Bible Commentaries
1 Samuel 16

Introduction

Overview

1 Samuel 16:1, Samuel sent by God, under pretence of a sacrifice, comes to Beth-lehem; 1 Samuel 16:6, His human judgment is reproved; 1 Samuel 16:11, He anoints David; 1 Samuel 16:15, Saul sends for David to quiet his evil spirit.

Verse 1

am 2941, bc 1063, An, Ex, Is, 428

How long: 1 Samuel 15:11, 1 Samuel 15:35, Jeremiah 7:16, Jeremiah 11:14

seeing: 1 Samuel 16:15, 1 Samuel 16:23, 1 Samuel 13:13, 1 Samuel 13:14, 1 Samuel 15:23, 1 Samuel 15:26, Jeremiah 6:30, Jeremiah 14:11, Jeremiah 14:12, Jeremiah 15:1, 1 John 5:16

horn with oil: 1 Samuel 9:16, 1 Samuel 10:1, 2 Kings 9:1, 2 Kings 9:3, 2 Kings 9:6

Jesse: 1 Samuel 13:14, Genesis 49:8-10, Ruth 4:18-22, 1 Chronicles 2:10-15, Psalms 78:68-71, Psalms 89:19, Psalms 89:20, Isaiah 11:1, Isaiah 11:10, Isaiah 55:4, Acts 13:21, Acts 13:22, Romans 15:12

Reciprocal: Joshua 7:10 - wherefore Judges 12:8 - Bethlehem Ruth 4:22 - Jesse 1 Samuel 2:10 - he shall 1 Samuel 17:12 - David 1 Samuel 21:11 - the king 1 Samuel 27:1 - And David 2 Samuel 3:9 - as the Lord 2 Samuel 3:18 - for the Lord 2 Samuel 5:2 - feed 2 Samuel 6:21 - chose 2 Samuel 15:7 - forty years 1 Kings 8:16 - I chose David 2 Kings 17:20 - rejected 1 Chronicles 2:12 - Jesse 1 Chronicles 5:2 - the chief ruler 1 Chronicles 10:14 - turned 1 Chronicles 11:2 - Thou shalt 1 Chronicles 11:3 - anointed 1 Chronicles 11:10 - according 1 Chronicles 12:23 - according 1 Chronicles 28:4 - the house of Judah 2 Chronicles 6:6 - chosen David 2 Chronicles 13:5 - to David Psalms 18:50 - Great Psalms 75:7 - he putteth Proverbs 8:15 - By Hosea 13:11 - General Zechariah 4:14 - These Matthew 1:6 - Jesse Matthew 2:5 - General Luke 2:4 - unto John 7:42 - where Acts 7:46 - found Romans 10:1 - my heart's Hebrews 11:32 - David

Verse 2

How can I go: Exodus 3:11, 1 Kings 18:9-14, Matthew 10:16, Luke 1:34

Take an heifer: For the prudent management of the affair, and to avoid suspicion, Samuel was directed to go to Bethlehem to sacrifice, as he probably did from time to time in many different places; and the answer which he was instructed to return was strictly true though he did not tell the principal design of his coming; for though no man in any circumstances should tell a lie, yet, in all circumstances, he is not bound to tell the whole truth, though he must tell nothing but the truth, and so tell that truth that the hearer shall not believe a lie by it.

with thee: Heb. in thine hand, 1 Samuel 9:12

I am come: 1 Samuel 9:12, 1 Samuel 20:29, Jeremiah 38:26, Jeremiah 38:27

Reciprocal: Genesis 34:30 - and I shall Leviticus 17:8 - that offereth 1 Samuel 7:9 - a sucking 1 Samuel 20:6 - sacrifice 2 Samuel 15:7 - pay 2 Samuel 15:8 - thy servant 2 Kings 9:3 - and flee Matthew 2:22 - he was Acts 9:13 - Lord

Verse 3

call Jesse: 1 Samuel 9:12, 1 Samuel 9:13, 2 Samuel 15:11, Matthew 22:1-4

and I will show: Exodus 4:15, Acts 9:6

anoint: 1 Samuel 16:12, 1 Samuel 16:13, 1 Samuel 9:16, Deuteronomy 17:14

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 1:34 - Zadok 1 Chronicles 12:23 - according Ezekiel 39:17 - Speak

Verse 4

trembled: 1 Samuel 21:1, 2 Samuel 6:9, 1 Kings 17:18, Hosea 6:5, Hosea 11:10, Luke 5:8, Luke 8:37

coming: Heb. meeting

Comest: 1 Kings 2:13, 2 Kings 9:22, 1 Chronicles 12:17, 1 Chronicles 12:18

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 18:12 - afraid 2 Kings 9:17 - Is it peace Matthew 8:34 - they besought Matthew 21:10 - all Mark 5:15 - and they Luke 2:4 - unto Luke 8:47 - she came John 7:42 - where Acts 5:13 - of 1 Thessalonians 5:19 - the Spirit

Verse 5

sanctify yourselves: Exodus 19:10, Exodus 19:14, Exodus 19:15, Leviticus 20:7, Leviticus 20:8, Numbers 11:8, Joshua 3:5, Joshua 7:13, 2 Chronicles 30:17-20, Job 1:5, Psalms 26:2-6, Joel 2:16, 1 Corinthians 11:28

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 2:13 - Comest Zephaniah 1:7 - bid John 11:55 - to purify Acts 5:13 - of

Verse 6

Eliab: 1 Samuel 17:13, 1 Samuel 17:22, 1 Chronicles 2:13, 1 Chronicles 27:18, Elihu

Surely: Judges 8:18, 1 Kings 12:26

Reciprocal: Judges 14:11 - saw him 1 Samuel 9:17 - Behold 1 Chronicles 5:1 - and 1 Chronicles 28:4 - chose me 2 Chronicles 11:18 - Eliab Lamentations 4:20 - the anointed

Verse 7

Look not: 1 Samuel 9:2, 1 Samuel 10:23, 1 Samuel 10:24, 2 Samuel 14:25, Psalms 147:10, Psalms 147:11, Proverbs 31:30

seeth not: Job 10:4, Isaiah 55:8, Isaiah 55:9, Luke 16:15, 1 Peter 2:4, 1 Peter 3:4

looketh: John 7:24, 2 Corinthians 10:7, 2 Corinthians 10:10

outward appearance: Heb. eyes

on the heart: 1 Kings 8:39, 1 Chronicles 28:9, 2 Chronicles 16:9, Psalms 7:9, Psalms 139:2, Proverbs 15:11, Proverbs 16:2, Jeremiah 11:20, Jeremiah 17:10, Jeremiah 20:12, Acts 1:24, Hebrews 4:13, Revelation 2:23

Reciprocal: Genesis 48:17 - displeased him Deuteronomy 1:17 - shall not Judges 7:4 - I will 1 Samuel 16:12 - of a beautiful countenance 1 Samuel 17:28 - I know 2 Samuel 7:3 - all that 2 Samuel 7:20 - knowest 1 Chronicles 17:2 - Do all 1 Chronicles 17:18 - thou knowest 1 Chronicles 29:17 - triest the heart 2 Chronicles 1:11 - this was 2 Chronicles 25:2 - but not Job 9:32 - not a man Psalms 45:13 - all glorious Psalms 51:6 - inward Proverbs 21:2 - the Lord Proverbs 24:12 - doth not he that Ecclesiastes 12:1 - Remember Isaiah 11:3 - and he shall not Zechariah 7:6 - did not ye eat for Matthew 23:28 - ye also John 2:24 - because John 4:24 - must John 8:15 - judge John 8:16 - yet Acts 15:8 - which Romans 2:29 - which 1 Corinthians 4:3 - it is

Verse 8

Abinadab: 1 Samuel 17:13, 1 Chronicles 2:13

Verse 9

Shammah: 1 Samuel 17:13, 2 Samuel 13:3, Shimeah, 1 Chronicles 2:13, Shimma

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 13:32 - Shimeah 2 Samuel 21:21 - Shimeah 1 Chronicles 20:7 - Shimea

Verse 10

seven: 1 Chronicles 2:13-15

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 17:12 - eight sons 1 Chronicles 2:15 - David 1 Chronicles 5:2 - the chief ruler

Verse 11

There remaineth: 1 Samuel 17:12-15, 1 Samuel 17:28, 2 Samuel 7:8, 1 Chronicles 17:7, Psalms 78:70, Psalms 78:71

down: Heb. round

Reciprocal: Genesis 34:5 - now his Genesis 46:32 - shepherds 1 Samuel 16:19 - with the sheep 1 Samuel 17:14 - the youngest 1 Samuel 17:15 - returned 1 Chronicles 2:15 - David 1 Chronicles 10:14 - turned Matthew 1:6 - Jesse Matthew 20:2 - he sent John 7:42 - where Acts 7:46 - found

Verse 12

ruddy: 1 Samuel 17:42, Song of Solomon 5:10, Lamentations 4:7, Acts 7:20, Hebrews 11:23

of a beautiful countenance: Heb. fair of eyes, 1 Samuel 16:7

And the Lord: 1 Samuel 9:17

anoint him: Psalms 2:2, Psalms 2:6, Psalms 89:19, Psalms 89:20, Acts 4:27

Reciprocal: Genesis 37:4 - hated him Genesis 39:6 - a goodly person Deuteronomy 17:15 - whom 1 Samuel 13:14 - the Lord 1 Samuel 15:28 - a neighbour 1 Samuel 16:3 - anoint 1 Samuel 16:18 - a comely 2 Samuel 3:18 - for the Lord 2 Samuel 5:2 - feed 2 Samuel 6:21 - chose 2 Samuel 7:8 - I took thee 2 Samuel 23:1 - the anointed 1 Kings 1:34 - Zadok 2 Kings 8:15 - And it came 2 Kings 9:3 - I have anointed 1 Chronicles 5:2 - the chief ruler 1 Chronicles 11:3 - anointed 1 Chronicles 11:10 - according 1 Chronicles 12:23 - according 1 Chronicles 17:7 - I took thee 1 Chronicles 28:4 - among the sons 2 Chronicles 13:5 - to David Psalms 78:70 - chose Ecclesiastes 12:1 - Remember Zechariah 4:14 - These Matthew 20:2 - he sent

Verse 13

anointed: 1 Samuel 10:1, 2 Kings 9:6

the Spirit: 1 Samuel 16:18, 1 Samuel 10:6, 1 Samuel 10:9, 1 Samuel 10:10, Numbers 11:17, Numbers 27:18, Judges 3:10, Judges 11:29, Judges 13:25, Judges 14:6, Isaiah 11:1-3, John 3:34, Hebrews 1:9

Reciprocal: Genesis 37:4 - hated him Deuteronomy 17:15 - whom 1 Samuel 11:6 - Spirit of God 1 Samuel 16:3 - anoint 1 Samuel 17:28 - Eliab's anger 1 Samuel 18:8 - and what 1 Samuel 18:12 - the Lord 1 Samuel 27:1 - And David 1 Samuel 28:15 - God 1 Samuel 28:17 - thy neighbour 1 Samuel 30:25 - forward 2 Samuel 2:4 - anointed 2 Samuel 3:18 - for the Lord 2 Samuel 5:2 - feed 2 Samuel 5:3 - anointed 2 Samuel 12:7 - I anointed 2 Samuel 15:7 - forty years 2 Samuel 16:18 - General 2 Samuel 23:1 - the anointed 1 Kings 1:34 - Zadok 1 Kings 1:39 - an horn 2 Kings 8:15 - And it came 2 Kings 9:3 - pour it 2 Kings 11:12 - anointed him 1 Chronicles 11:2 - Thou shalt 1 Chronicles 11:3 - anointed 1 Chronicles 12:23 - according 1 Chronicles 28:4 - among the sons Psalms 21:3 - preventest Psalms 28:8 - his Psalms 45:7 - hath Psalms 71:5 - my trust Psalms 89:20 - General Psalms 131:1 - my heart Ecclesiastes 12:1 - Remember Ezekiel 2:2 - General Zechariah 4:14 - These Acts 13:22 - he raised Hebrews 11:32 - David

Verse 14

the Spirit: 1 Samuel 11:6, 1 Samuel 18:12, 1 Samuel 28:15, Judges 16:29, Psalms 51:11, Hosea 9:12

evil spirit: The evil spirit was either sent immediately from the Lord, or permitted to come; but whether this was a diabolic possession, or a mere mental malady, is not agreed: it seems to have partaken of both. That Saul had fallen into a deep melancholy, there is little doubt; and that an evil spirit might work more effectually on such a state of mind, there can be little question. His malady appears to have been of a mixed kind, natural and diabolical: there is too much of apparent nature in it to permit us to believe it was all spiritual; and there is too much of apparently supernatural influence, to suffer us to believe it was all natural. 1 Samuel 18:10, 1 Samuel 19:9, 1 Samuel 19:10, Judges 9:23, 1 Kings 22:22, Acts 19:15, Acts 19:16

troubled: or, terrified

Reciprocal: Numbers 27:18 - a man Deuteronomy 28:28 - General Judges 6:34 - the Spirit Judges 16:20 - the Lord 1 Samuel 16:23 - the evil spirit 1 Samuel 17:31 - sent for him 1 Samuel 26:19 - stirred 2 Samuel 7:15 - as I took Psalms 36:3 - he hath

Verse 15

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 16:1 - seeing 1 Samuel 18:10 - the evil spirit

Verse 16

before thee: 1 Samuel 16:21, 1 Samuel 16:22, Genesis 41:46, 1 Kings 10:8

play: 1 Samuel 16:23, 1 Samuel 10:5, 2 Kings 3:15

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 18:10 - played 2 Samuel 6:5 - David

Verse 18

a mighty: 1 Samuel 17:32-36, 2 Samuel 17:8, 2 Samuel 17:10

and prudent: 2 Samuel 14:20

matters: or, speech.

a comely: 1 Samuel 16:12

the Lord: 1 Samuel 3:19, 1 Samuel 10:7, 1 Samuel 18:12-14, Genesis 39:2, Genesis 39:23, Matthew 1:23, Matthew 28:20

Reciprocal: Numbers 27:18 - a man 1 Samuel 16:13 - the Spirit 1 Samuel 17:12 - David 1 Samuel 17:31 - sent for him 1 Samuel 17:58 - I am the son 1 Samuel 18:14 - the Lord 1 Chronicles 9:20 - the Lord Psalms 89:19 - I have laid Psalms 131:1 - my heart Proverbs 12:8 - commended Haggai 2:4 - for Zechariah 10:5 - as Luke 1:66 - And the John 7:42 - where

Verse 19

with the sheep: 1 Samuel 16:11, 1 Samuel 17:15, 1 Samuel 17:33, 1 Samuel 17:34, Exodus 3:1-10, 1 Kings 19:19, Psalms 78:70-72, Psalms 113:8, Amos 1:1, Amos 7:14, Amos 7:15, Matthew 4:18-22

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 17:58 - I am the son

Verse 20

an ass laden: Chamor lechem, literally, "an ass of bread," rendered by the LXX דןלןס בספשם, a gomor of bread; meaning, probably, not an animal, but a vessel containing a certain measure of bread. 1 Samuel 10:27, 1 Samuel 17:18, 1 Samuel 25:18, Genesis 43:11, 2 Samuel 16:1, 2 Samuel 16:2, Proverbs 18:16

Reciprocal: Genesis 27:9 - two

Verse 21

stood before him: Genesis 41:46, Deuteronomy 1:38, Deuteronomy 10:8, 1 Kings 10:8, Proverbs 22:29

loved him: Psalms 62:9, Psalms 118:9, Psalms 146:3

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 16:16 - before thee 1 Samuel 17:55 - whose son 1 Samuel 18:2 - took him 1 Samuel 19:7 - in times past 1 Kings 1:2 - a young virgin

Verse 22

Reciprocal: Genesis 30:27 - favour Genesis 39:4 - Joseph Deuteronomy 1:38 - which standeth 1 Samuel 16:16 - before thee 1 Samuel 17:55 - whose son 1 Kings 1:2 - a young virgin Psalms 131:1 - my heart Daniel 1:5 - stand

Verse 23

the evil spirit: 1 Samuel 16:14, 1 Samuel 16:16

Saul: 1 Samuel 18:10, 1 Samuel 18:11, Matthew 12:43-45, Luke 11:24-26

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 3:15 - bring me 1 Chronicles 13:8 - with harps