1Samuel by God's direction goeth to Beth-lehem under pretence of a sacrifice. 6Jesse's seven sons pass before him, but are not approved by God. 11David is sent for, approved, and anointed. 14An evil spirit troubleth Saul, who by the advice of his servants sendeth for David, and is relieved by his music.
1AND the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? 1fill 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.
1 See 1 Sam. 10:1.
2And Samuel said, 2How can I go? if Saul 3hear it, he will kill me. And the LORD said, Take an heifer 4with thee, and say, I am come to 5sacrifice to the LORD.
2 Samuel was here possessed with human fear, and out of anxiety and perplexity of mind he asks counsel of the Lord, how he might conveniently perform His command, and avoid the apparent danger.
3 That is, come to know it, perceive it.
4 Hebr. in thine hand. As if He would say: Have a calf ready, or at hand.
5 Hebr. to slay, namely, a thank offering.
3And 6call Jesse to the 7sacrifice, and I will shew thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I name unto thee.
6 Or, invite.
7 Or, to the feast, or, banquet, that was made after the offering was performed, of the meat that was offered unto God. And hence it appears that this was not done in Jesse’s house, for no man is invited to a feast or banquet in his own house.
4And Samuel did that which the LORD spake, and came to Beth-lehem. And the elders of the town 8trembled at his coming, and 9said, 10Comest thou peaceably?
8 Hebr. trembled to meet him. Compare 1 Sam. 13:7; 21:1; Hosea 11:10.
9 Hebr. said, (in the singular), namely, one in the name of all.
10 Hebr. Is thy coming peace? Peradventure they thought that Samuel fled from Saul, having probably heard that Saul was provoked against him, because that he had told him that God had rejected him from the kingdom; or peradventure they were afraid they had committed some great sin, which the prophet came to discover unto them, and to announce God’s judgment against them for the same.
5And he said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the LORD: 11sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And 12he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.
11 That is, prepare and arrange yourselves for it, as it becomes you to do. See Exod. 19:10, 14, 15.
12 That is, he commanded not only Jesse, but also his sons to hallow themselves. Doubtless Samuel likewise discovered to Jesse that he was sent of God to anoint one of his sons king in Saul’s stead; as appears from the next following verses.
6¶And it came to pass, when 13they were come, that he looked on 14Eliab, and 15said, 16Surely the LORD's anointed is before him.
13 Namely, the sons of Jesse, who successively, one after another, came into a certain room or chamber.
14 Otherwise called Elihu, 1 Chron. 27:18.
15 Hebr. said, namely, in his heart; but not by the inspiration of God. Samuel, looking on his beauty and tallness, thought that this was the right man whom the Lord had chosen.
16 That is, he is the man, whom I must anoint king: but he erred in this, as Nathan did, 2 Sam. 7:3, speaking according to his own apprehension.
7But the LORD 17said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have 18refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, buta the LORD looketh on the heart.
17 Namely, in a secret, hidden manner, as verse 12; 1 Sam. 9:17.
18 That is, not chosen to be king, and also verses 8, 9, etc., for there is no mention made of the election unto salvation.
a 1 Chron. 28:9; Psalm 7:9; Jer. 11:20; 17:10; 20:12.
8Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And 19he said, 20Neither hath the LORD chosen this.
19 Namely, Samuel.
20 Namely, to the king’s dignity.
9Then Jesse made 21Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this.
21 Otherwise called Shimeah, 2 Sam. 13:3; 1 Chron. 2:13.
10Again, Jesse made 22seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen these.
22 Compare 1 Chron. 2 on verse 13, and 1 Chron. 2 on verse 14.
11And Samuel said unto Jesse, 23Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepethb the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not 24sit down till he come hither.
23 Hebr. Are the young men ended?
b2 Sam. 7:8; Psalm 78:70.
24 Hebr. compass about, environ, turn about.
12And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to lookc to. And the 25LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.
c look upon*
25 Namely, by a secret and inward inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
13Then Samuel tookd the horn of oil, and 26anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and 27the Spirite of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.
dPsalm 89:20.
26 Namely, after he had made his father, him and all that were there present, acquainted with the will of the Lord touching this matter.
27 See similar example, Judges 13:25; 1 Sam. 11:6.
eActs 7:46; 13:22.
14¶But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and 28an evil spirit from the LORD 29troubled him.
28 This was a certain madness or trouble of mind, which Satan stirred up in Saul, by God’s permission and government, whereby He justly punished Saul.
29 Or, terrified him, disquieted him.
15And Saul's servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit 30from God troubleth thee.
30 Sent from God to execute His righteous judgment.
16Let our lord now command 31thy servants, 32which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a cunningf player on an 33harp: and it shall come to pass, when 34the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, 35and thou shalt be well.
31 That is, to us.
32 That is, who stand ready and prepared to wait upon thee.
f skill, art, skillful*
33 See Gen. 4 on verse 21.
34 See verse 15.
35 That is, that your heart and mind may be eased and quieted, the melancholy humors being dispelled, and assuaged by the music.
17And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me.
18Then 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 36matters, and a comely person, and the 37LORD is with him.
36 Or, words. Other, an eloquent man.
37 That is, he is blessed and prosperous in all his attempts.
19¶Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me David thy son, which is with the sheep.
20And Jesse took 38an ass laden with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a kid, and sent them by David his son unto Saul.
38 Hebr. an ass of bread, that is, an ass laden with bread.
21And David came to Saul, and 39stood before him: and he loved him greatly; and he became his armourbearer.
39 That is, he abode at court in this king’s service. Likewise is the word to stand also taken verse 22. See the annotation Deut. 1:38.
22And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray thee, 40stand before me; for 41he hath found favour in my sight.
40 As verse 21.
41 See the annotation on Gen. 18:3.
23And it came to pass, when the evil 42spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: 43so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.
42 Understand that evil spirit, whereof mention is made in verses 14 and 15.
43 That is, when David played, these terrors and troubles of the evil spirit ceased. God by His Providence so ruled and ordered this matter, in order that David would be advanced in the king’s court, so to open the door and to prepare the way for him to the kingdom, whereunto He had chosen and already anointed him.