and the next king has been identified from Jesse’s family. Samuel’s question evokes the imagery of ch. 2, where a ‘lad’ (na‘ar) could have been either a servant or a son. Is he leaving scope for Jesse to offer a member of his household rather than a biological son? Jesse’s answer leaves hope even as it creates expectation—the least of the sons has not been presented because he is tending the sheep. This creates a sense of hope in that ANE kings routinely styled themselves as ‘shepherds’, while a