1 Samuel16
New American Standard
1Now the Lord said to Samuel, “How long are you going to 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, because I have chosen a king for Myself among his sons.”
2But Samuel said, “How can I go? When Saul hears about it, he will kill me.” But the Lord said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’
3And you shall invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will let you know what you shall do; and you shall anoint for Me the one whom I designate to you.”
4So Samuel did what the Lord told him, and he came to Bethlehem. Then the elders of the city came trembling to meet him and said, “Do you come in peace?”
5And he said, “In peace; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” He also consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.
6When they entered, he looked at Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is standing before Him.”
7But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God does not see as man sees, since man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
8Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass before Samuel. But he said, “The Lord has not chosen this one, either.”
9Next Jesse had Shammah pass by. And he said, “The Lord has not chosen this one, either.”
10So Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen these.”
11Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Are these all the boys?” And he said, “The youngest is still left, but behold, he is tending the sheep.” So Samuel said to Jesse, “Send word and bring him; for we will not take our places at the table until he comes here.”
12So he sent word and brought him in. Now he was reddish, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is he.”
13So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel set out and went to Ramah.
14Now the Spirit of the Lord left Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord terrified him.
15Saul’s servants then said to him, “Behold now, an evil spirit from God is terrifying you.
16May our lord now command your servants who are before you. Have them search for a man who is a skillful musician on the harp; and it shall come about whenever the evil spirit from God is upon you, that he shall play the harp with his hand, and you will become well.”
17So Saul said to his servants, “Now select for me a man who can play well, and bring him to me.”
18Then one of the young men responded and said, “Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who is a skillful musician, a valiant mighty man, a warrior, skillful in speech, and a handsome man; and the Lord is with him.”
19So Saul sent messengers to Jesse to say, “Send me your son David, who is with the flock.”
20And Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread and a jug of wine, and he took a young goat, and sent them to Saul by his son David.
21Then David came to Saul and attended him; and Saul greatly loved him, and he became his armor bearer.
22So Saul sent word to Jesse, saying, “Let David now be my attendant for he has found favor in my sight.”
23So it came about whenever the evil spirit from God came to Saul, David would take the harp and play it with his hand; and Saul would feel relieved and become well, and the evil spirit would leave him.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 1 Samuel 16.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Samuel sent to Bethlehem to Jesse. (1–5). David is anointed. (6–13). Saul troubled with an evil spirit, is quieted by David. (14–23).
vv1-5
It appears that Saul was grown very wicked. Of what would he not be guilty, who durst think to kill Samuel? The elders of Bethlehem trembled at Samuel's coming. It becomes us to stand in awe of God's messengers, and to tremble at his word. His answer was, I come peaceably, for I come to sacrifice. When our Lord Jesus came into the world, though men had reason to fear that his errand was to condemn the world, yet he gave full assurance that he came peaceably, for he came to sacrifice, and he brought his offering with him; A body hast thou prepared me. Let us sanctify ourselves, and depend upon His sacrifice.
vv6-13
It was strange that Samuel, who had been so disappointed in Saul, whose countenance and stature recommended him, should judge of another man by that rule. We can tell how men look, but God can tell what they are. He judges of men by the heart. We often form a mistaken judgment of characters; but the Lord values only the faith, fear, and love, which are planted in the heart, beyond human discernment. And God does not favour our children according to our fond partiality, but often most honours and blesses those who have been least regarded. David at length was pitched upon. He was the youngest of the sons of Jesse; his name signifies Beloved; he was a type of God's beloved Son. It should seem, David was least set by of all the sons of Jesse. But the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. His anointing was not an empty ceremony, a Divine power went with that instituted sign; he found himself advanced in wisdom and courage, with all the qualifications of a prince, though not advanced in his outward circumstances. This would satisfy him that his election was of God. The best evidence of our being predestinated to the kingdom of glory, is, our being sealed with the Spirit of promise, and experience of a work of grace in our hearts.
vv14-23
Saul is made a terror to himself. The Spirit of the Lord departed from him. If God and his grace do not rule us, sin and Satan will have possession of us. The devil, by the Divine permission, troubled and terrified Saul, by the corrupt humours of his body, and passions of his mind. He grew fretful, peevish, and discontented, and at times a madman. It is a pity that music, which may be serviceable to the good temper of the mind, should ever be abused, to support vanity and luxury, and made an occasion of drawing the heart from God and serious things. That is driving away the good Spirit, not the evil spirit. Music, diversions, company, or business, have for a time often been employed to quiet the wounded conscience; but nothing can effect a real cure but the blood of Christ, applied in faith, and the sanctifying Spirit sealing the pardon, by his holy comforts. All other plans to dispel religious melancholy are sure to add to distress, either in this world or the next.
Key Words
אָמַר: to say (used with great latitude)
שְׁמוּאֵל: Shemuel, the name of three Israelites
מָה: properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and even relatively, that which); often used with prefixes in various adverbial or conjunctive senses
עַד: as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)
אָבַל: to bewail
שָׁאוּל: Shaul, the name of an Edomite and two Israelites
מָאַס: to spurn; also (intransitively) to disappear
מִן: properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
מָלַךְ: to reign; inceptively, to ascend the throne; causatively, to induct into royalty; hence (by implication) to take counsel
עַל: above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
Cross References
1 Samuel 16Paul explains God's rejection of Saul and choice of David to fulfill His will.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Genesis prophetic blessing assigning the kingly scepter to David's tribe of Judah.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Direct textual link explaining the context of Samuel's ongoing mourning for Saul.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Direct poetic reflection on God choosing David from the sheepfolds to shepherd Israel.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallel inauguration action where Samuel previously anointed Saul with a horn of oil.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The standard ritual of sanctification required before approaching a holy sacrifice.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Contrasts Saul's towering height, which pleased men, with God's internal standard.
Supported by JFB
David's instruction to Solomon echoing that the Lord searches all hearts.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The immediate manifestation of Saul being troubled by the evil spirit from God.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Identifies Bethlehem as the city of David, highlighting the lineage of Christ.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Illustrates legitimate prophet fear of being put to death by a rejected king.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Genealogical record confirming Eliab as Jesse's firstborn son.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Another historical instance of a minstrel playing to stir the hand of God.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Corroborates David's movement between feeding his father's sheep and Saul's court.
Supported by JFB