Bethlehem—for the word God used that is translated “sacrifice” means “a sacrifice followed by a feast” (R. P. Smith). In this order God provided a legitimate means by which Samuel could go to Bethlehem safely. F. C. Cook gave a good explanation of this secrecy when he said, “There is here an appearance of duplicity sanctioned by divine authority which it is important to examine. It was the purpose of God that David should be anointed at this time as Saul’s successor, and as the ancestor and type