28 Samuel said to him, “The Lord has torn the kingship of Israel away from you today(A) and has given it to your neighbor who is better than you.(B)

Read full chapter

Samuel Anoints David

16 The Lord said to Samuel, “How long are you going to mourn for Saul,(A) since I have rejected him as king over Israel?(B) Fill your horn with oil(C) and go. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem(D) because I have selected a king from his sons.”

Samuel asked, “How can I go? Saul will hear about it and kill me!”

The Lord answered, “Take a young cow with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’(E) Then invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will let you know what you are to do.(F) You are to anoint for Me the one I indicate to you.”(G)

Samuel did what the Lord directed and went to Bethlehem.(H) When the elders of the town met him, they trembled[a] and asked, “Do[b] you come in peace?”(I)

“In peace,” he replied. “I’ve come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves(J) and come with me to the sacrifice.”[c] Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab(K) and said, “Certainly the Lord’s anointed one is here before Him.”

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or his stature, because I have rejected him. Man does not see what the Lord sees,[d] for man sees what is visible,[e] but the Lord sees the heart.”(L)

Jesse called Abinadab(M) and presented him to Samuel. “The Lord hasn’t chosen this one either,” Samuel said. Then Jesse presented Shammah,(N) but Samuel said, “The Lord hasn’t chosen this one either.” 10 After Jesse presented seven of his sons to him, Samuel told Jesse, “The Lord hasn’t chosen any of these.” 11 Samuel asked him, “Are these all the sons you have?”

“There is still the youngest,”(O) he answered, “but right now he’s tending the sheep.” Samuel told Jesse, “Send for him. We won’t sit down to eat until he gets here.” 12 So Jesse sent for him. He had beautiful eyes and a healthy,[f] handsome appearance.(P)

Then the Lord said, “Anoint him, for he is the one.”(Q) 13 So Samuel took the horn of oil, anointed him(R) in the presence of his brothers, and the Spirit of the Lord took control of David from that day forward.(S) Then Samuel set out and went to Ramah.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 16:4 LXX reads were astonished
  2. 1 Samuel 16:4 DSS, LXX read Seer, do
  3. 1 Samuel 16:5 LXX reads and rejoice with me today
  4. 1 Samuel 16:7 LXX reads God does not see as a man sees
  5. 1 Samuel 16:7 Lit what is of the eyes
  6. 1 Samuel 16:12 Or ruddy

17 The Lord has done[a] exactly what He said through me: The Lord has torn the kingship out of your hand and given it to your neighbor David.(A)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 28:17 Some Hb, some LXX mss, Vg read done to you

David’s Soldiers in Hebron

23 The numbers of the armed troops who came to David at Hebron to turn Saul’s kingdom over to him,(A) according to the Lord’s word,(B) were as follows:

Read full chapter

Bible Gateway Recommends