1 Samuel
Chapter 16
David, Anointed King
The Lord asked Samuel: “How long will you be grieving over Saul, whom I have rejected as king of Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have chosen my king from among his sons.”
Samuel asked: “How can I go? If Saul hears of this, he will kill me!” The Lord replied: “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’
Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will let you know what to do next. You shall anoint for me the one I point out to you.”
Samuel did what the Lord commanded and left for Bethlehem. When he appeared, the city elders came to him, fearfully asking: “Do you bring us peace?”
Samuel replied: “I come in peace; I am here to sacrifice to the Lord. Cleanse yourselves and join me in the sacrifice.” He also had Jesse and his sons cleansed and invited them to the sacrifice.
As they came, Samuel looked at Eliab the older and thought: “This must be the Lord’s anointed.”
The Lord told Samuel: “Do not judge by his looks or stature, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not judge as man judges; humans see with the eyes; the Lord sees the heart.”
Jesse called his son Abinadab and presented him to Samuel, who said: “The Lord has not chosen this one either.”
Jesse presented Shammah, and Samuel said: “Nor has the Lord chosen this one.”
Jesse presented seven of his sons to Samuel, who said: “The Lord has chosen none of them.
But are all your sons here?” Jesse replied: “There is still the youngest, tending the flock just now.” Samuel said: “Send for him and bring him to me; we shall not sit down to eat until he arrives.”
So Jesse sent for his youngest son and brought him to Samuel. He was a handsome lad with a ruddy complexion and beautiful eyes. And the Lord spoke, “Go, anoint him for he is the one.”
Samuel then took the horn of oil and anointed him in his brothers’ presence. From that day onwards, the Lord’s spirit took hold of David. Then Samuel left for Ramah.
David in Saul’s Court
The spirit of the Lord had left Saul, and an evil spirit sent by the Lord tormented him.
Saul’s servants told him: “We know that an evil spirit sent by God is tormenting you.
If you so wish, your servants who stand before you will look for someone who can play the lyre so when the evil spirit from God comes over you, he will play, and you will feel better.”
Saul answered them: “Get someone who can play the lyre well.”
One said: “A son of Jesse, the Bethlehemite, plays very well. He is, moreover, a courageous man, intelligent, and pleasant to talk to, and the Lord is with him.”
So Saul sent messengers to Jesse and asked for his son David, who was tending the sheep.
Jesse loaded an ass with bread, a wineskin, and a kid and had David take all these to Saul.
David then left and entered Saul’s service. Saul grew very fond of David and made him his armor-bearer.
Then he sent word to Jesse, saying: “Let David remain in my service, for I am very pleased with him.”
So, whenever the evil spirit from God overpowered Saul, David would play on the lyre, and Saul would feel better, for the evil spirit would leave him.
Commentaries
David, Anointed King.
The direction that the monarchical institution was destined to take in Israel is subtly foreshadowed in 13:14 and 15:28; thus, this account serves to confirm that announcement. The Lord has specifically chosen David. Through the literary device of anticipation, the anointing, which likely legitimizes a process already in motion, occurs during David’s early youth or adolescence, at the beginning of his story. The Lord takes the initiative; Samuel is the official executor, and the people’s input is disregarded. In revealing the chosen one, the author employs the well-known motif of the younger brother being placed before his siblings, a common theme in Hebrew folklore that aims to demonstrate that God does not think like humans because He does not focus on appearances.
David in Saul’s Court.
The stories of the two main characters in these chapters, David and Saul, begin to connect. While it is said of David that after his anointing, the Spirit of the Lord came upon him and stayed with him from then onward (13), the opposite happened with Saul: an evil spirit tormented him, and only music could comfort him. David was brought in for this purpose, as he was the only one who could soothe the king with his harp. According to the story, Saul doesn’t realize that Samuel has already anointed David as the new king of Israel.