1 Samuel 16:1–7
16 The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mournu for Saul, since I have rejectedv him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oilw and be on your way; I am sending you to Jessex of Bethlehem. I have choseny one of his sons to be king.”
2 But Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me.”
The Lord said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ 3 Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will showz you what to do. You are to anointa for me the one I indicate.”
4 Samuel did what the Lord said. When he arrived at Bethlehem,b the elders of the town trembledc when they met him. They asked, “Do you come in peace?d”
5 Samuel replied, “Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecratee yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.
6 When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliabf and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.”
7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance,g but the Lord looks at the heart.”h