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1 Samuel 16 :: New American Standard Bible 1995 (NASB95)

Samuel Goes to Bethlehem

1Sa 16:1

1Sa 16:1Now the LORD said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have selected a king for Myself among his sons.”

1Sa 16:2

1Sa 16:2But Samuel said, “How can I go? When Saul hears of it, he will kill me.” And the LORD said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.’

1Sa 16:3

1Sa 16:3“You shall invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; and you shall anoint for Me the one whom I [fn]designate to you.”

1Sa 16:4

1Sa 16:4So Samuel did what the LORD said, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the city came trembling to meet him and said, “Do you come in peace?”

1Sa 16:5

1Sa 16:5He said, “In peace; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” He also consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

1Sa 16:6

1Sa 16:6When they entered, he looked at Eliab and thought, “Surely the LORD’S anointed is before Him.”

1Sa 16:7

1Sa 16:7But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for [fn]God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

1Sa 16:8

1Sa 16:8Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, “The LORD has not chosen this one either.”

1Sa 16:9

1Sa 16:9Next Jesse made [fn]Shammah pass by. And he said, “The LORD has not chosen this one either.”

1Sa 16:10

1Sa 16:10Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, “The LORD has not chosen these.”

1Sa 16:11

1Sa 16:11And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are these all the children?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, and behold, he is tending the sheep.” Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and [fn]bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here.”

David Anointed

1Sa 16:12

1Sa 16:12So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance. And the LORD said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is he.”

1Sa 16:13

1Sa 16:13Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon David from that day forward. And Samuel arose and went to Ramah.

1Sa 16:14

1Sa 16:14Now the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD terrorized him.

1Sa 16:15

1Sa 16:15Saul’s servants then said to him, “Behold now, an evil spirit from God is terrorizing you.

1Sa 16:16

1Sa 16:16“Let our lord now command your servants who are before you. Let them seek a man who is a skillful player on the harp; and it shall come about when the evil spirit from God is on you, that he shall play the harp with his hand, and you will be well.”

1Sa 16:17

1Sa 16:17So Saul said to his servants, “Provide for me now a man who can play well and bring him to me.”

1Sa 16:18

1Sa 16:18Then one of the young men said, “Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who is a skillful musician, a mighty man of valor, a warrior, one prudent in speech, and a handsome man; and the LORD is with him.”

1Sa 16:19

1Sa 16:19So Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me your son David who is with the flock.”

1Sa 16:20

1Sa 16:20Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread and a jug of wine and a young goat, and sent them to Saul by David his son.

1Sa 16:21

1Sa 16:21Then David came to Saul and [fn]attended him; and [fn]Saul loved him greatly, and he became his armor bearer.

1Sa 16:22

1Sa 16:22Saul sent to Jesse, saying, “Let David now stand before me, for he has found favor in my sight.”

1Sa 16:23

1Sa 16:23So it came about whenever the evil spirit from God came to Saul, David would take the harp and play it with his hand; and Saul would be refreshed and be well, and the evil spirit would depart from him.
See the NASB95 Preface (Especially for Parenthesis, Brackets, & Asterisks).
NASB95 Footnotes
Literally: say to you
So with Gr; Heb He does not see what man sees
In 2 Sam 13:3, Shimeah; in 1 Chr 2:13, Shimea
Literally: take
Literally: stood before him
Literally: he
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