Open English Translation 1 SAM Chapter 16

16 Then Yahweh spoke to Shmuel (Samuel), “How long are you going to keep mourning for Sha’ul (Saul) for, when I myself have rejected him as king over Yisrael (Israel)? Fill your horn with oil and go. I’ll send you to Yishay (Jesse) from Beyt-Lehem (Bethlehem), because I’ve seen one of his sons who’d make a good king for me.”

2 “How can I do that?” asked Shmuel. “Sha’ul would kill me if he heard about it.”

“Take a heifer with you,” Yahweh said, “and say, ‘I’ve come to sacrifice to Yahweh.’ 3 Invite Yishay to the sacrifice, and I’ll show you what do to from there, and you should anoint the one I tell you to.”

4 So Shmuel did what Yahweh had told him, and went to Beyt-Lehem. The town elders trembled when they met him, and asked, “Do you come in peace?”

5 “Yes, in peace,” he answered “I’ve come to sacrifice to Yahweh. Purify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” Then he purified Yishay and his sons and called them to the sacrifice.

6 When they arrived, Shmuel saw Eliav and thought, “Surely this man’s the one that Yahweh wants to anoint.” 7 But Yahweh told him, “Don’t look at his height or outward appearance, because I’ve rejected him. Because it isn’t what a person sees with their eyes, but Yahweh sees their motives and values.”

8 Then Yishay called for Avinadav to walk across in front of Shmuel, but he said again, “Yahweh hasn’t chosen that one.” 9 Then Yishay made Shamah walk across in front, but again he said, “Yahweh hasn’t chosen that one.” 10 So all up, Yishay made seven of his sons walk across in front of Shmuel, but Shmuel told him, “Yahweh hasn’t chosen any of them.” 11 Then Shmuel asked Yishay, “Is this all your sons?”

“Well, there’s just the youngest,” he answered “but you see, he’s out looking after the flock.”[fn]

“Send for him,” Shmuel instructed him, “because we won’t do anything else until he gets here.” 12 So he sent for him and brought him in. He was a good-looker with beautiful eyes and red colouring, and Yahweh said, “Stand up and anoint him, because he’s the one.” 13 So Shmuel took the horn full of olive oil and anointed him right there with his brothers, and Yahweh’s spirit rushed onto David from that day onwards. Then Shmuel left and went home to Ramah.

14 Meanwhile, Yahweh’s spirit left Sha’ul (Saul), and instead an evil spirit from Yahweh tormented him, 15 and his servants told him, “Look, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you. 16 Let our master please get your servants to find a man who knows how to play the harp. Then, whenever the evil spirit from God is on you, then he’ll play it and it’ll be good for you.”

17 “Okay,” Sha’ul responded, “Find a man for me who’s good at playing it, and bring him to me.”

18 Then one of his servants spoke up, “Listen, I’ve noticed one of the sons of Yishay (Jesse) in Beyt-Lehem (Bethlehem) who knows how to play. He’s also a very powerful warrior, as well as being good looking and wise in what he says. And Yahweh is with him.”

19 So Sha’ul sent messengers to Yishay to tell him, “Your son David who looks after your flock, send him to me.” 20 So Yishay loaded a donkey with bread, a skin of wine, and a young goat, and sent them to King Sha’ul with his son David. 21 When David got to the king, he became his servant, and he was liked so much that he was appointed as the one who carried the king’s equipment. 22 Sha’ul sent a message back to Yishay, saying, “Let David remain in my service, because I really like him.” 23 Then whenever the spirit from God tormented Sha’ul, David would take the harp and play it. That would bring relief to Sha’ul and make him feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him.