1
And the LORD said unto Samuel How long wilt thou mourn for Saul seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel fill thine horn with oil and go I will send thee to Jesse the Beth-lehemite for I have provided me a king among his sons
2
And Samuel said How can I go if Saul hear it he will kill me And the LORD said Take an heifer with thee and say I am come to sacrifice to the LORD
3
And call Jesse to the sacrifice and I will shew thee what thou shalt do and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I name unto thee
4
And Samuel did that which the LORD spake and came to Beth-lehem And the elders of the town trembled at his coming and said Comest thou peaceably
5
And he said Peaceably I am come to sacrifice unto the LORD sanctify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice And he sanctified Jesse and his sons and called them to the sacrifice
6
And it came to pass when they were come that he looked on Eliab and said Surely the LORD’s anointed is before him
7
But the LORD said unto Samuel Look not on his countenance or on the height of his stature because I have refused him for the Lord seeth not as man seeth for man looketh on the outward appearance but the LORD looketh on the heart
8
Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel And he said Neither hath the LORD chosen this
9
Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by And he said Neither hath the LORD chosen this
10
Again Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel And Samuel said unto Jesse The LORD hath not chosen these
11
And Samuel said unto Jesse Are here all thy children And he said There remaineth yet the youngest and behold he keepeth the sheep And Samuel said unto Jesse Send and fetch him for we will not sit down till he come hither
12
And he sent and brought him in Now he was ruddy and withal of a beautiful countenance and goodly to look to And the LORD said Arise anoint him for this is he
13
Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brethren and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward So Samuel rose up and went to Ramah
14
But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him
15
And Saul’s servants said unto him Behold now an evil spirit from God troubleth thee
16
Let our lord now command thy servants which are before thee to seek out a man who is a cunning player on an harp and it shall come to pass when the evil spirit from God is upon thee that he shall play with his hand and thou shalt be well
17
And Saul said unto his servants Provide me now a man that can play well and bring him to me
18
Then answered one of the servants and said Behold I have seen a son of Jesse the Beth-lehemite that is cunning in playing and a mighty valiant man and a man of war and prudent in matters and a comely person and the LORD is with him
19
Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse and said Send me David thy son which is with the sheep
20
And Jesse took an ass laden with bread and a bottle of wine and a kid and sent them by David his son unto Saul
21
And David came to Saul and stood before him and he loved him greatly and he became his armourbearer
22
And Saul sent to Jesse saying Let David I pray thee stand before me for he hath found favour in my sight
23
And it came to pass when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul that David took an harp and played with his hand so Saul was refreshed and was well and the evil spirit departed from him