1 Samuel 16

1Yahweh 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.”Cross-references: Gen 49:8 · Ruth 4:17 · 1Sam 9:16 · 1Sam 10:1 · 1Sam 13:13 · 1Sam 15:11 · +22 more

2Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me.” Yahweh said, “Take a heifer with you, and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to Yahweh.’Cross-references: Ex 3:11 · 1Sam 9:12 · 1Sam 20:29 · 1Ki 18:9 · Jer 38:26 · Matt 10:16 · +1 more

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.”Cross-references: Ex 4:15 · Deut 17:14 · 1Sam 9:12 · 1Sam 9:16 · 1Sam 16:12 · 2Sam 15:11 · +2 more

4Samuel did that which Yahweh spoke, and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said, “Do you come peaceably?”Cross-references: Gen 48:7 · 1Sam 21:1 · 2Sam 6:9 · 1Ki 2:13 · 1Ki 17:18 · 2Ki 9:22 · +6 more

5He said, “Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to Yahweh. Sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice.” He sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.Cross-references: Ex 19:10 · Ex 19:14 · Lev 20:7 · Num 11:8 · Josh 3:5 · Josh 7:13 · +5 more

6When they had come, he looked at Eliab, and said, “Surely Yahweh’s anointed is before him.”Cross-references: Judg 8:18 · 1Sam 17:13 · 1Sam 17:22 · 1Ki 12:26 · 1Chr 2:13 · 1Chr 27:18

7But Yahweh 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 Yahweh looks at the heart.”Cross-references: 1Sam 9:2 · 1Sam 10:23 · 2Sam 14:25 · 1Ki 8:39 · 1Chr 28:9 · 2Chr 16:9 · +20 more

8Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. He said, “Yahweh has not chosen this one, either.”Cross-references: 1Sam 17:13 · 1Chr 2:13

9Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. He said, “Yahweh has not chosen this one, either.”Cross-references: 1Sam 17:13 · 2Sam 13:3 · 1Chr 2:13

10Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. Samuel said to Jesse, “Yahweh has not chosen these.”Cross-references: 1Chr 2:13

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.”Cross-references: 1Sam 17:12 · 1Sam 17:28 · 2Sam 7:8 · 2Sam 13:3 · 1Chr 17:7 · Ps 78:70

12He sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with a handsome face and good appearance. Yahweh said, “Arise! Anoint him, for this is he.”Cross-references: Gen 39:6 · 1Sam 9:17 · 1Sam 17:42 · Ps 2:2 · Ps 2:6 · Ps 89:19 · +5 more

13Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the middle of his brothers. Then Yahweh’s Spirit came mightily on David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up and went to Ramah.Cross-references: Num 11:17 · Num 27:18 · Judg 3:10 · Judg 11:29 · Judg 13:25 · Judg 14:6 · +9 more

14Now Yahweh’s Spirit departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from Yahweh troubled him.Cross-references: Judg 9:23 · Judg 16:20 · Judg 16:29 · 1Sam 11:6 · 1Sam 18:10 · 1Sam 18:12 · +6 more

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.”Cross-references: Gen 41:46 · 1Sam 10:5 · 1Sam 16:21 · 1Sam 18:10 · 1Sam 19:9 · 1Ki 10:8 · +1 more

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 Yahweh is with him.”Cross-references: Gen 39:2 · Gen 39:23 · 1Sam 3:19 · 1Sam 10:7 · 1Sam 17:32 · 1Sam 18:12 · +5 more

19Therefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse, and said, “Send me David your son, who is with the sheep.”Cross-references: Ex 3:1 · 1Sam 16:11 · 1Sam 17:15 · 1Sam 17:33 · 1Ki 19:19 · Ps 78:70 · +4 more

20Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a container of wine, and a young goat, and sent them by David his son to Saul.Cross-references: Gen 43:11 · 1Sam 10:27 · 1Sam 17:18 · 1Sam 25:18 · 2Sam 16:1 · Prov 18:16

21David came to Saul and stood before him. He loved him greatly; and he became his armor bearer.Cross-references: Gen 41:46 · Deut 1:38 · Deut 10:8 · 1Ki 10:8 · Ps 62:9 · Ps 118:9 · +2 more

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.Cross-references: 1Sam 16:14 · 1Sam 18:10 · Matt 12:43 · Luke 11:24