1.Samuel 16 | New International Reader’s Version

Samuel anoints David to be Israel’s king

1 The LORD said to Samuel, ‘How long will you be filled with sorrow because of Saul? I have refused to have him as king over Israel. Fill your animal horn with olive oil and go on your way. I am sending you to Jesse in Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.’ 2 But Samuel said, ‘How can I go? Suppose Saul hears about it. Then he’ll kill me.’ The LORD said, ‘Take a young cow with you. Tell the elders of Bethlehem, “I’ve come to offer a sacrifice to the LORD.” 3 Invite Jesse to the sacrifice. Then I will show you what to do. You must anoint for me the one I point out to you.’ 4 Samuel did what the LORD said. He arrived at Bethlehem. The elders of the town met him. They were trembling with fear. They asked, ‘Have you come in peace?’ 5 Samuel replied, ‘Yes, I’ve come in peace. I’ve come to offer a sacrifice to the LORD. Set yourselves apart to him and come to the sacrifice with me.’ Then he set Jesse and his sons apart to the LORD. He invited them to the sacrifice. 6 When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab. He thought, ‘This has to be the one the LORD wants me to anoint for him.’ 7 But the LORD said to Samuel, ‘Do not consider how handsome or tall he is. I have not chosen him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outside of a person. But the LORD looks at what is in the heart.’ 8 Then Jesse called for Abinadab. He made him walk in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, ‘The LORD hasn’t chosen him either.’ 9 Then Jesse made Shammah walk by. But Samuel said, ‘The LORD hasn’t chosen him either.’ 10 Jesse made seven of his sons walk in front of Samuel. But Samuel said to him, ‘The LORD hasn’t chosen any of them.’ 11 So he asked Jesse, ‘Are these the only sons you have?’ ‘No’, Jesse answered. ‘My youngest son is taking care of the sheep.’ Samuel said, ‘Send for him. We won’t sit down to eat until he arrives.’ 12 So Jesse sent for his son and had him brought in. He looked very healthy. He had a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the LORD said, ‘Get up and anoint him. This is the one.’ 13 So Samuel got the animal horn that was filled with olive oil. He anointed David in front of his brothers. From that day on, the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully on David. Samuel went back to Ramah.

David serves Saul

14 The Spirit of the LORD had left Saul. And an evil spirit sent by the LORD terrified him. 15 Saul’s attendants said to him, ‘An evil spirit sent by God is terrifying you. 16 Give us an order to look for someone who can play the harp. He will play it when the evil spirit sent by God comes on you. Then you will feel better.’ 17 So Saul said to his attendants, ‘Find someone who plays the harp well. Bring him to me.’ 18 One of the servants said, ‘I’ve seen someone who knows how to play the harp. He is a son of Jesse from Bethlehem. He’s a brave man. He would make a good soldier. He’s a good speaker. He’s very handsome. And the LORD is with him.’ 19 Then Saul sent messengers to Jesse. He said, ‘Send me your son David, the one who takes care of your sheep.’ 20 So Jesse got some bread and a bottle of wine. The bottle was made out of animal skin. He also got a young goat. He loaded everything on the back of a donkey. He sent all of it to Saul with his son David. 21 David went to Saul and began to serve him. Saul liked him very much. David became one of the men who carried Saul’s armour. 22 Saul sent a message to Jesse. Saul said, ‘Let David stay here. I want him to serve me. I’m pleased with him.’ 23 When the evil spirit sent by God would come on Saul, David would get his harp and play it. That would help Saul. He would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him.

English Standard Version

David Anointed King

1 The 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.” 2 And Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears 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 And invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do. And you shall anoint for me him whom I declare to you.” 4 Samuel did what the Lord commanded and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling and said, “Do you come peaceably?” 5 And he said, “Peaceably; 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. 6 When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before him.” 7 But 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 sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” 8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” 9 Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” 10 And Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen these.” 11 Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest,* but behold, he is keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and get him, for we will not sit down till he comes here.” 12 And he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy and had beautiful eyes and was handsome. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him, for this is he.” 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah.

David in Saul’s Service

14 Now the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and a harmful spirit from the Lord tormented him. 15 And Saul’s servants said to him, “Behold now, a harmful spirit from God is tormenting you. 16 Let our lord now command your servants who are before you to seek out a man who is skillful in playing the lyre, and when the harmful spirit from God is upon you, he will play it, and you will be well.” 17 So Saul said to his servants, “Provide for me a man who can play well and bring him to me.” 18 One of the young men answered, “Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a man of good presence, and the Lord is with him.” 19 Therefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me David your son, who is with the sheep.” 20 And Jesse took a donkey laden with bread and a skin of wine and a young goat and sent them by David his son to Saul. 21 And David came to Saul and entered his service. And Saul loved him greatly, and he became his armor-bearer. 22 And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, “Let David remain in my service, for he has found favor in my sight.” 23 And whenever the harmful spirit from God was upon Saul, David took the lyre and played it with his hand. So Saul was refreshed and was well, and the harmful spirit departed from him.

1.Samuel 16 | New International Reader’s Version English Standard Version

Samuel anoints David to be Israel’s king

David serves Saul

David Anointed King

David in Saul’s Service