1 Samuel 16

16 ¹Our Father said to Samuel, "How long will you mourn for Saul, since I've rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil; go, I'm sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem—I've chosen a king from his sons." ^a a v1 A horn of oil is a flask made from an animal's horn, used to carry oil for anointing.

²Samuel said, "How can I go? If Saul hears of it, he will kill me." Our Father said, "Take a heifer with you and say, 'I've come to sacrifice to the Father.'

³Invite Jesse to the sacrifice; I'll show you what to do. Anoint for me the one I name."

⁴Samuel did as our Father said and went to Bethlehem. Its elders met him trembling and asked, "Do you come in peace?"

⁵"In peace," he said. "I've come to sacrifice to our Father. Dedicate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice." Then he dedicated Jesse and his sons and called them to the sacrifice. ⁶When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, "Surely this is our Father's anointed!"

⁷But our Father told Samuel, "Don't look at his appearance or height; I've rejected him. People don't see as I do—they look at the outside, but I, your Father, look at the heart."

⁸Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass before Samuel. But Samuel said, "Our Father hasn't chosen this one either." ⁹Next Jesse had Shammah step forward. But Samuel said, "Nor has our Father chosen this one." ¹⁰Jesse had seven sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said, "Our Father has not chosen these." ¹¹Samuel asked Jesse, "Are all your sons here?" "The youngest remains, tending sheep," said Jesse. "Send for him," said Samuel. "We won't sit until he comes."

¹²Jesse sent and brought him in—glowing with health, with beautiful eyes and handsome. Then our Father said, "Get up, anoint him; this is the one."

¹³Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him among his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of our Father rushed on David in power. Then Samuel left for Ramah.

David Enters the King's Service

¹⁴The Spirit of our Father had left Saul, and a harmful spirit from our Father tormented him. ^b b v14 Even a harmful spirit operates only by our Father's permission; here he lifts his protection from Saul in judgment, though he himself is never the author of evil. ¹⁵Saul's servants said to him, "Look, a harmful spirit from our Father is tormenting you. ¹⁶Let our lord tell your servants here to find a skilled lyre player. When the harmful spirit from our Father comes on you, he'll play and you'll recover."

¹⁷So Saul said to his servants, "Find me someone who plays well and bring him to me."

¹⁸A servant answered: "I've seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who plays well—brave, a warrior, well-spoken, handsome, and our Father is with him."

¹⁹Saul sent messengers to Jesse, saying, "Send me David your son, who is with the sheep."

²⁰Jesse loaded a donkey with bread, a wineskin, and a young goat, and sent them to Saul with his son David. ²¹David came to Saul and entered his service. Saul loved him greatly, and David became his armor-bearer. ²²Saul sent to Jesse: "Let David stay in my service, for he has found favor with me." ²³Whenever the harmful spirit from our Father came on Saul, David played the lyre. Saul felt relief and better, and the evil spirit left him.