1 Samuel 16:1–12

Samuel Anoints David

16The Lord said to Samuel, “How long are you going to mourn for Saul, ⁱsince I have rejected him as king over Israel? ^jFill your horn with oil ^kand go. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem ^lbecause I have selected a king from his sons.”

²Samuel asked, “How can I go? Saul will hear about it and kill me!”

The Lord answered, “Take a young cow with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ ^m3Then invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will let you know what you are to do. ⁿYou are to anoint for Me the one I indicate to you.” ^o

⁴Samuel did what the Lord directed and went to Bethlehem. ^pWhen the elders of the town met him, they trembled ^qand asked, “Do ^ryou come in peace?” ^s

⁵“In peace,” he replied. “I’ve come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves ^tand come with me to the sacrifice.” ^uThen he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. ⁶When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab ^vand said, “Certainly the Lord’s anointed one is here before Him.”

⁷But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or his stature, because I have rejected him. Man does not see what the Lord sees, ^wfor man sees what is visible, ^xbut the Lord sees the heart.” ^y

⁸Jesse called Abinadab ^zand presented him to Samuel. “The Lord hasn’t chosen this one either,” Samuel said. ⁹Then Jesse presented Shammah, ^abut Samuel said, “The Lord hasn’t chosen this one either.” ¹⁰After Jesse presented seven of his sons to him, Samuel told Jesse, “The Lord hasn’t chosen any of these.” ¹¹Samuel asked him, “Are these all the sons you have?”

“There is still the youngest,” ^bhe answered, “but right now he’s tending the sheep.” Samuel told Jesse, “Send for him. We won’t sit down to eat until he gets here.” ¹²So Jesse sent for him. He had beautiful eyes and a healthy, ^chandsome appearance. ^d

Then the Lord said, “Anoint him, for he is the one.” ^e