ESV Global Study Bible :: Footnotes for 1 Samuel 16

1 Sam 16:1–31:13 The Story of Saul and David. Now that Saul has been completely rejected as king, David is introduced as his successor. God trains David, through suffering, to lead his people.

1 Sam 16:1–13 God tells Samuel that David is his choice to replace Saul as king. After David’s anointing, before a limited audience, the Spirit of God empowers him for service.

1 Sam 16:1 Jesse was a descendant of Perez, son of Judah and Tamar (Gen. 38:29), and a grandson of Ruth and Boaz (Ruth 4:18–22). Bethlehem is in Judah, about 10 miles (16 km) from Ramah.

1 Sam 16:2 and say, “I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.” This was a true but incomplete statement of the reasons Samuel came to Bethlehem (see v. 1). Yet the Lord told him to say it, so it should not be considered morally wrong. It seems that telling only part of what one knows to be true is morally right in some situations.

1 Sam 16:5 Consecrate yourselves. They would probably wash themselves and perhaps also wash their clothes (Ex. 19:10; Num. 8:21).

1 Sam 16:7 man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart. The “heart” in Scripture refers to a person’s inward moral and spiritual life, including the emotions, will, and reason.

1 Sam 16:8–9 And he said. It is unclear whether the Lord is speaking to Samuel or Samuel is speaking to Jesse.

1 Sam 16:10 seven of his sons. Was David the seventh son or the eighth? Jesse had eight sons according to 17:12. David is listed as “seventh” in 1 Chron. 2:15, but this may represent the “telescoping” of a genealogy to give David the number of perfection (see notes on 1 Chron. 2:9–17; Matt. 1:17).

1 Sam 16:13 David’s name is mentioned here for the first time. the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward. See note on 10:6.

1 Sam 16:14–23 Saul and David become acquainted when David begins serving Saul. As the story develops, David will become Saul’s most successful servant.

1 Sam 16:14 The Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul as soon as the Lord’s Spirit came upon David (see v. 13). A harmful spirit sent by the Lord tormented Saul as a form of judgment for his turning against the Lord (15:22–29). Though God himself never does evil, he sometimes uses evil agents to accomplish his purposes (such as the Babylonians conquering Israel, or sinful people crucifying Christ).

1 Sam 16:16–18 David was already skillful in playing the lyre, but a man of valor, a man of war probably refers to his ability and not his experience (see 17:13, 33). Perhaps some of Saul’s men knew of how David had single-handedly defeated both lions and bears (see 17:36).

1 Sam 16:21 An armor-bearer was a close personal attendant.

1 Sam 16:22 As was his custom (see 14:52) with brave men, Saul kept David nearby.