1 Samuel 16
16
David Chosen to Be King
1The Lord asked Samuel, “How long are you going to mourn for Saul now that I have rejected him as king of Israel? Fill a flask with olive oil and go. I’m sending you to Jesse in Bethlehem because I’ve selected one of his sons to be king.”
2“How can I go?” Samuel asked. “When Saul hears about it, he’ll kill me.”
The Lord said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I’ve come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ 3Invite Jesse to the sacrifice. I will reveal to you what you should do, and you will anoint for me the one I point out to you.”
4Samuel did what the Lord told him. When he came to Bethlehem, the leaders of the city, trembling with fear, greeted him and said, “May peace be with you.”
5“Greetings,” he replied, “I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Perform the ceremonies to make yourselves holy, and come with me to the sacrifice.” He performed the ceremonies for Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. 6When they came, he saw Eliab and thought, “Certainly, here in the Lord’s presence is his anointed king.”
7But the Lord told Samuel, “Don’t look at his appearance or how tall he is, because I have rejected him. God does not see as humans see.#16:7 Greek; Masoretic Text “Not that which humans see.” Humans look at outward appearances, but the Lord looks into the heart.”
8Then Jesse called Abinadab and brought him to Samuel. But Samuel said, “The Lord has not chosen this one either.”
9Then Jesse had Shammah come to Samuel. “The Lord has not chosen this one either,” Samuel said. 10So Jesse brought seven ⌞more⌟ of his sons to Samuel, but Samuel told Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen ⌞any of⌟ these. 11Are these all the sons you have?”
“There’s still the youngest one,” Jesse answered. “He’s tending the sheep.”
Samuel told Jesse, “Send someone to get him. We won’t continue until he gets here.”
12So Jesse sent for him. He had a healthy complexion, attractive eyes, and a handsome appearance. The Lord said, “Go ahead, anoint him. He is the one.” 13Samuel took the flask of olive oil and anointed David in the presence of his brothers. The Lord’s Spirit came over David and stayed with him from that day on. Then Samuel left for Ramah.
David Plays the Lyre for Saul
14Now, the Lord’s Spirit had left Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord tormented him. 15Saul’s officials told him, “An evil spirit from God is tormenting you. 16Your Majesty, why don’t you command us to look for a man who can play the lyre well? When the evil spirit from God comes to you, he’ll strum a tune, and you’ll feel better.”
17Saul told his officials, “Please find me a man who can play well and bring him to me.”
18One of the officials said, “I know one of Jesse’s sons from Bethlehem who can play well. He’s a courageous man and a warrior. He has a way with words, he is handsome, and the Lord is with him.”
19Saul sent messengers to Jesse to say, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.”
20Jesse took six bushels of bread, a full wineskin, and a young goat and sent them with his son David to Saul. 21David came to Saul and served him. Saul loved him very much and made David his armorbearer. 22Saul sent ⌞this message⌟ to Jesse, “Please let David stay with me because I have grown fond of him.”
23Whenever God’s spirit came to Saul, David took the lyre and strummed a tune. Saul got relief ⌞from his terror⌟ and felt better, and the evil spirit left him.
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1 Samuel 16: GW
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GOD'S WORD® Translation ©1995, 2003, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2020 by God's Word to the Nations Mission Society. All rights reserved.
1 Samuel 16
16
Samuel Anoints David as King
1The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him from ruling over Israel? # 1Sa 15:23, 35 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.”
2Samuel 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.’ # 1Sa 9:12; 20:29 3Call 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.” # Ex 4:15; 1Sa 9:16
4Samuel 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?” # 1Ki 2:13; 2Ki 9:22
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 # Ex 19:10; Jos 3:5 and called them to the sacrifice.
6When they came, he looked on Eliab, # 1Sa 17:13 and said, “Surely the anointed of the Lord is before Him.”
7But 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 men see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” # 1Ki 8:39; 1Ch 28:9
8Then Jesse called Abinadab, # 1Sa 17:13 and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” 9Then Jesse made Shammah # 1Sa 17:13 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.” 11Samuel said to Jesse, “Are these all your young men?”
And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, and behold, there he is shepherding the flock.” # 2Sa 7:8; Ps 78:70–71
Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him, for we will not sit down until he comes here.”
12So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy with beautiful eyes and a good appearance. # 1Sa 17:42
And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him, for this is he.” # 1Sa 9:17
13Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him # 1Sa 10:1 in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the Lord came on David # 1Sa 10:6 from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah.
David Serves Saul
14Now the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul and an evil spirit from the Lord terrified him. # Jdg 9:23; 1Sa 18:10; Ps 51:11
15So the servants of Saul said to him, “Behold, an evil spirit from God troubles you. 16Let our lord now tell your servants, who are before you, that they might seek out a man experienced in playing the lyre. # 2Ki 3:15 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.” # 1Sa 16:21–23
17Saul said to his servants, “Find for me now a man who can play well, and bring him to me.”
18Then one from the servants answered, and said, “Behold, 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.” # 1Sa 3:19; 17:32–36
19Therefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse, and said, “Send me David your son, who is with the sheep.” # 1Sa 16:11; 17:15 20Jesse took a donkey laden with bread, a bottle of wine, and a young goat # 1Sa 10:27; Pr 18:16 and he sent them with his son David to Saul.
21David came to Saul, and stood before him. # Ge 41:46; Pr 22:29 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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The Holy Bible, Modern English Version
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