1 Samuel 16 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.
Time Period
~1025 BC, the later years of Saul's reign, while Saul is still on the throne
Location
Bethlehem, a small farming town in the Judean hills about six miles south of Jerusalem, then Saul's court at Gibeah
Audience
Israelites of the early monarchy, reading the origin of the royal line of David that would rule Judah for centuries
Situation
Samuel goes to Bethlehem under cover of a sacrifice, reviews Jesse's sons, and passes over all of them until the youngest, David, is called in from the sheep and anointed. Saul is afterwards tormented by a harmful spirit, and David is brought into the court as a musician whose playing calms him.
Key Background
Birth order governed inheritance and status, so passing over seven older brothers for the boy left minding the flock inverted the ordinary social order, and shepherding was low status work usually given to the youngest or to hired hands. Samuel's fear that Saul would kill him shows how far the king's authority now reached, and the cover story of a sacrifice was plausible because a prophet travelling to lead worship in a village was routine. Music was widely regarded in the ancient world as having power over the mind and the spirit realm, so summoning a skilled lyre player as a remedy for a king's affliction was a recognized treatment rather than an odd idea.
said to Samuel, "How long are you going to grieve over Saul? I've him as king over Israel. Fill your with and go — I'm sending you to Jesse of because I've picked out a king for myself from among his sons."
Samuel said, "How can I go? If Saul hears about it, he'll kill me." Yahweh said, "Take a young cow with you and say, 'I've come to offer a to Yahweh.'"
"Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I'll show you what to do. You'll for me the one I point out to you."
Samuel did what Yahweh told him and went to Bethlehem. The town came out trembling to meet him and asked, "Do you come in
He said, "Yes, peace. I've come to offer a sacrifice to Yahweh. for and come with me to the sacrifice." Then he made Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.
When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, "Surely Yahweh's is standing right here."
But Yahweh said to Samuel, "Don't look at his or how tall he stands, because I've rejected him. Yahweh doesn't see the way humans see — people look at the outward but Yahweh looks at the
Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him walk in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, "Yahweh hasn't this one either."
Then Jesse had Shammah walk by. But Samuel said, "Yahweh hasn't chosen this one either."
Jesse had seven of his sons walk in front of Samuel. But Samuel told Jesse, "Yahweh hasn't chosen any of these."
Then Samuel asked Jesse, "Are these all the sons you have?" Jesse replied, "There's still the — he's out the Samuel said to Jesse, "Send for him. We're not sitting down to eat until he gets here."
So Jesse sent for him and brought him in. He had a healthy complexion, and was good-looking. Yahweh said, "Get up and anoint him — this is the
So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him right there among his brothers. And the of David powerfully from that day forward. Then Samuel got up and went back to Ramah.
Now the Breath of Yahweh had Saul, and a from Yahweh tormented him.
Saul's servants said to him, "Look, a harmful spirit from is tormenting you."
"Let our master give the order, and your servants here will look for someone who's skilled at playing the When the harmful spirit from God comes on you, he'll play and you'll feel better."
Saul told his servants, "Find me someone who plays well and bring him to me."
One of the young servants spoke up: "I've seen a son of Jesse from Bethlehem who knows how to play. He's a and good-looking, and is with
So Saul sent messengers to Jesse saying, "Send me your son David — the one who's with the sheep."
Jesse loaded up a donkey with bread, a of and a young goat, and sent them with his son David to Saul.
David came to Saul and entered his service. Saul and David became his
Saul sent a message to Jesse: "Let David stay in my service — I'm very with him."
Whenever the from God came on Saul, David would pick up the lyre and play. Saul would find — he'd feel better, and the would