looking. The LORD said, “That’s the one. Go anoint him.” 13So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him right there in front of his brothers. The LORD’s spirit came over David from that point forward.
Then Samuel left and went to Ramah.
David is introduced to Saul
14Now the LORD’s spirit had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him. 15Saul’s servants said to him, “Look, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you. 16If our master just says the word, your servants will search for someone who knows how to play the lyre. The musician can play whenever the evil spirit from God is affecting you, and then you’ll feel better.”
17Saul said to his servants, “Find me a good musician and bring him to me.”
18One of the servants responded, “I know that one of Jesse’s sons from Bethlehem is a good musician. He’s a strong man and heroic, a warrior who speaks well and is good-looking too. The LORD is with him.”
19So Saul sent messengers to Jesse to say, “Send me your son David, the one who keeps the sheep.”
20Jesse then took a donkey and loaded it with a homer of bread,#16.20 LXX a jar of wine, and a young goat, and he sent it along with his son David to Saul. 21That is how David came to Saul and entered his service. Saul liked David very much,#16.21 Or David liked Saul very much. and David became his armor-bearer. 22Saul sent a message to Jesse: “Please allow David to remain in my service because I am pleased with him.” 23Whenever the evil spirit from God affected Saul, David would take the lyre and play it. Then Saul would relax and feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him alone.
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1 Samuel 16: CEB
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2011 Common English Bible. All rights reserved.
1 Samuel 16
16
1And Jehovah said to Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thy horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite; for I have provided me a king among his sons. 2And Samuel said, How shall I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill me. And Jehovah said, Take a heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice to Jehovah. 3And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will tell thee what thou shalt do; and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I name unto thee. 4And Samuel did what Jehovah said, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the city came trembling to meet him, and said, Dost thou come peaceably? 5And he said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice to Jehovah. Hallow yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he hallowed Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.
6And it came to pass when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely Jehovah's anointed is before him. 7But Jehovah said to Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have rejected him; for it is not as man seeth; for man looketh upon the outward appearance, but Jehovah looketh upon the heart. 8Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither has Jehovah chosen this one. 9Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, Neither has Jehovah chosen this one. 10And Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, Jehovah has not chosen these. 11And Samuel said to Jesse, Are these all the young men? And he said, There is yet the youngest remaining, and behold, he is feeding the sheep. And Samuel said to Jesse, Send and fetch him; for we will not sit at table till he come hither. 12And he sent and brought him in. And he was ruddy, and besides of a lovely countenance and beautiful appearance. And Jehovah said, Arise, anoint him; for this is he. 13And Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren. And the Spirit of Jehovah came upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.
14And the Spirit of Jehovah departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from Jehovah troubled him. 15And Saul's servants said to him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God#GodHebrew: Elohim troubles thee. 16Let our lord now speak; thy servants are before thee: they shall seek out a man, a skilful player on a harp; and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God#GodHebrew: Elohim is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well. 17And Saul said to his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me. 18And one of the young men answered and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skilled in playing, and he is a valiant man and a man of war, and skilled in speech, and of good presence, and Jehovah is with him. 19Then Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, Send me David thy son, who is with the sheep. 20And Jesse took an ass with bread, and a flask of wine, and a kid, and sent them by David his son to Saul. 21And David came to Saul, and stood before him; and he loved him greatly; and he became his armour-bearer. 22And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray thee, stand before me; for he has found favour in my sight. 23And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God#GodHebrew: Elohim was upon Saul, that David took the harp, and played with his hand; and Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.
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First published in 1890. This edition is maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.