1 Samuel 16

The LORD Chooses David

1The LORD said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.”

2Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears of it, he will kill me.”
And the LORD said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.’” 3“Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do. You shall anoint for me the one whom I name to you.”

4Samuel did what the LORD commanded and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came trembling to meet him and said, “Do you come in peace?” 5He said, “In peace. I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.”
And he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

6When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, “Surely the LORD’s anointed is now before the LORD.” 7But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.”

8Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, “The LORD has not chosen this one.” 9Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “The LORD has not chosen this one either.” 10Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, and Samuel said to Jesse, “The LORD has not chosen any of these.”

11Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?”
And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, but he is keeping the sheep.”
And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here.”

12He sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with beautiful eyes, and handsome.
And the LORD said, “Rise and anoint him, for this is the one.” 13Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the spirit of the LORD came mightily upon David from that day forward.
Samuel then set out and went to Ramah.

David in Saul’s Service

14Now the spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him. 15And Saul’s servants said to him, “See now, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you.” 16“Let our lord now command the servants who are before you to seek out someone who is skillful in playing the lyre. When the evil spirit from God is upon you, he will play it, and you will be well.”

17So Saul said to his servants, “Provide for me someone who can play well, and bring him to me.” 18One of the young men answered, “I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who is skillful in playing, a man of valor, a warrior, prudent in speech, and a man of good presence; and the LORD is with him.”

19So Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.” 20Jesse took a donkey laden with bread, a skin of wine, and a young goat, and sent them by his son David to Saul. 21David came to Saul and entered his service. Saul loved him greatly, and he became his armor-bearer. 22Saul sent word to Jesse, saying, “Let David remain in my service, for he has found favor in my sight.”

23And whenever the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, David took the lyre and played it with his hand. And Saul would be relieved and feel better, and the evil spirit would depart from him.