God Sends Samuel to Jesse's Family
Study note
God told Samuel to stop mourning for Saul and to fill his horn with oil for anointing a new king from among Jesse's sons in Bethlehem. Samuel was afraid that Saul would kill him if he found out, so God told him to bring a cow for sacrifice as the reason for his visit. When Samuel arrived, the town elders were nervous, wondering if he came in peace. Samuel invited Jesse and his sons to the sacrifice.
1 The Lord said to Samuel, "How long are you going to keep mourning over Saul? I have rejected him as king over Israel. Fill your horn with olive oil and get moving. I am sending you to a man named Jesse in Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be the next king." And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Beth-lehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.
2 Samuel asked, "How can I possibly go? If Saul finds out, he will have me killed." The Lord said, "Bring a young cow along and say, 'I have come to offer a sacrifice to the Lord.'" And Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill me. And the LORD said, Take an heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice to the LORD.
3 "Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you exactly what to do. You will anoint the person I point out to you." And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will shew thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I name unto thee.
4 Samuel did what the Lord told him. When he arrived in Bethlehem, the town leaders came out trembling to meet him. They asked nervously, "Is everything all right? Do you come in peace?" And Samuel did that which the LORD spake, and came to Beth-lehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, Comest thou peaceably?
5 Samuel said, "Yes, everything is fine. I have come to offer a sacrifice to the Lord. Get yourselves ready and come join me." Then he specifically set apart Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. And he said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the LORD: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.
God Chooses David
Study note
When Samuel saw Jesse's oldest son Eliab, who was tall and handsome, he assumed this must be God's choice. But God told Samuel not to look at outward appearance, because God looks at the heart. This is one of the most important verses in the Bible about how God sees people. Seven of Jesse's sons passed before Samuel, and God rejected all of them. When Samuel asked if there were any more sons, Jesse mentioned the youngest, who was out watching the sheep. When David was brought in, he was healthy, handsome, and had bright eyes. God told Samuel, 'This is the one.' Samuel anointed David, and the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him from that day forward.
6 When they got there, Samuel took one look at Eliab and thought, "This has to be the one the Lord has chosen." And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD's anointed is before him.
7 But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance, or on 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 on the heart." But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.
8 Jesse called over his son Abinadab and had him walk in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, "The Lord has not picked this one either." Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this.
9 Jesse brought Shammah forward next. Samuel said, "The Lord has not picked this one either." Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this.
10 Jesse presented seven of his sons to Samuel one by one. Each time, Samuel said, "The Lord has not chosen any of these." Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen these.
11 Samuel asked Jesse, "Is this all the sons you have?" Jesse said, "Well, there is still the youngest. He is out in the fields watching the sheep." Samuel said, "Send someone to get him right now. We are not sitting down to eat until he is here." And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.
12 Jesse sent for him, and when David walked in, Samuel could see he was a healthy, good-looking young man with bright, lively eyes. The Lord spoke clearly: "Get up and anoint him. He is the one." And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.
13 Samuel took the horn of oil and poured it over David's head there in front of all his brothers. From that moment on, the Spirit of the Lord came over David with great power. Then Samuel packed up and headed back to Ramah. Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.
David Enters Saul's Service as a Musician
Study note
After the Spirit of the Lord left Saul, an evil spirit tormented him with fear and distress. Saul's servants suggested finding a skilled musician to play soothing music when the evil spirit troubled him. One servant recommended David, describing him as a talented musician, a brave warrior, a good speaker, and a handsome young man with the Lord's favor. Saul sent for David, who came and began serving him. When David played his harp, Saul found relief and the evil spirit would leave. The irony is powerful: the very person God chose to replace Saul was now serving in Saul's court.
14 Meanwhile, the Spirit of the Lord had left Saul completely. In its place, an evil spirit sent from the Lord began tormenting him. But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.
15 Saul's servants said to him, "It is obvious that an evil spirit from God is tormenting you." And Saul's servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee.
16 "Say the word, and we, your servants, will find someone who is good at playing the harp. When the evil spirit from God comes over you, the musician can play, and you will feel better." Let our lord now command thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on an harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well.
17 Saul told his servants, "Find me someone who is truly talented with the harp and bring him here." And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me.
18 One of the servants spoke up: "I know just the person. Jesse of Bethlehem has a son who plays the harp beautifully. He is also brave, a skilled fighter, well-spoken, handsome, and the Lord is clearly with him." Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Beth-lehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the LORD is with him.
19 Saul sent messengers to Jesse with a request: "Send me your son David, the one who watches the sheep." Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me David thy son, which is with the sheep.
20 Jesse loaded up a donkey with bread, a jug of wine, and a young goat, and sent them along with his son David to Saul. And Jesse took an ass laden with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a kid, and sent them by David his son unto Saul.
21 David arrived and entered Saul's service. Saul took a real liking to him, and David became one of Saul's personal armor-bearers. And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved him greatly; and he became his armourbearer.
22 Saul sent a message back to Jesse: "I would like David to stay in my service. I am very pleased with him." And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray thee, stand before me; for he hath found favour in my sight.
23 From then on, whenever the evil spirit from God came over Saul, David would pick up his harp and play. The music would bring Saul relief, and the evil spirit would leave him alone. And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.