1 Samuel

1 Samuel 16 ©

1 Samuel by God's direction goeth to Beth-lehem under pretence of a sacrifice. 6 Jesse's seven sons pass before him, but are not approved by God. 11 David is sent for, approved, and anointed. 14 An evil spirit troubleth Saul, who by the advice of his servants sendeth for David, and is relieved by his music.

1

AND the LORD said unto Samuel, aHow long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing bI have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine chorn with oil, and go, I will send thee to dJesse the Beth-lehemite: for eI have provided me a king among his sons.

a ch. 15.11,26,35.
b ch. 15.23,26.
c ch. 10.1. 2Ki. 9.1,6.
d Ru. 4.18-22. 1Ch. 2.10-15. Ps. 78.68,70,71. Ge. 49.10. ch. 13.14; 15.28. Ac. 13.22.
e Ps. 89.19,20.
2

And Samuel said, fHow can I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill me. And the LORD said, Take an heifer 1with thee, and say, gI am come to sacrifice to the LORD.

f Lu. 1.34. Ex. 3.11. Je. 1.6. Ps. 112.5. Mat. 10.16.
g ch. 9.12. Je. 38.27.
3

And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and hI will shew thee what ithou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I name unto thee.

h Ex. 4.15.
i ch. 9.16.
4

And Samuel did that which the LORD spake, and came to Beth-lehem. And the elders of the town jtrembled at his 2coming, and said, kComest thou peaceably?

j ch. 13.17; 21.1. Ho. 11.10. Ca. 6.4. Pr. 14.19. Ps. 53.5.
k 1Ki. 2.13. 2Ki. 9.22.
5

And he said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the LORD: lsanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.

l Jos. 3.5; 7.13. Ex. 19.10,14,15. Le. 20.7. Nu. 11.18. Job 1.5. Joel 2.16.
6

¶And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on 3Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD's anointed is before him.

7

But the LORD msaid unto Samuel, Look not on his ncountenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth onot as man seeth; for man looketh on the 4outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

m ch. 9.17. v.12.
n ch. 9.2; 10.23. 2Sa. 14.25.
o Job 10.4. 1Ch. 28.9. 2Ch. 6.30. Ps. 7.9; 94.1; 139.2; 147.10,11. Pr. 15.11; 16.2. Je. 11.20; 17.10; 20.12. Eze. 11.5. Lu. 16.5. Ac. 1.24; 15.8. He. 4.13. Re. 2.23.
8

Then Jesse called pAbinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this.

p ch. 17.13. 1Ch. 2.13.
9

Then Jesse made 5Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this.

10

Again, Jesse made qseven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen these.

q ch. 17.12,13. 1Ch. 2.13-16.
11

And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, rhe keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit 6down till he come hither.

r 2Sa. 7.8. Ps. 78.70,71. 1Ch. 17.7. Am. 1.1. Ex. 3.1.
12

And he sent, and brought him in. Now she was ruddy, and *withal 7of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to *look to. And tthe LORD said, uArise, anoint him: for this is he.

s La. 4.7. Ca. 5.10. Jn. 1.14. ch. 17.42.
t ch. 9.17.
u Ps. 89.19,20; 2.6. 2Sa. 2.4; 5.2.
13

Then Samuel took vthe horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and wthe Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to xRamah.

v v.1,2.
w Nu. 27.18. Ju. 3.10; 13.25; 14.6. ch. 10.6,10. v.18.
x ch. 7.17; 1.19.
14

¶But the ySpirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an zevil spirit from the LORD 8troubled him.

y ch. 11.6; 18.12; 28.15,19,20. Mat. 13.12. Ho. 9.12.
z ch. 18.10; 19.9,10. Ju. 9.23. 1Ki. 22.23. Ac. 19.15. Is. 19.14. Ps. 81.11,12.
15

And Saul's servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee.

16

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 ahe shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well.

a 2Ki. 3.15. v.23. ch. 18.10; 19.9.
17

And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me.

18

Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Beth-lehemite, that is *cunning in playing, band a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in 9matters, and a comely person, and cthe LORD is with him.

b ch. 17.32-37,49. Ps. 89.19-21. v.12.
c ch. 3.19; 18.12,14.
19

¶Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me David thy son, which is dwith the sheep.

d v.11. ch. 17.15,34. Ps. 113.7,8; 78.71. 2Sa. 7.8.
20

And Jesse etook an ass *laden with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a fkid, and sent them by David his son unto Saul.

e ch. 10.27.
f Ge. 38.17. Ju. 15.1. Lu. 15.29.
21

And David came to Saul, and gstood before him: and he hloved him greatly; and he became his armourbearer.

g De. 1.38; 10.8. Pr. 22.29. Ge. 41.46. 1Ki. 10.8.
h Ps. 62.9; 118.9; 146.3.
22

And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray thee, stand before me; for he hath found favour in my sight.

23

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 iwas refreshed, and was well, and jthe evil spirit departed from him.

i 2Ki. 3.15. Mat. 12.43-45. ch. 18.10; 19.9.
j v.14,16.