1 Samuel 16

King James Version

Full text for 1 Samuel Chapter 16

1¶ And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.

2And Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul hear [it], he will kill me. And the LORD said, Take an heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice to the LORD.

3And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will shew thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto me [him] whom I name unto thee.

4And Samuel did that which the LORD spake, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, Comest thou peaceably?

5And he said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the LORD: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.

6¶ And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD'S anointed [is] before him.

7But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for [the LORD seeth] not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

8Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this.

9Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this.

10Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen these.

11And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all [thy] children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.

12And he sent, and brought him in. Now he [was] ruddy, [and] withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this [is] he.

13Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.

14¶ But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.

15And Saul's servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee.

16Let our lord now command thy servants, [which are] before thee, to seek out a man, [who is] a cunning player on an harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well.

17And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring [him] to me.

18Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, [that is] cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the LORD [is] with him.

19Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me David thy son, which [is] with the sheep.

20And Jesse took an ass [laden] with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a kid, and sent [them] by David his son unto Saul.

21And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved him greatly; and he became his armourbearer.

22And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray thee, stand before me; for he hath found favour in my sight.

23And it came to pass, when the [evil] spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

The LORD rejects Saul as king and instructs Samuel to anoint a new king from Jesse's sons in Bethlehem. Samuel, guided by God who looks on the heart, selects and anoints David, the youngest son, upon whom the Spirit of the LORD descends. Concurrently, an evil spirit troubles Saul, leading his servants to bring David to court, where his harp playing provides the king with relief.

Medium Summary

The chapter opens with the LORD commanding Samuel to cease mourning for Saul, whom He has rejected, and to go to Bethlehem to anoint a new king from Jesse’s family. Samuel expresses fear of Saul, so the LORD provides a cover story of a sacrifice. Upon arrival, Samuel gathers Jesse and his sons, and as he considers Eliab, the LORD corrects him, emphasizing that He looks upon the heart, not outward appearance. After none of Jesse's seven elder sons are chosen, David, the youngest, tending sheep, is summoned. The LORD identifies David as the chosen one, and Samuel anoints him, causing the Spirit of the LORD to come upon David from that day forward. Meanwhile, the Spirit of the LORD departs from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubles him. Saul's servants recommend a skilled harp player to soothe him, and David is suggested, noted for his musical ability, valor, and wisdom. Saul sends for David, who then enters the king's service, providing comfort through his music whenever the evil spirit afflicts Saul.

Long Summary

The narrative begins with the LORD instructing Samuel to cease mourning for Saul, as He has rejected him from reigning over Israel, and commands him to go to Bethlehem to anoint a new king from among Jesse's sons. Samuel expresses apprehension about Saul's reaction, prompting the LORD to instruct him to undertake the mission under the guise of offering a sacrifice. Samuel complies, traveling to Bethlehem, where the town elders, initially fearful of his presence, are reassured of his peaceful intent. He then sanctifies Jesse and his sons, calling them to the sacrifice. As Samuel observes Jesse's eldest son, Eliab, he presumes him to be the LORD's chosen, but the LORD corrects him, stating that human judgment based on outward appearance differs from divine judgment, which discerns the heart. Jesse then presents six more of his sons, but none are chosen by the LORD. Samuel inquires if all of Jesse's children are present, learning of the youngest, David, who is tending sheep. David is summoned, and upon his arrival, the LORD identifies him as the chosen one, noting his ruddy complexion and beautiful countenance. Samuel then takes the horn of oil and anoints David in the midst of his brethren, and from that day forward, the Spirit of the LORD comes powerfully upon David. Subsequently, the Spirit of the LORD departs from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD begins to trouble him. Saul's servants observe his distress and suggest finding a skilled harp player to alleviate his torment. One servant recommends David, describing him as not only a cunning musician but also a mighty valiant man, a man of war, prudent in matters, and comely, with the LORD's favour. Saul sends messengers to Jesse, requesting David's presence. Jesse sends David to Saul with gifts of bread, wine, and a kid. David comes before Saul, who develops a great affection for him, making him his armourbearer. Whenever the evil spirit from God troubled Saul, David would play the harp, bringing refreshment and relief to the king, causing the evil spirit to depart.

Core Concepts

  • Divine Rejection and SelectionThe LORD explicitly rejects Saul as king due to his disobedience, initiating the process of selecting a new king from Jesse's lineage in Bethlehem. This demonstrates God's sovereign authority in choosing leaders for His people.
  • God's Perspective vs. Man'sSamuel initially judges Jesse's sons by their physical appearance, but the LORD corrects him, stating, 'man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.' This highlights the divine emphasis on inner character over external attributes.
  • Anointing and the SpiritDavid is formally anointed with oil by Samuel, signifying his divine appointment as king. Immediately following this anointing, the Spirit of the LORD comes powerfully upon David, empowering him for his future role.
  • Saul's Spiritual DeclineAfter the Spirit of the LORD departs from Saul, an evil spirit from the LORD troubles him. This indicates a spiritual consequence of his rejection and a decline in his mental and emotional state.
  • Music as TherapySaul's servants suggest that music can alleviate the king's distress caused by the evil spirit. David's harp playing provides relief and refreshment to Saul, demonstrating the soothing power of music.
  • David's Early CharacterEven before his public rise, David is described by a servant as skilled in music, valiant, a man of war, prudent, comely, and having the LORD with him. This showcases his multifaceted abilities and divine favour.
  • Divine ProvidenceDavid's anointing as king and his subsequent entry into Saul's court as a musician, despite Saul's rejection, illustrate God's providential hand guiding events to establish His chosen leader.