Samuel's fear of Saul's retaliation reveals the prophet's unprecedented vulnerability, marking the only instance where Israel's supreme religious authority operates in secrecy from the reigning king.
1 Samuel 16
David's Anointing by Samuel
1The LORD said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for 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 a king for myself among his sons.”
2Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me.” The LORD said, “Take a heifer with you, and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.’
3Call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do. You shall anoint to me him whom I name to you.”
4Samuel did that which the LORD spoke, and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said, “Do you come peaceably?”
5He said, “Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice.” He sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.
6When they had come, he looked at Eliab, and said, “Surely the LORD’s anointed is before him.”
7But the LORD said to Samuel, “Don’t look on his face, or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for I don’t see as man sees. For man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
8Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. He said, “The LORD has not chosen this one, either.”
9Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. He said, “The LORD has not chosen this one, either.”
10Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. Samuel said to Jesse, “The LORD has not chosen these.”
11Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your children here?” He said, “There remains yet the youngest. Behold, he is keeping the sheep.” Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and get him, for we will not sit down until he comes here.”
12He sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with a handsome face and good appearance. The LORD said, “Arise! Anoint him, for this is he.”
13Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the middle of his brothers. Then the LORD’s Spirit came mightily on David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up and went to Ramah.
David Enters Saul's Service
14Now the LORD’s Spirit departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.
15Saul’s servants said to him, “See now, an evil spirit from God troubles you.
16Let our lord now command your servants who are in front of you to seek out a man who is a skillful player on the harp. Then when the evil spirit from God is on you, he will play with his hand, and you will be well.”
17Saul said to his servants, “Provide me now a man who can play well, and bring him to me.”
18Then one of the young men answered and said, “Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who is skillful in playing, a mighty man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a handsome person; and the LORD is with him.”
19Therefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse, and said, “Send me David your son, who is with the sheep.”
20Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a container of wine, and a young goat, and sent them by David his son to Saul.
21David came to Saul and stood before him. He loved him greatly; and he became his armor bearer.
22Saul sent to Jesse, saying, “Please let David stand before me, for he has found favor in my sight.”
23When the spirit from God was on Saul, David took the harp and played with his hand; so Saul was refreshed and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.
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Theme
God commands Samuel to anoint a new king from Jesse's family in Bethlehem, leading to David's secret anointing despite his youth and humble status as a shepherd. The chapter emphasizes God's perspective that values the heart over outward appearance, as He chooses the youngest son over his impressive older brothers. Meanwhile, as God's Spirit departs from Saul and troubles him, David providentially enters the king's service as a musician, setting up the complex relationship that will dominate the following chapters.
Context
This chapter marks the pivotal transition from Saul's rejected reign to David's rise, following God's rejection of Saul in chapter 15 and setting up the complex Saul-David dynamic that dominates the remainder of 1 Samuel.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1-3 God's Commission to Samuel The Lord directs Samuel to stop mourning Saul and go anoint a new king from Jesse's sons in Bethlehem.
- 4-5 Samuel's Arrival in Bethlehem Samuel arrives in Bethlehem and arranges a sacrifice, calling Jesse and his sons to participate.
- 6-10 Rejection of Jesse's Older Sons God rejects seven of Jesse's sons, teaching Samuel that divine choice looks beyond outward appearance to the heart.
- 11-13 David's Anointing The youngest son David is summoned from tending sheep and anointed as king, receiving God's Spirit.
- 14-17 Saul's Spiritual Decline God's Spirit departs from Saul, replaced by a troubling spirit, prompting his servants to seek a musician for relief.
- 18-23 David Enters Royal Service David is recommended and brought to serve Saul as a harpist, finding favor and providing comfort to the troubled king.
David's Anointing by Samuel
16:1–16:13 narrative narration solemn
God commands Samuel to anoint David as the future king of Israel, choosing the youngest son of Jesse despite his humble appearance. This passage establishes David's divine selection and anointing as God's chosen ruler.
person_contrast
Samuel's fear of Saul's retaliation reveals the prophet's unprecedented vulnerability, marking the only instance where Israel's supreme religious authority operates in secrecy from the reigning king.
David Enters Saul's Service
16:14–16:23 narrative narration contemplative
After God's Spirit departs from Saul and an evil spirit troubles him, David is brought to serve as his musician and armor bearer. David's music provides relief to Saul, beginning their complex relationship.
person_contrast
Saul, typically portrayed exercising royal authority and judgment, here becomes the vulnerable recipient of divine provision through David's Spirit-anointed musical ministry.
Insights
Saul, typically portrayed exercising royal authority and judgment, here becomes the vulnerable recipient of divine provision through David's Spirit-anointed musical ministry.
Cross-References
Connected passages across Scripture
1 Samuel 16:1 4 references
Lexicals 4
1 Samuel 15:35 Lexical
Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death, but Samuel mourned for Saul. The LORD grieved that he had ma…
1 Samuel 17:58 Lexical
Saul said to him, “Whose son are you, you young man?” David answered, “I am the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemi…
1 Samuel 8:7 Lexical
The LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they tell you; for they have not rejected you, b…
1 Samuel 15:26 Lexical
Samuel said to Saul, “I will not return with you; for you have rejected the LORD’s word, and the LORD has rejected you f…
1 Samuel 16:2 2 references
1 Samuel 16:11 1 reference
1 Samuel 16:12 1 reference
1 Samuel 16:13 2 references
1 Samuel 16:16 1 reference
1 Samuel 16:18 4 references
Lexicals 4
1 Samuel 17:58 Lexical
Saul said to him, “Whose son are you, you young man?” David answered, “I am the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemi…
1 Samuel 17:20 Lexical
David rose up early in the morning and left the sheep with a keeper, and took the provisions and went, as Jesse had comm…
Ecclesiastes 9:11 Lexical
I returned and saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to t…
1 Kings 11:28 Lexical
The man Jeroboam was a mighty man of valor; and Solomon saw that the young man was industrious, and he put him in charge…
1 Samuel 16:20 5 references
Lexicals 5
Joshua 9:4 Lexical
they also resorted to a ruse, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks on their donkeys, an…
1 Samuel 10:3 Lexical
“Then you will go on forward from there, and you will come to the oak of Tabor. Three men will meet you there going up t…
2 Samuel 16:1 Lexical
When David was a little past the top, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him with a couple of donkeys saddled,…
Judges 19:19 Lexical
Yet there is both straw and feed for our donkeys; and there is bread and wine also for me, and for your servant, and for…
1 Samuel 25:18 Lexical
Then Abigail hurried and took two hundred loaves of bread, two containers of wine, five sheep ready dressed, five seahs…
1 Samuel 16:22 1 reference
1 Samuel 16:23 2 references
Interlinear
Word-by-word original language
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v. 19
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v. 21
v. 22
v. 23
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