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Samuel Goes to Bethlehem

¹ The LORD said to Samuel, "^(C1)How long will you grieve for Saul, when ^(C2)I have rejected him as king over Israel? ^(F1)(C3)Fill your horn with oil and go; I will send you to ^(C4)Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have ^(C5)chosen a king for Myself among his sons."² But Samuel said, "How can I go? When Saul hears about it, he will kill me." And the LORD said, "^(C1)Take a heifer from the herd with you and say, 'I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.'³ "You shall invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and ^(C1)I will show you what you shall do after that; and ^(C2)you shall anoint for Me the one whom I designate."⁴ So Samuel did what the LORD said, and came to ^(C1)Bethlehem. And the elders of the city came trembling to meet him and said, "^(C2)Do you come in peace?"⁵ And he said, "In peace; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. ^(C1)Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice." He also consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

⁶ So it happened, when they had come, he looked at ^(C1)Eliab the eldest son and thought, "Surely the LORD'S anointed is before Him."⁷ But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees; for man looks ^(F1)at the outward appearance, but ^(C1)the LORD looks at the heart."⁸ Then Jesse called ^(C1)Abinadab and had him pass before Samuel. But Samuel said, "The LORD has not chosen this one either."⁹ Next Jesse had ^(C1)Shammah pass by. And Samuel said, "The LORD has not chosen him either."¹⁰ Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, "The LORD has not chosen any of these."¹¹ Then Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all your sons here?" Jesse replied, "^(C1)There is still one left, the youngest; he is tending the sheep." Samuel said to Jesse, "Send word and bring him; because we will not sit down to eat the sacrificial meal until he comes here."

David Anointed

^14 (C1)Now the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and ^(C2)an evil spirit from the Lord tormented and terrified him.¹⁵ Saul's servants said to him, "Behold, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you.¹⁶ "Let our lord now command your servants who are here before you to find a man who plays skillfully on the harp; and when the evil spirit from God is on you, ^(C1)he shall play the harp with his hand, and you will be well."¹⁷ So Saul told his servants, "Find me a man who plays well and bring him to me."¹⁸ One of the young men said, "Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who is a skillful musician, ^(C1)a brave and competent man, a warrior, discerning (prudent, eloquent) in speech, and a handsome man; and ^(C2)the LORD is with him."¹⁹ So Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, "Send me David your son, who is with the flock."²⁰ Jesse ^(C1)took a donkey loaded with bread and a jug of wine and a young goat, and sent them to Saul with David his son.²¹ Then David came to Saul and ^(C1)attended him. Saul loved him greatly and later David became his armor bearer.²² Saul sent word to Jesse, saying, "Please let David ^(F1)be my attendant, for he has found favor in my sight."²³ So it came about that whenever ^(C1)the evil spirit from God was on Saul, David took a harp and played it with his hand; so Saul would be refreshed and be well, and the evil spirit would leave him.