FIRST SAMUEL

 

1 Samuel Chapter 16

1 ¶ Then the LORD said to Samuel, How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing that I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill your horn with oil, and go, I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have selected a king from among his sons.

2 And Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul hears of 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 And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do: and you shall anoint for me him whom I name to you.

4 And Samuel did what the LORD said, and went to Bethlehem. And his coming frightened the elders of the town, who asked, Have you come in peace?

5 And he answered, In peace: I have come to sacrifice to the LORD: consecrate yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons, and invited them to the sacrifice.

6 ¶ When they arrived, he saw Jesse’s son Eliab, and thought, Surely the LORD’S anointed is before me.

7 But the LORD said to Samuel, Do not look at his face, or at the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.

8 Then Jesse called Abinadab, and had him walk in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, The LORD has not chosen this one either.

9 Then Jesse had Shammah walk by. And he said, The LORD has not chosen this one either.

10 In turn, Jesse had seven of his sons to walk in front of Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, The LORD has not chosen these.

11 Then Samuel asked Jesse, Are all your children here? And he replied, There is still the youngest, who is keeping the sheep. And Samuel said to Jesse, Send someone and bring him here: for we will not sit down until he comes.

12 So Jesse sent for him. Now he had reddish hair, sparkling eyes, and a handsome appearance. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for he is the one.

13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brothers: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. And Samuel left, and went to Ramah.

14 ¶ But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.

15 So Saul’s servants said to him, Seeing that an evil spirit from God is now troubling you.

16 Let our lord command your servants, which are now here in your presence, to seek out a man, who is a skilled player on the harp: and then, when the evil spirit from God is upon you, he will play with his hand, and you will be well.

17 And Saul said to his servants, Find for me a man who plays well, and bring him to me.

18 Then one of the servants said, I saw a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who plays well, he is also a valiant man, a man of war, who is prudent in speech, and eloquent, and the LORD is with him.

19 Therefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse, and said, Send me David your son, who is with the sheep.

20 And Jesse took an donkey loaded with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a young goat, and sent them to Saul along with David his son.

21 And David came to Saul, and stood in front of him: and Saul was very fond of him; and he became his armor-bearer.

22 And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David remain with me; for he has found favor in my sight.

23 And whenever the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, David took a harp, and played it with his hand: and Saul would be relieved, and felt better, and the evil spirit left him.