Bible Commentaries
1 Samuel 16

Verse 1

the LORD . Hebrew. Jehovah . App-4 .

I have rejected . Note here Jehovah's sovereignty.

I have provided. Note Jehovah's sovereignty in this choice of' the youngest. It is this choice that makes David the "man after Jehovah's heart"; not David's personal character or conduct.

Verse 2

with thee = in thine hand.

Verse 4

Beth-lehem = house of bread.

said. Hebrew text reads verb in singular, requiring "he, or one, said". In this case it is the Figure of speech Heterosis (of Number), App-6 . But several codices, the Sevir ( App-34 ), Targum, Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate, and the two earliest printed editions, read "they said".

Verse 5

Jesse and his sons . He had eight sons and two daughters, Zeruiah (mother of Abishai, Joab, and Asahel) and Abigail (mother of Amasa). David is the eighth here (verses: 10, 11), but called the seventh in 1 Chronicles 2:15 . One son must have died shortly after this, or been the son of a concubine, or died without issue and so not reckoned in the genealogy. Samuel is history, Chronicles is genealogy.

Verse 7

the LORD seeth. These words correctly supply the Ellipsis ( App-6 .), from the Septuagint

man = 'adam. App-14 .

seeth = looketh to.

looketh on = looketh to.

heart. Compare 1 Chronicles 28:9 . Psalms 7:8 . Jeremiah 11:20 ; Jeremiah 17:10 ; Jeremiah 20:12 .

Verse 9

Then = and.

Shammah . Probably = Shimeah. 2 Samuel 13:3 ; 2 Samuel 21:21 .

Verse 10

Again = So.

seven . See note on 1 Samuel 16:5 .

Verse 11

Are here all thy children? Hebrew "Have the young men finished [passing by)? "This correctly supplies the Figure of speech Ellipsis. App-6 . Hebrew. na ` ar =

young men . youngest = least. See note on 1 Samuel 16:5 .

behold . Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .

he keepeth . Saul lost his father's asses (1 Samuel 9:3 , 1 Samuel 9:4 , 1 Samuel 9:20 ). down round.

Verse 12

and withal of a beautiful , &c. = a stripling (1 Samuel 17:56 ), with handsome eyes.

goodly to look to = with, or of, noble mien.

Verse 13

anointed him . Three anointings of David: (1) by Samuel, here; (2) by "men of Judah" (2 Samuel 2:4 ); and (3) by "the elders of Israel "(2 Samuel 5:3 ).

the Spirit . Hebrew. = ruach. App-9 .

David = beloved.

Verse 14

But. This marks and introduces the later episode, placed here in order to bring out and connect the contrast of the Spirit's departing from Saul and coming on David. See notes on 17. and 1 Samuel 18:12 .

evil : always. Hebrew. ra'a' ( App-44 .), in this connection.

spirit. Hebrew. ruach. App-9 .

troubled = terrified.

Verse 15

God . Hebrew. Elohim ( App-4 ). Saul's servants not in communion with Jehovah, the Covenant God. App-4 .

Verse 16

man. Hebrew. 'ish. App-14 .

cunning = skilful.

harp = kinnor. An instrument of many strings.

Verse 18

servants . Not the same word as in verses: 1 Samuel 16:15-17 , but "young men "as in 1 Samuel 14:1 . Perhaps Saul's body-guard; possibly fellow-pupils of Samuel at Naioth.

and . Note Figure of speech Polysyndeton ( App-6 ) in these verses.

matters = speech.

Verse 20

bottle = skin-bottle.

of. Genitive of contents. App-17 .

wine . Hebrew. yayin. See App-27 .

Verse 21

he = Saul.

him = David.