1 Samuel 16:1–12

Samuel Anoints David

16The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn^u for Saul, since I have rejected^v him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil^w and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse^x of Bethlehem. I have chosen^y 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 heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ ³Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show^z you what to do. You are to anoint^a for me the one I indicate.”

⁴Samuel did what the Lord said. When he arrived at Bethlehem,^b the elders of the town trembled^c when they met him. They asked, “Do you come in peace?^d”

⁵Samuel replied, “Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate^e yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

⁶When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab^f and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.”

⁷But 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

⁸Then Jesse called Abinadabⁱ and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “The Lord has not chosen this one either.” ⁹Jesse then had Shammah^j pass by, but Samuel said, “Nor has the Lord chosen this one.” ¹⁰Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The Lord has not chosen these.” ¹¹So he asked Jesse, “Are these all^k the sons you have?”

“There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.”^l

Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.”

¹²So he^m sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsomeⁿ features.

Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.”