1 N ow the Lord said to Samuel, “ How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have selected a king for Myself among his sons.”

2 B ut Samuel said, “How can I go? When Saul hears of it, he will kill me.” And the Lord said, “ Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’

3 Y ou shall invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; and you shall anoint for Me the one whom I designate to you.”

4 S o Samuel did what the Lord said, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the city came trembling to meet him and said, “ Do you come in peace?”

5 H e said, “In peace; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” He also consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

6 W hen they entered, he looked at Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before Him.”

7 B ut the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

8 T hen Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, “The Lord has not chosen this one either.”

9 N ext Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “The Lord has not chosen this one either.”

10 T hus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen these.”

11 A nd Samuel said to Jesse, “Are these all the children?” And he said, “ There remains yet the youngest, and behold, he is tending the sheep.” Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here.” David Anointed

12 S o he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance. And the Lord said, “ Arise, anoint him; for this is he.”

13 T hen Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward. And Samuel arose and went to Ramah.

14 N ow the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord terrorized him.

15 S aul’s servants then said to him, “Behold now, an evil spirit from God is terrorizing you.

16 L et our lord now command your servants who are before you. Let them seek a man who is a skillful player on the harp; and it shall come about when the evil spirit from God is on you, that he shall play the harp with his hand, and you will be well.”

17 S o Saul said to his servants, “Provide for me now a man who can play well and bring him to me.”

18 T hen one of the young men said, “Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who is a skillful musician, a mighty man of valor, a warrior, one prudent in speech, and a handsome man; and the Lord is with him.”

19 S o Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me your son David who is with the flock.”

20 J esse took a donkey loaded with bread and a jug of wine and a young goat, and sent them to Saul by David his son.

21 T hen David came to Saul and attended him; and Saul loved him greatly, and he became his armor bearer.

22 S aul sent to Jesse, saying, “Let David now stand before me, for he has found favor in my sight.”

23 S o it came about whenever the evil spirit from God came to Saul, David would take the harp and play it with his hand; and Saul would be refreshed and be well, and the evil spirit would depart from him.