1 Samuel

¹The LORD said to Samuel, 'How long are you going to mourn for Saul? I have rejected him as king over Israel. Fill your flask with olive oil and go. I am sending you to Jesse in Bethlehem, because I have chosen one of his sons to be king.'

²But Samuel said, 'How can I go? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me.' The LORD said, 'Take a young cow with you and say that you have come to offer a sacrifice to the LORD.'

³'Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you which of his sons to anoint for me.'

⁴Samuel did what the LORD said. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the town elders came trembling to meet him. 'Have you come in peace?' they asked.

⁵'In peace,' he answered. 'I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Consecrate yourselves and come with me.' He consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

⁶When they arrived, Samuel noticed Eliab and thought, 'Surely this is the LORD's anointed standing before me.'

⁷But the LORD said to Samuel, 'Do not look at his appearance or his height, because I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at things the way people do. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.'

⁸Then Jesse called Abinadab and presented him to Samuel. But Samuel said, 'The LORD has not chosen this one either.'

⁹Jesse then had Shammah pass by. But Samuel said, 'The LORD has not chosen this one.'

¹⁰Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said, 'The LORD has not chosen any of these.'

¹¹Samuel asked Jesse, 'Are these all your sons?' 'There is still the youngest,' Jesse replied, 'but he's out tending the sheep.' Samuel said, 'Send for him — we will not sit down until he arrives.'

¹²So Jesse sent for him. He had a healthy complexion, bright eyes, and was good-looking. The LORD said, 'Rise and anoint him — he is the one.'

¹³Samuel took the flask of oil and anointed David in the presence of his brothers. From that day on, the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon David. Then Samuel went back to Ramah.

¹⁴But the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, and an oppressive spirit from the LORD began to torment him.

¹⁵Saul's servants said to him, 'An oppressive spirit from God is tormenting you.'

¹⁶'Let our lord command us to search for someone who can play the harp. When the oppressive spirit from God comes upon you, that person can play music and you will feel better.'

¹⁷Saul told his servants, 'Find me someone who plays well and bring him to me.'

¹⁸One of the servants said, 'I have seen a son of Jesse from Bethlehem who knows how to play the harp. He is a brave and capable man, a warrior, and articulate. He is handsome, and the LORD is with him.'

¹⁹So Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, 'Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.'

²⁰Jesse loaded a donkey with bread, a wineskin, and a young goat and sent them with his son David to Saul.

²¹David came to Saul and entered his service. Saul was very fond of him, and David became his armor-bearer.

²²Saul sent word to Jesse: 'Please allow David to remain in my service, for I am very pleased with him.'

²³Whenever the oppressive spirit from God came upon Saul, David would pick up his harp and play. The music would soothe Saul so that he felt better, and the oppressive spirit would leave him.