Samuel Anoints David
1Yahweh said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul? I have rejected him from reigning over Israel. Fill your horn with oil, and go — I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem, for I have chosen a king for myself among his sons.” 2Samuel said, “How can I go? Saul will hear of it and kill me.” Yahweh said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to Yahweh.’ 3Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You shall anoint for me the one I point out to you.” 4Samuel did what Yahweh had said, and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the town trembled when they met him and asked, “Do you come in peace?” 5“In peace,” he said. “I have come to sacrifice to Yahweh. Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. 6When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely Yahweh’s anointed stands here before him.” 7But Yahweh said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. It is not as man sees; man looks at the outward appearance, but Yahweh looks at the heart.” 8Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass before Samuel, but Samuel said, “Yahweh has not chosen this one either.” 9Jesse had Shammah pass by, and Samuel said, “Yahweh has not chosen this one either.” 10Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, and Samuel said to Jesse, “Yahweh has not chosen any of these.” 11Then Samuel asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There remains the youngest,” he said, “but he is out tending the sheep.” Samuel said, “Send for him — we will not sit down to eat until he arrives.” 12So Jesse sent for him. He was ruddy, with beautiful eyes and a fine appearance. Yahweh said, “Rise and anoint him — this is the one.” 13Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and the Spirit of Yahweh rushed upon David from that day forward. Then Samuel got up and went to Ramah.
David Enters Saul’s Service
14Now the Spirit of Yahweh had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from Yahweh tormented him. 15Saul’s servants said to him, “See, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you. 16Let our lord command his servants here before him to look for someone who knows how to play the lyre. Then, whenever the evil spirit from God comes upon you, he can play, and you will feel better.” 17So Saul said to his servants, “Find me someone who plays well and bring him to me.” 18One of the young men answered, “I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play. He is a brave man, a warrior, skilled in speech, and fine in appearance, and Yahweh is with him.” 19So Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.” 20Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a skin of wine, and a young goat, and sent them by his son David to Saul. 21David came to Saul and entered his service. Saul loved him greatly, and David became his armor-bearer. 22Then Saul sent word to Jesse, “Let David remain in my service, for he has found favor in my eyes.” 23Whenever the spirit from God came upon Saul, David would take the lyre and play. Then Saul would find relief, and it would be well with him, and the evil spirit would leave him.
