1 SamuelChapter 16

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¹The LORD said to Samuel, "How long will you be sad for Saul? I have rejected him as king over Israel. Fill your horn with oil and go. I'm sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king for me." ²"How can I go?" Samuel asked. "Saul will hear about it and kill me!" The LORD answered, "Take a young cow with you. Say, 'I have come to offer a sacrifice to the LORD.' ³Then invite Jesse to the sacrifice. I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one I point out to you." ⁴So Samuel did what the LORD said and went to Bethlehem. The elders of the town came to meet him. They were shaking with fear. They asked, "Have you come in peace?" ⁵"Yes, in peace," he said. "I have come to offer a sacrifice to the LORD. Make yourselves holy and come with me to the sacrifice." Then he made Jesse and his sons holy. And he invited them to the sacrifice. ⁶When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab. He said, "Surely this is the LORD's anointed one standing here before him." ⁷But the LORD said to Samuel, "Don't look at how he looks or how tall he is. I have rejected him. The LORD does not see the way people see. People look at the outside, but the LORD looks at the heart." ⁸Then Jesse called Abinadab and brought him to Samuel. But Samuel said, "The LORD has not chosen this one either." ⁹Next Jesse brought Shammah. But Samuel said, "The LORD has not chosen this one either." ¹⁰Jesse had seven of his sons walk past Samuel. But Samuel told him, "The LORD has not chosen any of these." ¹¹Samuel asked him, "Are these all the sons you have?" "There's still the youngest," Jesse said. "But he's taking care of the sheep." "Send for him," Samuel said. "We won't sit down to eat until he gets here." ¹²So Jesse sent for his youngest son and brought him in. He had a healthy, reddish glow. He had beautiful eyes and was handsome. The LORD said, "Get up and anoint him. He is the one." ¹³So Samuel took the horn of oil. He anointed David in front of his brothers. From that day on, the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David with power. Then Samuel left and went to Ramah. ¹⁴Now the Spirit of the LORD left Saul. And a troubling spirit from the LORD began to torment him. ¹⁵Saul's servants said to him, "A troubling spirit from God is tormenting you. ¹⁶Let our master give an order to us, your servants. We will look for someone who can play the harp well. When the troubling spirit from God comes on you, he will play. Then you will feel well." ¹⁷So Saul ordered his servants, "Find me someone who plays well. Bring him to me." ¹⁸One of the servants answered, "I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the harp. He is a brave and mighty man and a warrior. He speaks well and is handsome. And the LORD is with him." ¹⁹So Saul sent messengers to Jesse. He said, "Send me your son David, who is with the sheep." ²⁰So Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a skin bag of wine, and one young goat. He sent them to Saul with his son David. ²¹David came to Saul and began to serve him. Saul loved him very much. David became the one who carried Saul's armor. ²²Then Saul sent a message to Jesse. He said, "Let David stay and serve me. I am pleased with him." ²³Whenever the spirit from God came on Saul, David would pick up his harp and play. Then Saul would find relief and feel better. And the troubling spirit would leave him.