Samuel Goes to Bethlehem
1 The Lordsaid to Samuel, “How long will you grieve for Saul, when I have rejected him as king over Israel?Fill 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.”
2 But Samuel said, “How can I go? When Saul hearsabout it, he will kill me.” And the Lordsaid, “Take a heifer from the herd with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’
3 You shall invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do [after that]; and you shall anoint for Me the one whom I designate.”
4 So Samuel did what the Lordsaid, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the city came trembling to meet him and said, “Do you come in peace?”
5 And he said, “In peace; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” He also consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.
6 So it happened, when they had come, he looked at Eliab [the eldest son] and thought, “Surely the Lord’sanointed is before Him.”
7 But the Lordsaid to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lordsees not as man sees; for man looksat the outward appearance, but the Lordlooks at the heart.”
8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass before Samuel. But Samuel said, “The Lordhas not chosen this one either.”
9 Next Jesse had Shammah pass by. And Samuel said, “The Lordhas not chosen him either.”
10 Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lordhas not chosen [any of] these.”
11 Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” Jesse replied, “There is still one left, the youngest; he is tending the sheep.” Samuel said to Jesse, “Sendwordand bring him; because we will not sit down [to eat the sacrificial meal] until he comes here.”
David Anointed
12 So Jesse sentwordand brought him in. Now he had a ruddy complexion, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance. The Lordsaid [to Samuel], “Arise, anoint him; for this is he.”
13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed David in the presence of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lordcame mightily upon David from that day forward. And Samuel arose and went to Ramah.
14 Now the Spirit of the Lorddeparted from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord tormentedandterrified him.
15 Saul’s servants said to him, “Behold, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you.
16 Let our lord now command your servants who are here before you to find a man who plays skillfully on the harp; and when the evil spirit from God is on you, he shall playthe harpwith his hand, and you will be well.”
17 So Saul told his servants, “Find me a man who plays well and bring him to me.”
18 One of the young men said, “Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who is a skillful musician, a braveandcompetent man, a warrior, discerning (prudent, eloquent) in speech, and a handsome man; and the Lordis with him.”
19 So Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me David your son, who is with the flock.”
20 Jesse took a donkey [loaded with] bread and a jug of wine and a young goat, and sent them to Saul with David his son.
21 Then David came to Saul and attended him. Saul loved him greatly and [later] David became his armor bearer.
22 Saul sentwordto Jesse, saying, “Please let Davidbe my attendant, for he has found favor in my sight.”
23 So it came about that whenever the [evil] spirit from God was on Saul, David took a harp and played it with his hand; so Saul would be refreshed and be well, and the evil spirit would leave him.