^7 (A)But Saul said to his servant, “If we go, what can we offer the man? The food in our bags has run out; we have no present to give the man of God. What else do we have?” ⁸ Again the servant answered Saul, “I have a quarter shekel of silver.^[a] If I give that to the man of God, he will advise us about the journey.”

³ Farther on, when you arrive at the oak of Tabor,^[a] three men will meet you as they go up to God at Bethel; one will be bringing three young goats, another three loaves of bread, and the third a skin of wine. ⁴ They will greet you and offer you two elevated offerings of bread, which you should accept from them.

Chapter 16

Samuel Is Sent to Bethlehem. ^1 (A)The Lord said to Samuel: How long will you grieve for Saul, whom I have rejected as king of Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and be on your way. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem, for from among his sons I have decided on a king.^[a]

¹⁷ Now Jesse said to his son David: “Take this ephah of roasted grain and these ten loaves for your brothers, and bring them quickly to your brothers in the camp. ¹⁸ Also take these ten cheeses for the field officer. Greet your brothers and bring home some token from them. ¹⁹ Saul and your brothers, together with all Israel, are at war with the Philistines in the valley of the Elah.”