credentials of one of the sons of Jesse, Saul asked for him to be sent. Upon arrival at court, David impressed Saul, and the king requested him to stay with him permanently. David’s playing provided repeated relief for Saul (vv 14–23). The accounts of the divine (16:1–13) and the royal (16:14–23) selection of David seem to have passed through a separate history of tradition though there are literary ties or allusions between the two accounts. In both accounts David is said to be among the flock (vv