1 Samuel 16
16
Samuel Goes to Bethlehem
1The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you feel sorry for Saul? I have rejected him as king of Israel. Fill your horn#16:1 horn An animal’s horn is hollow and often used like a bottle. with oil and go to Bethlehem. I am sending you to Jesse who lives in Bethlehem, because I have chosen one of his sons to be the new king.”
2But Samuel said, “If I go, Saul will hear the news and try to kill me.”
The Lord said, “Go to Bethlehem. Take a young calf with you and tell them, ‘I have come to make a sacrifice to the Lord.’ 3Invite Jesse to the sacrifice. Then I will show you what to do. You must anoint the person I show you.”
4Samuel did what the Lord told him to do and went to Bethlehem. The elders of Bethlehem shook with fear. They met Samuel and asked, “Do you come in peace?”
5Samuel answered, “Yes, I come in peace. I come to make a sacrifice to the Lord. Prepare yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me.” Samuel prepared Jesse and his sons. Then he invited them to come and share the sacrifice.
6When Jesse and his sons arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely this is the man who the Lord has chosen.”
7But the Lord said to Samuel, “Eliab is tall and handsome, but don’t judge by things like that. God doesn’t look at what people see. People judge by what is on the outside, but the Lord looks at the heart. Eliab is not the right man.”
8Then Jesse called his second son, Abinadab. Abinadab walked by Samuel. But Samuel said, “No, this is not the man who the Lord chose.”
9Then Jesse told Shammah to walk by Samuel. But Samuel said, “No, the Lord did not choose this man, either.”
10Jesse showed seven of his sons to Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen any of these men.”
11Then he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?”
Jesse answered, “No, I have another son—my youngest, but he is out taking care of the sheep.”
Samuel said, “Send for him. Bring him here. We won’t sit down to eat until he arrives.”
12Jesse sent someone to get his youngest son. This son was a good-looking, healthy#16:12 healthy The Hebrew word means “red,” “ruddy,” or “red-haired.” young man. He was very handsome.
The Lord said to Samuel, “Get up and anoint him. He is the one.”
13Samuel took the horn with the oil in it, and poured the special oil on Jesse’s youngest son in front of his brothers. The Spirit of the Lord came on David with great power from that day on. Then Samuel went back home to Ramah.
An Evil Spirit Bothers Saul
14The Lord’s Spirit left Saul. Then the Lord sent an evil spirit to Saul that caused him much trouble. 15Saul’s servants said to him, “An evil spirit from God is bothering you. 16Give us the command and we will look for someone who can play the harp. If the evil spirit from God comes on you, this person will play music for you. Then you will feel better.”
17So Saul said to his servants, “Find someone who plays music well and bring him to me.”
18One of the servants said, “There is a man named Jesse living in Bethlehem. I saw Jesse’s son. He knows how to play the harp. He is also a brave man and fights well. He is smart and handsome, and the Lord is with him.”
19So Saul sent messengers to Jesse. They told Jesse, “You have a son named David. He takes care of your sheep. Send him to me.”
20So Jesse got some things as a gift for Saul. Jesse got a donkey, some bread and a leather bag full of wine, and a young goat. He gave them to David and sent him to Saul. 21So David went to Saul and stood in front of him. Saul loved David very much. David became the helper who carried Saul’s weapons. 22Saul sent a message to Jesse. “Let David stay and serve me. I like him very much.”
23Any time the evil spirit from God came on Saul, David would take his harp and play it. The evil spirit would leave Saul and he would begin to feel better.
Currently Selected:
1 Samuel 16: ERV
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
© 1987, 2004 Bible League International
1 Samuel 16
16
David Is Anointed
1Then Yahweh said to Samuel, “How long#Literally “Until when” will you mourn about Saul? I have rejected him from being king over Israel! Fill up your horn with oil and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have chosen a king for myself among his sons.” 2But Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears, he will kill me.” Yahweh said, “You must take a heifer from the herd with you,#Literally “in/with your hand” and you must say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to Yahweh.’ 3You will invite Jesse to the sacrifice and I will make known to you what you must do. You will anoint for me the one whom I tell you.”
4So Samuel did what Yahweh said. He came to Bethlehem, and the elders of the city came trembling to meet him. They said, “Have you come in peace?”#Literally “Is your coming peace?” 5He said, “I come in peace. I have come to sacrifice to Yahweh. Sanctify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” So he sanctified Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.
6When they came,#Literally “And it happened at their coming” he#That is, Samuel saw Eliab and said, “Surely his anointed one is before Yahweh!” 7But Yahweh said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For God does not see what man sees, for a man looks on the outward appearance,#Literally “sees as far as the eyes” but Yahweh looks on the heart.”#Literally “sees as far as the heart” 8Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel, and he said, “This one also Yahweh has not chosen.” 9So Jesse made Shammah pass before Samuel, but he said, “Yahweh also has not chosen this one.” 10And Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to Jesse, “Yahweh has not chosen any of these.”
11Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all the young men here?”#Literally “Are the boys finished?” And he said, “The youngest still remains, but look, he is shepherding the flock.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him, for we cannot sit down#Literally “turn”; for “sit down” see HALOT 739 s.v. 2.c until he comes here.” 12So he sent and brought him. Now he was ruddy with beautiful eyes and of handsome#Literally “good” appearance. And Yahweh said, “Arise, anoint him, for this is he.” 13So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. Then the Spirit of Yahweh rushed upon David from that day on.#Literally “and forward” Then Samuel got up and went to Ramah.
Saul in Torment
14Now the Spirit of Yahweh departed from Saul and an evil spirit from Yahweh tormented him. 15So the servants of Saul said to him, “Look please, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you. 16Please, let our lord command your servants who are before you! Let them seek a man skilled in playing on the lyre. When#Literally “And it will happen that” the evil spirit from God is upon you, he can play on it#Literally “with his hand” and you will feel better.”#Literally “and it will be good for you” 17So Saul said to his servants, “Please select a man who plays a stringed instrument well#Literally “doing well to play a stringed instrument” and bring him to me.”
18One of the servants answered and said, “Look, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who is skillful in playing a stringed instrument, a brave man, a warrior, prudent in speech, and handsome.#Literally “a hero of ability, a man of war, discerning of word, and a man of appearance” And Yahweh is with him.” 19So Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me David your son who is with the sheep.” 20And Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread and a skin of wine and one young goat#Literally “kid of a goat” and sent them to Saul by the hand of David his son. 21So David came to Saul and entered his service.#Literally “stood before him” He#That is, Saul loved him greatly and he became Saul’s armor bearer.#Literally “he became for him a carrier of weapons” 22Then Saul sent word to Jesse, saying, “Please let David stand before me, because he has found favor in my sight.”#Literally “in my eyes” 23So whenever the evil spirit from God came to Saul, David would take the stringed instrument and play it with his hand. Then it would bring relief#Literally “it would be relieved” for Saul; he would feel better#Literally “it would be good for him” and the evil spirit would depart from him.
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
2010 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software